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Chapter 8. Marital Relationships Over the Life Cycle. Chapter Preview. Preview. Chapter Questions. Can I be happy if my marriage isn’t? How do families change over time?. Preview. Chapter Questions. What adjustments are necessary for newly married people?
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Chapter 8 Marital Relationships Over the Life Cycle
Chapter Preview Preview
Chapter Questions • Can I be happy if my marriage isn’t? • How do families change over time? Preview
Chapter Questions • What adjustments are necessary for newly married people? • So how much will my life change when I have a baby? Preview
Chapter Questions • What issues do middle-aged couples deal with? • What changes do older adults have to contend with? • What are the special challenges for widows? Preview
1st: Question 2nd: Study 3rd: Mark 4th: Question again 5th: Recite 6th: Check 7th: Restudy if necessary Guided Learning Process Preview
Text Assignment Preview
How do families change over time? • What changes happen in a typical American family? • How happy are people with their marriages at different points in life? • What special challenges do gay and lesbian families face? B 1-2-3
What adjustments are necessary for newly married people? • What kinds of adjustments do couples need to make? • What are the most common problems couples have in the early years of marriage? C 1-2
So how much will my life change when I have a baby? • Just how stressful is it going to be? • How does fathering affect a man? D 1-2
What issues do middle-aged couples deal with? • What can couples do about a long marriage that is no longer satisfying? • What kinds of adjustments do parents of grown children need to make? E 1-2
What changes do older adults have to contend with? • What makes life satisfying for older adults? • How happy are older adults in their marriages? • What is the effect of divorce between older adults? • How do older parents and grown children get along? F 1-2-3-4
Special Sections Preview SS
Personal Perspective: Widowhood What does it feel like to be a widow? Preview PP
Cultural Perspectives:Individualism versus Familism What can we learn from the Mexican American culture that could strengthen our families? Preview CP
At Issue Today Who cares for the elderly? Preview AI
A Question of Policy: Long-Term Health Care How will we be able to afford the health care costs of an aging baby boom generation? Preview QP
Marriage & Personal Happiness • Quality of marriage has strong effect on happiness and life satisfaction • Marriages have to change with life circumstances to be happy • Partners’ flexibility and willingness to make adjustments is critical A
The Family Life Cycle • Family life is divided into phases (stages) over the life span • Structure and function of family change with each stage B
The Family Life Cycle • Two children born two years apart. • Children leave at age 20. • Retirement at age 65 • Men die at age 74, women at age 80. • Women spend at least 6 years as a widow. B 1
The Family Life Cycle – Intact Marriage • Married when woman is 25 and man is 27. • First child born when woman is 27 and man is 29. • When last child leaves home, woman is 48 and man is 51. B 1
The Family Life Cycle – Intact Marriage • Woman has 16 empty-nest years, man has 14, until retirement • Couple has 9 post-retirement years together B 1
The Family Life Cycle – Divorced and Remarried • More complicated • Divorce when she is 30 and he is 32 and children are 3 and 5 • Women remarry 3 years later • Men remarry 4 years later • Children live with their mothers B 1
The Family Life Cycle – Divorced and Remarried • Women are 33 when they remarry • Children are 6 and 8. • Youngest child leaves when mother is 47. • 18 empty-nest years before retirement. • 9 post-retirement years with new husband. B 1
The Family Life Cycle – Divorced and Remarried • Men are 36 when they remarry • He becomes a stepfather. • Spouses are 33 w/ 2 children ages 6 and 8. • Youngest child leaves when man is 50. • 15 empty-nest years before retirement • 8 years together after retirement. B 1
Changes in Marital Satisfaction • 1. Stable/Positive • 2. Stable/Neutral • 3. Stable/Negative • 4. Continuous decline • 5. Continuous increase • 6. Curvilinear-most common B 2
Changes in Marital Satisfaction • Curvilinear most common • High satisfaction at time of marriage • Lower during child-rearing years • Rebounds — youngest child beyond adolescent years B 2
Gay and Lesbian Families • Similarities to other family types: • Negotiate relationships with larger community and families of origin • Decide how to meet needs • Whole family • Individual members B 3
Marital Adjustment Process • Modifying and adapting behavior and interaction patterns • Both individual and couple changes • Goal: Marital satisfaction and success G
Marital Adjustment Tasks Emotional fulfillment & support Sexual adjustment Personal habits Gender roles Material concerns & finances Work, employment, & achievement G 1
Marital Adjustment Tasks Social life, friends, and recreation Family and relatives Communication Power and decision making Handling conflict and solving problems Morals, values, and ideology G 1
Adjustment depends on: • How many other issues couple has to deal with regarding: • Degree of compatibility • How many issues unresolved G 1
Major Issues at Early Stages Table 8.2 = challenges couples face early Money is number one, then: Before marriage: jealousy, relatives, friends First year of marriage: communication and sex After first birth: sex, communication, relatives; jealousy and friends drop to bottom of list C 2
Requirements for Adjusting to Parenthood Living with a totally dependent person is very challenging! Preparation Willingness to ask for and accept help Flexibility in adjusting life to meeting another’s needs D
Degree of stress depends on: • How well prepared parents are • How easy child is to care for • Maturity of parents • Economic status • Social support D 1
Being a Father • What men consider important in fathering: • Love • Being a provider • “Being there” • Being a model, teacher, moral guide D 2
Being a Father • Affected development more than anything else • Much more positive than negative, despite challenges • Gave meaning to life D 2
Midlife Issues Physical changes Awareness of finite time left – personalization of mortality Introspection and self-analysis Heavy financial responsibilities Entering prime of life’s fulfillment E
Adjustments during Middle Adulthood • Marital satisfaction lowest – school age/teenage children • Time for revitalization • Sandwich generation • Postparental years • Empty nest • No so empty nest — boomerang kids E 1
Late Adulthood Means Maintaining: • Health and activity level • Adequate income • Fulfilling work roles • Acceptable living conditions • Identity and social status F 1
Late Adulthood Means Maintaining: -Companionship and friendship -Leisure time -New familial roles -Acceptance of one’s life and achieving ego integrity F 1
Adjustments during Late Adulthood • Marital satisfaction usually increased — second honeymoon • Divorce more difficult when older • Negatively affects parent-adult child relationship • Maintaining parent-adult child relations is important F 2-3-4