Suchergebnisse

Although the barriers to couples' help seeking can be daunting, to date there is only a small body of literature addressing the factors that motivate couples to seek help. This study examined the association between attitudes toward relationship help seeking and relationship help seeking behaviors, as well as the association between marital quality and help seeking. This study was completed in the context of the Marriage Checkup, a brief intervention designed to reduce the barriers to help seeking. Results indicated that help seeking attitudes and behaviors were not related in couples, and that wives' marital quality was negatively associated with both wives' and husbands' help seeking. Husbands' marital quality was not associated with husbands' help seeking. Overall, this suggests that the process of couples' help seeking is distinct from that of individuals and seems to be driven primarily by the female partner. Further implications for theory and treatment are discussed.

In a highly gendered society where both relational expectations and career aspirations are socialized goals, emerging adult women are uniquely positioned when considering their futures. Choices regarding education, career, and romantic relationships are linked to social pressures, leading young women to be conflicted about what goals to prioritize. This study analyzes interviews exploring how women in committed relationships currently in college, or recently graduated, are balancing these life domains at the intersection of gender in the United States. Findings indicate that emerging adult women struggle with their own desires for romantic commitment in the face of societal presumptions, logistical battles, and feelings of instability anxiety. Yet, commitment, communication, and faith in serendipity emerged as protective relationship factors. Although continuing a romantic relationship is not impossible during such instability, relationships for young women today may not exist without notable individual compromise and hold more significance concerning young women's perceived autonomy.