The Effect of Equity,Equality, and Reward Level on the Stability of Students' Premarital Relationships

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine to what degree equity, equality, and reward level discriminate between stable and unstable premarital relationships. Questionnaires were administered to 131 American students to ascertain the level of equity, equality, and rewards in their current premarital relationships. They were tested 3 months and again 7 months after initial contact. The results demonstrate that only reward level successfully discriminated between stable and unstable relationships. In addition, equity and equality did not discriminate between groups after controlling for reward level.