The proposed continuation would permit us to extend our knowledge of the factors that account for the differential rates of marital instability over the life course. In addition to adding to the knowledge already accumulated on such variables as income and assets, health, social integration, and life satisfaction as factors explaining divorce and divorce proneness, new questions would be addressed. Specifically, it is proposed to focus on: marital strains created by dual care-giving pressures, marital instability changes that accompany retirement, changes in marital quality as it relates to locus of control, and adjustment to divorce as it is influenced by pre-dissolution conditions, age, and gender. Finally, it is proposed that the impact of parent divorce and marital unhappiness on well-being of adult offspring be investigated. Aspects of well-being to receive special attention are the quality of intergenerational relations, economic success, and family formation behavior. To undertake these analyses funds are requested for a fourth wave of interviews with the national sample of married persons first interviewed in 1980. It is also proposed that offspring of the respondents who have reached the age of 19 be interviewed. The information gleaned from this investigation will be of value to a variety of health care and human service specialists who deal with people whose marriages may be faltering. The exceptional nature and quality of the data set developed in connection with this study makes it a valuable asset to other life course scholars. Plans are outlined for distributing the panel data to other researchers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AG004146-07A1
Application #
3114979
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Project Start
1983-09-01
Project End
1994-08-31
Budget Start
1991-09-15
Budget End
1992-08-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802
Pronin, E; Kruger, J; Savitsky, K et al. (2001) You don't know me, but I know you: the illusion of asymmetric insight. J Pers Soc Psychol 81:639-56
Amato, P R; Booth, A (2001) The legacy of parents' marital discord: consequences for children's marital quality. J Pers Soc Psychol 81:627-38
Booth, A; Amato, P (1991) Divorce and psychological stress. J Health Soc Behav 32:396-407