Marriage in the 20th century: A feminist perspective

A defining feature of the 20th century in Western civilization was a profound change in the roles women play in both private and public life. The field of couple therapy was influenced by that change and, to a limited extent, participated in it. I will argue that the field has avoided fully embracing the principles of feminism that generated the social changes in gender and marital roles, settling instead for a more token acknowledgment that gender means something, without wanting to specify what that something is. In responding to the other articles in this issue, I make the case that the connection between gender and power in marriage needs to be more fully integrated, in the theory, research, and treatment of couples.     

Menstrual taboos among havik brahmin women: A study of ritual change

This paper reports on changes in the beliefs and observance of menstrual taboos among Havik Brahmins in South India. Menstrual taboos have decreased in importance over the past 20 years as a woman's primary role has been redefined as a marital partner rather than as a bearer of children. When her function was as a bearer of children for the patrilineage, she was considered subject to biological rhythms and a threat to male ritual status. With increased education, professional opportunities, and increased marriage age for women, ritual status and male dominance have become less significant. Women are ritually less dangerous, less dependent on men, and transcend the biological rhythms that menstrual taboos symbolize.The research on which this paper is based was carried out with the support of grants from the American Institute of Indian Studies (1964–1966, 1974–1975, 1987) and the American Philosophical Society (1985). I gratefully acknowledge the constructive criticism from Joan Bamberger, Kaja Finkler, Shirley Lindenbaum, and the anonymous readers who commented upon earlier drafts of this paper.     

A 2-year longitudinal study of depression among Alzheimer's caregivers.

Results from a 2-year (4 waves) longitudinal study show strong evidence for patient decline and high levels of depressive symptomatology among caregivers. Female caregivers reported high, stable rates of depressive symptomatology throughout the study, whereas male caregivers exhibited significant increases in depression over time. Cross-sectional multivariate analyses revealed significant positive relationships between depression and number of patient problem behaviors, negative social support, and concern about financial resources; negative relationships were found between depression and social support, quality of prior relationship, and satisfaction with social contacts. Three significant independent predictors of change in depression were found: Lower depression scores at Time 1 were related to increases in depression over time; men were more likely than women to experience increases; and a decline in social support resulted in increased depression.     

Preschool personality antecedents of narcissism in adolescence and young adulthood: A 20-year longitudinal study

This prospective study examined relations between preschool personality attributes and narcissism during adolescence and emerging adulthood. We created five a priori preschool scales anticipated to foretell future narcissism. Independent assessors evaluated the participants’ personality at ages 14, 18, and 23. Based upon these evaluations, we generated observer-based narcissism scales for each of these three ages. All preschool scales predicted subsequent narcissism, except Interpersonal Antagonism at age 23. According to mean scale and item scores analyses, narcissism increased significantly from age 14 to 18, followed by a slight but non-significant decline from age 18 to 23. The discussion focused on a developmental view of narcissism, the need for research on automatic processing and psychological defenses, and links between narcissism and attachment.     

A 20-year longitudinal study of body weight, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms

The article describes a 20-year longitudinal study of body weight, dieting, and disordered eating in women and men. Body weight increased significantly over time in both women and men. However, women's weight perception and dieting frequency decreased over time, whereas men's weight perception and dieting frequency increased, and disordered eating declined more in women than in men from late adolescence to midlife. In both women and men, changes in weight perception and dieting frequency were associated with changes in disordered eating. In addition, adult roles such as marriage and parenthood were associated with significant decreases in disordered eating from late adolescence to midlife in women, whereas few associations were observed in men. Despite different developmental trajectories, women demonstrated more weight dissatisfaction, dieting, and disordered eating compared with men across the period of observation.     

Promoting innovation: A change study

This paper considers how employee innovation develops during the course of introducing team‐working for production‐related staff. Longitudinal analysis revealed that different predictors were active at different phases. At first, changes in idea implementation were related to changes in management support. Subsequently, changes in suggestion making were associated with changes in job control and changes in idea implementation were linked to changes in team support for innovation. Results are consistent with the developmental notion that, whilst external support is an important predictor of innovation initially, structural job changes and local regulation are more important later.     

Exercise adherence or maintenance among older adults: 1-year follow-up study.

Follow-up evaluation was conducted of 101 older men and women (mean age = 67 +/- 5 years) who had participated in a randomized study of physiological and psychological effects of aerobic exercise. Eighty-five subjects completed the follow-up evaluation, and almost all of them (94%) reported continuing with physical activity, as assessed by a self-report measure. Total energy expenditure was calculated as an indicator of exercise maintenance, and energy expenditure at follow-up was predicted from measures of physiological functioning, psychological well-being, and cognitive functioning obtained at the conclusion of the structured exercise program. Greater cardiorespiratory endurance, faster psychomotor speed, and lower anxiety predicted exercise behavior at follow-up, accounting for 13% of the variance in exercise behavior. Gender was not a significant predictor of exercise behavior.     

Career patterns: A twenty-year panel study

Using 20 years of employment and job mobility data from a representative German sample (N = 1259), we employ optimal matching analysis (OMA) to identify six career patterns which deviate from the traditional career path of long-term, full-time employment in one organization. Then, in further analyses, we examine which socio-demographic predictors affect whether or not individuals follow that traditional career path. Results indicate that age, gender, marital status, number of children, education, and career starts in the public sector significantly predicted whether or not individuals followed the traditional career path. The article concludes with directions for future theoretical and methodological research on career patterns.     

Stability and change of basic personal values in early adulthood: An 8-year longitudinal study

We examined four types of stability and change in values during young adulthood. 270 respondents (aged 20–28, 54% female) completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire at three time points, separated by 4 years. Rank-order stability coefficients of the 10 values averaged 0.69 (T1-T2) and 0.77 (T2-T3). The mean importance of conservation, self-transcendence, and power values increased over time, the mean importance of achievement values decreased, and openness to change values remained stable. For 75% of respondents, the correlations of the within-person value hierarchies exceeded 0.45 from T1 to T2 and 0.61 from T2 to T3. Correlations among individual change scores for the 10 values formed coherent patterns of value change that mirror the circular structure of Schwartz’s theory.     

Neuropsychological functioning among the nonpsychotic relatives of schizophrenic patients: a 4-year follow-up study

In a prior study of 54 relatives of patients with schizophrenia and 72 control participants, 3 neuropsychological functions met the criteria for risk indicators of the schizophrenia genotype: executive functioning, memory, and auditory attention. In an assessment of the stability of these findings, the sample was reexamined 4 years after the initial assessment. Three test scores were found to differ between groups (Immediate Verbal Memory, Delayed Verbal Memory, and Dichotic Listening Digits Detected) or to show a significant Group x Gender interaction (immediate and delayed verbal and visual memories). None of the test scores showed Group x Time interactions, suggesting that the discriminating power of the tests was stable over time. Evidence for deficits in working memory and rule learning on the object alternation test was also found. These results support the idea that neuropsychological dysfunction among relatives of patients with schizophrenia is a stable trait caused by the familial predisposition to schizophrenia.     

Reforming Marriage: A Comparative Approach

In this article, I examine the case for privatising marriage and replacing civil marriage with inclusive civil union policies. I argue against this proposal because of its likely detrimental impact on the social standing of women and girls. In order to assess the importance of civil marriage historically and cross‐culturally, I examine a contemporary debate over marriage reform in some predominantly Islamic societies in regard to temporary marriage. I also propose a policy to protect the interests of children of both married and unmarried parents, so that this issue will be less of a stumbling block to proposals for inclusive civil marriage.     

Marriage Guidance Training and the Trainee's Own Marriage: A Prospective Study

Twenty trainees and 18 partners took part in a study of the effects of a marriage guidance training programme on their own marriage. Changes were assessed in two ways: retrospectively ('perceived' changes as assessed following training) and prospectively (changes calculated by comparing scores obtained before training and those obtained after training). For most dimensions there was little correspondence between 'perceived' change and 'calculated' change. This has important methodological implications, which are discussed. The 'calculated' change indicated poorer marital adjustment following training. The trainees' scores suggested that they had become less 'abasing' and less 'nurturant' towards their partners; also that they had more disagreements about 'philosophy of life' and 'dealing with in-laws'. Their comments suggested that a number of the trainees had become more analytical of their own marriages, and that training had heightened their awareness of their own needs and individuality.     

Behaviour change among overweight and socially disadvantaged adults: A longitudinal study of the NHS Health Trainer Service

Social disadvantage is associated with being overweight, a poor diet and physical inactivity. The NHS Health Trainer Service (HTS) is a national initiative designed to promote behaviour change among socially disadvantaged people in England and Wales. This study reports pre–post changes in Body Mass Index (BMI), associated behaviours and cognitions among service users who set dietary or physical activity goals during a 12-month period (2008–2009; N?=?4418). Sixty-nine percent of clients were from the two most deprived population quintiles and 94.7% were overweight or obese. Mean BMI decreased from 34.03 to 32.26, with overweight/obesity prevalence decreasing by 3.7%. There were increases in fruit and vegetable consumption, reductions in fried snack consumption, increases in frequency of moderate or intensive activity and gains in self-efficacy and perceived health and wellbeing. Clients with higher BMI, poorer diet or less activity at baseline achieved greater change. Findings suggest that the NHS HTS has the potential to improve population health and reduce health inequalities through behaviour change.