Marital Adjustment Trend in Asian Indian Families

• Published in: Journal of couple & relationship therapy Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 114 - 132
• Main Authors: Manyam, Suneetha B., Junior, Victoria Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 03-04-2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adjustment; adjustment among couples; Asian Indian marital adjustment; Counseling; Couples; Family Life; Life cycles; Marital Adjustment; marital adjustment across the life span; marital adjustment trend; Marriage; marriage in South Asian families; Spouses; Therapists; Trends; Values
• ISSN: 1533-2691; 1533-2683
• DOI: 10.1080/15332691.2013.852491

Marital adjustment depends on how well couples understand and cooperate with each other despite their differing personalities. The current study examines the marital adjustment trend of 480 Indian spouses from eight stages of the family life cycle. Results from the data collected through the Marital Adjustment Inventory (Developed) demonstrated a curvilinear trend concluding that the marital adjustment of couples decreased with their transition to parenthood, for launching couples, and for empty nest couples, while it steadily increased for couples during other stages of the family life cycle. All 13 areas of the Marital Adjustment Inventory yielded significant F values across the different stages. The results suggest the need for counselors, marriage and family therapists to assist couples on how to successfully adjust through various stages of the family life cycle.