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Chapter 8

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

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  1. Chapter 8 Marital Relationships Over the Life Cycle

  2. Chapter Preview Preview

  3. Chapter Questions • Can I be happy if my marriage isn’t? • How do families change over time? Preview

  4. Chapter Questions • What adjustments are necessary for newly married people? • So how much will my life change when I have a baby? Preview

  5. 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

  6. 1st: Question 2nd: Study 3rd: Mark 4th: Question again 5th: Recite 6th: Check 7th: Restudy if necessary Guided Learning Process Preview

  7. Text Assignment Preview

  8. Can I be happy if my marriage isn’t? A

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. What are the special challenges for widows? G

  15. Special Sections Preview SS

  16. Personal Perspective: Widowhood What does it feel like to be a widow? Preview PP

  17. Cultural Perspectives:Individualism versus Familism What can we learn from the Mexican American culture that could strengthen our families? Preview CP

  18. At Issue Today Who cares for the elderly? Preview AI

  19. 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

  20. Preview SS END

  21. 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

  22. A End

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. B End

  34. Marital Adjustment Process • Modifying and adapting behavior and interaction patterns • Both individual and couple changes • Goal: Marital satisfaction and success G

  35. Marital Adjustment Tasks Emotional fulfillment & support Sexual adjustment Personal habits Gender roles Material concerns & finances Work, employment, & achievement G 1

  36. 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

  37. Adjustment depends on: • How many other issues couple has to deal with regarding: • Degree of compatibility • How many issues unresolved G 1

  38. 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

  39. C End

  40. 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

  41. 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

  42. Being a Father • What men consider important in fathering: • Love • Being a provider • “Being there” • Being a model, teacher, moral guide D 2

  43. Being a Father • Affected development more than anything else • Much more positive than negative, despite challenges • Gave meaning to life D 2

  44. D End

  45. 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

  46. 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

  47. E End

  48. Late Adulthood Means Maintaining: • Health and activity level • Adequate income • Fulfilling work roles • Acceptable living conditions • Identity and social status F 1

  49. Late Adulthood Means Maintaining: -Companionship and friendship -Leisure time -New familial roles -Acceptance of one’s life and achieving ego integrity F 1

  50. 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

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