Date of Award

7-2018

Document Type

Doctoral Research Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Richard T. Elmore, Jr.

Second Advisor

Barbara M. Paulillo

Third Advisor

John Frongillo

Fourth Advisor

Mary Beth Kenkel

Abstract

In the 1960’s-1970’s, the science and history of marital satisfaction was linked to ethnic, religious, and racial similarity. Previous research has administered new psychological and sociological tests, which were believed to predict marital satisfaction. Divorce rates started to rise in the 1980s in the United States. Difficulties surrounding companionate marriage revealed anxieties about the expansion of women’s legal rights, educational and employment opportunities, and interfaith or interracial marriage. Society, views on marriage, and differences between couples have contributed to difficulties in marriage. Further, research on predictors of marital satisfaction, personality similarity, and relationship adjustment was limited. The present study utilizes the 16 Personality Factor Couple’s Counseling Report (16PF CCR) variables of overall Marital Satisfaction, Personality Similarity, and Relationship Adjustment of Males in Marital Therapy. Results demonstrated a positive significant relationship between Overall Marital Satisfaction and two of the individual item satisfaction areas, including Time Together and Problem-Solving Communication Relationship Adjustment had a positive significant relationship with four personality variables, emotional stability, rule-consciousness, apprehension, and openness to change. Relationship Adjustment and Personality Similarity were individually significantly and positively correlated with Overall Marital Satisfaction. Additionally, males who were in a relationship for 0-2 years were overall more satisfied than males in a relationship for 8-14 years and 25 or more years. The limitations, implications, and arguments for further research of the current study are discussed.

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