THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARITAL ADJUSTMENT AND SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF STUDENTS ATTENDING PURDUE UNIVERSITY (INDIANA)
Abstract
This study sought to investigate the marital quality of university students. Specifically examined was the relationship between marital adjustment of student couples and selected demographic variables. In March of 1983, a questionnaire developed by the researcher along with the Dyadic Adjustment Scale developed by Spanier (1976) were mailed to 500 student couples where at least one partner was enrolled as a full-time student at Purdue University. The sample was stratified to obtain equal representation of students who lived on-campus and off-campus. Of the questionnaires returned, those from 353 couples proved usable, representing a response rate of 71.6%. Eight hypotheses were examined to determine which demographic variables affected the marital adjustment of student couples. Analyses of the data indicated that length of time married, presence of children, age of the partners, and whether or not both partners were students had a significant effect on the adjustment scores of student couples. Those variables found to have little or no impact on adjustment scores included whether the partners were both undergraduate or graduate students, whether they were from in-state or out-of-state, whether or not they belonged to any social organization, or whether they lived on- or off-campus. A few of the results obtained in this study contradicted those of previous studies. However, confidence can be placed in the present results for several reasons. In the first instance, the DAS seemed well suited to the task of measuring marital adjustment as evidenced by high internal consistency. Second, the sample used in the study was large enough to enable better generalizations of the results and for more definitive conclusions to be drawn. Finally, the parameters of this study went well beyond those of existing studies by examining a larger number of factors which can possibly affect the marital adjustment of university students. The present study, while clarifying some issues concerning student marriages, strongly suggests the need for more research in this area. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Academic guidance counseling
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