Marital Satisfaction

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the effect of cohabitation on couples and their level of marital satisfaction and dissolution. It hypothesizes that cohabitation has a statistically significant impact on marital satisfaction and uses a sample consisting of forty married individuals; twenty couples whom had not cohabited prior to marriage and twenty married couples whom had cohabited prior to marriage.

Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of Study
Significance of Study
Overview of Study
Definition of Terms
Chapter 2: Review of Relevant Literature
Chapter 3: Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Data-Gathering Method and Database of Study
Subjects
Instrument
Design
Procedure
Chapter 4: Conceptual Framework and Social Exchange Theory

From the Paper:

"By any measure, marriage in the United States is a crap shoot, and the odds are definitely stacked against people getting married for the first time today. Current estimates suggest that fully 50 percent of all first-time marriages nationwide will end in divorce (Martin, Martin, Martin & Specter, 2003), and 60 percent of first-time marriages in the State of Georgia will end in divorce today, and the problem appears to be getting worse instead of better. The economic consequences of these failed relationships are staggering, certainly, but the emotional toll they exact on the individuals involved is inestimable, and can have lifelong implications for their divorcing partners and their children (Martin et al., 2003). In fact, the fear of becoming divorced may compel many people to cohabitate and there may be an environmental component involved as well. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alessio, J. C. (1990). A synthesis and formalization of Heiderian balance and social exchange theory. Social Forces, 68(4), 1285.
• Astone, N. M., Kim, Y. J., Nathanson, C. A., & Schoen, R. (1999). Family demography, social theory and investment in social capital. Population and Development Review, 25(1), 1.
• Balakrishnan, T.R., Rao, K. V., Lapierre-Adamcyk, E., & Krotki, K. J. (1987). A hazard model analysis of the covariates of marriage dissolution in Canada. Demography, 24(3), 395- 406.
• Bennett, N.G., Blanc, A. K., & Bloom, D. E. (1988). Commitment and the modern union: Assessing the link between premarital cohabitation and subsequent marital stability. American Sociological Review, 53(1), 127-38.
• Black's law dictionary. (1990). St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Co.

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