Christian Psychology Graduate School's Impact on Marriage: Nonstudent Spouses Speak

Abstract

Although many empirical studies have investigated marital distress and marital satisfaction, no research has been conducted on the impact of graduate school on marriage for students-in-training, particularly from the viewpoint of the nonstudent spouse. Using a qualitative research methodology, six male and six female spouses of third and fourth year graduate students at an APA-approved program in clinical psychology were subjects in the present study. Three hypotheses investigated were: (a) graduate training would have a detrimental effect on student marriages, (b) nonstudent spouses would report marital strain due to student spouses' emotional isolation and withdrawal, and (c) due to the process of acculturation into organized secular psychology, students' emphasis on personal religious faith would decrease. The first hypothesis was supported, the second was unsupported, and the third received mixed support. Three recommendations to support student marriages within graduate educational settings are offered in conclusion.

Profiling Marital Satisfaction among Graduate Students: an Analysis of the Perceptions of Masters and Doctoral-Students

“…Male students report greater concern regarding ''finances '', which is defined as general concern, a lack of confidence in the way one's partner handles finances and arguments with one's partner rega rding finances. This finding was previously reported by Legako and Sorenson (2000).…”

“…The results of this study echo the themes expressed by Legako and Sorenson (2000) and Katz et al (2000) regarding the impact of graduate study on marital dissatisfaction. Moreover, these results imply that these couples may be underestimating the ongoing stress and future of their marital relationships.…”

“…Perhaps families, in addition to admitted students, need to be invited for orientation, underscoring that graduate study in a family endeavor (Katz et al, 2000;Norton et al, 1998;Legako & Sorenson, 2000). A presentation by other families describing how the family coped with graduate study may legitimize unexpressed concerns and offer concrete suggestions on how to address potentially divisive issues.…”

“…Specifically, conflicts in the expectations between the roles of wife/mother and the role of student, plus an inability to resolve differences regarding family financial priorities, interfered with these women's abilities to succeed in their graduate studies. MacLean and Peters' (1995) and Legako and Sorenson's (2000) samples reported that graduate study placed heavy emotional and financial stresses on their marriages. Katz, Monnier, Libet, Shaw, and Beach (2000) found that their sample of married medical students felt anxious about finances, time together with spouses, and lack of intimacy.…”

“…The review of the professional literature substantiates the need for advanced study on the functioning of graduate student marital dynamics, as balanced against a paucity of empirical research on this transition (Legako & Sorenson, 2000). Previous studies did not analyze gender as a confounding variable, or compared students in differing levels of graduate programs, and did not compare responses to a standardized measure of marital functioning as a way to assess whether reported marital dynamics may prove problematic and may threaten the stability and future of the marital unit.…”