Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1998

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Human Ecology

Major Professor

Priscilla W. Blanton

Committee Members

Michael Lane Morris, Julia A. Malia, William Poppen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was (a) to explore what couples who are making the transition to marriage believe about marriage, remarriage, and parenting, (b) to determine any differences between males and females, and first married couples and remarried couples In beliefs about marriage, remarriage, and parenting, (c) to determine any Interaction effects between the variables of gender and marital status for beliefs In myths about marriage, remarriage, or parenting, and (d) to Investigate the predictive power of sociodemographic variables on couples' beliefs In myths about marriage, remarriage, and parenting. The convenience sample for this study Included 75 (N = 150) couples preparing to make the transition to marriage from two Tennessee counties: Knox County and Hamilton County. Soclodemographic data Indicated that 48% of the couples In the sample were preparing for their first marriage and 50% were preparing for a remarriage. The majority of the sample were White Americans, had completed a college degree, were employed full-time, and were aged 20-29 years. The average length of engagement for the couples was 0-6 months. In addition, 43% of the couples making the transition to marriage had children. In the present study, data analyses revealed no significant gender or marital status (I.e., first married couples versus remarried couples) differences or interaction effects between the variables of gender and marital status for the sample. Regression analyses indicated that (a) the model that included educational level was predictive of beliefs in myths about marriage for the total sample and for females, (b) the model comprised of educational level, income level, and age was predictive of beliefs in myths about remarriage for the total sample, (c) the model that included educational level was predictive of beliefs in myths about remarriage for males, and (d) the model for beliefs in myths about parenting for the total sample, males, or females contained no significant sociodemographic predictors.

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