Marital Conflict Behaviors and Implications for Divorce Over 16 Years

Abstract

This study examined self-reported marital conflict behaviors and their implications for divorce. Husbands and wives (N = 373 couples; 47% White American, 53% Black American) reported conflict behaviors in years 1, 3, 7, and 16 of their marriages. Individual behaviors (e.g., destructive behaviors) and patterns of behaviors between partners (e.g., withdrawal-constructive) in Year 1 predicted higher divorce rates. Wives’ destructive and withdrawal behaviors decreased over time, whereas husbands’ conflict behaviors remained stable. Husbands reported more constructive and less destructive behaviors than wives and Black American couples reported more withdrawal than White American couples. Findings support behavioral theories of marriage demonstrating that conflict behaviors predict divorce and accommodation theories indicating that conflict behaviors become less negative over time.

The development of marital tension: Implications for divorce among married couples.

“…We addressed the following hypotheses:

H1) Because wives often report greater negative marital quality than husbands (Almeida & Kessler, 1998: Birditt et al, 2015) we predicted that wives would report greater marital tension than husbands.

H2) Marital tension would increase among both husbands and wives. We also predicted that there would be a greater increase in marital tension among wives than among husbands because wives tend to report greater marital tension.H3) Consistent with the emergent distress and disillusionment models, increasing marital tension would predict marital longevity to a greater degree than marital tension in the first year of marriage.H4) Because wives are more likely to initiate divorce and are more likely to use destructive conflict strategies in response to conflict (Amato, & Previti, 2003; Birditt et al, 2010), we predicted that wives’ reports of marital tension would be more predictive of marital longevity than would husbands’ reports of marital tension.

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“…Greater negativity (e.g., more hostility, destructive conflict strategies), in the first years of marriage predicts increased marital instability and divorce in studies examining the newlywed years through middle age (Birditt, Brown, Orbuch, & McIlvane, 2010; Matthews, Wickrama, & Conger, 1996; Stanley, Markman, & Whitton, 2002). Nevertheless, we know little about the effects of the development of marital tension on the risk of divorce.…”

Early Pubertal Timing and Childhood Family Adversity Interact to Predict Newlywed Women’s Anxiety Symptoms

“…Women’s psychological health in the first years of marriage is an essential factor in predicting later marital satisfaction and divorce, as well as diverse physical and mental health outcomes (e.g., Birditt, Brown, Orbuch, & McIlvane, 2010; Caughlin, Huston, & Houts, 2000; Huston & Caughlin, 2001; Kiecolt-Glaser, Bane, Glaser, & Malarkey, 2003; Whitton et al, 2007). Although child and adolescent experiences in family relationships are known to influence women’s emotional health in the context of marriage (e.g., Busby, Walker, & Holman, 2011; Roisman, 2007), we know very little about whether childhood family adversity exacerbates effects of early pubertal timing for women’s mental health during the important family transition of early marriage.…”

Perceived Problem Solving Skills of Married Couples Predicting Self-Efficacy Beliefs Towards Their Marriages

“…It is important for couples to avoid displaying negative expressions to each other while solving problems (Stanley and Trathem, 1994). Destructive and negative communication between couples are linked to decrease in marital quality and effectiveness and to increase in divorce rates (Bradbury et al, 2000;Birditt, Brown, Orbuch and McIlvane, 2010;Stanley, Markman and Whitton, 2002) Couples are not always expected to arrive at a consensus. However, reaching a common ground and seeking ways to arrive at a consensus is necessary for a healthy relationship (Canel, 2007;Rosen-Grandon, 1998).…”

“…However, reaching a common ground and seeking ways to arrive at a consensus is necessary for a healthy relationship (Canel, 2007;Rosen-Grandon, 1998). In short, with regards to effective problem solving behaviors displaying constructive behaviors such as cooperating, making a positive communication, arguing in a calm manner and actively listening are factors that increase the effectiveness in marriages (Akçabozan and Hatipoğlu-Sümer, 2013;Birditt et al, 2010;Hacı, 2011;Özen, 2006;Tallman and Hsiao 2004). Studies underline that adjustment in marriage increases when intra-family communication is more effective and when couples increase the search for positive solutions for conflicts (Ahmadi, Ashrafi, Kimiaee and Afzali, 2010; Akgün and Polat-Uluocak;2010;Chiu, 1998;Ebenuwa-Okoh, 2008;Greef and De Bruyne, 2000;Güven, 2005;Hacı, 2011;Hünler and Gençöz, 2003;Karney and Bradbury, 1997;Malkoç, 2001;Özen, 2006;Sardoğan and Karahan;2005;Winemiller and Mitchell, 1994;Woszidlo and Segrin, 2013).…”