Understanding Marriage: A Hong Kong Case Study

Chapter Five. Variations in the Marital Experience According to the Life Cycle

Chapter Five Variations in the Marital Experience According to the Life Cycle Apart from the differences between adjusted and non-adjusted groups and in the diverse types of marriages, variations in other aspects need also to be identified and critically examined. Analysis of the data reveals interesting patterns of change over different stages of the marital relationship. This chapter presents variations over time in the marital life cycle. Spouse scores from ENRICH are used for a cross-sectional analysis of life changes in marital satisfaction, cohesion, communication, conflict resolution, leisure activities, children and parenting, family and friends, personality issues, idealism, ethical orientation, financial management, sexual relations, egalitarian roles and adaptability. The classification of marriages into patterns is a useful way of group ing together marriages with common characteristics. However, a group which shares some similarities may also have interesting variations in other aspects. Thus an analysis of the marriage of either adjusted and non-adjusted spouses at different points of the marital life cycle is likely to show that their experience at formation could differ substantially from their experience at a later stage. These variations need to be identified, as they indicate the points of stress and satisfaction during the various stages of spousal and family living. 86 Variations in Marriage Life Cycle Variations The life cycle framework, which describes and examines family development in stage sequence, has been a very productive conceptual and research tool (Glick, 1977; Nock, 1979). It has been used in theory building (Duvall, 1977; Hill and Rodgers 1964); in practice development (Carter and McGoldrick, 1980; Falicov, 1988); and as the basis for designing a life-span focus in family life education (Hennon and Arcus, 1993). Spanier and Lewis's review (1980) of research in marital quality in the 1970s identified life cycle studies and the effects of children on marriage as the two topics that have received the greatest amount of attention. Glenn's (1990) review of the 1980s also emphasized the concentration of continuing research in these areas. Yet, despite prolific discussion and extensive research, even proponents of the life cycle framework refer to its 'unfinished character' (Mattessich and Hill, 1988) and to the approach as offering 'an incomplete explanation' (Rodgers, 1973). The main concern is that on its own the life cycle theory has 'little empirical strength' though it is recognized as offering a sound conceptual framework. Researchers point to the need for further refinement. Nevertheless, the lively debate on the effectiveness and validity of the theory has served a useful purpose. Continuing and close analysis of the stratification scheme for studying marital development has expanded our understanding of change and transformation during various time periods of the life cycle. The focus of interest has been on trends in the career of a marriage and on types of change over different aspects and at different points of time. A number of studies have confirmed the curvilinear patterns of a drop in marital quality at the time of the arrival of children, rising again during its later stages (Olson, 1983; Spanier, Lewis, and Cole, 1975). Other research has shown variations in trends over different aspects of marriage, such as love and affection, companionship, standards of living (Rollins and Cannon, 1974), also changes at different stages in empathy and self disclosure between spouses (Anderson, Russell, Schuum, 1983). Changes in the form of different developmental demands and tasks arise from changes in the composition of the family unit as the members mature. These changes are generally predictive, in that they are normal processes of marital and family living, such as the transition of the children through the school system, the wife taking on part time or full time employment, the father's career progress. Research on these aspects has focused on examining predictive changes and on identifying stressful demands at various stages to ensure adequate preparation and increased support at transition points. Variations in the Marital Experience According to the Life Cycle 87 In the Hong Kong study, variations over the life cycle in marital satisfaction, cohesion, communication, conflict resolution, leisure, children and parenting, family and friends, personality issues, idealism, ethical orientation, financial management, sexual relationships, egalitarian roles and adaptability will be analysed through the ENRICH scales. These will demonstrate: 1. Differences in trends over certain aspects of marriage. 2. Similarity in trends over certain aspects of marriage. 3. Differences in trends between adjusted and non-adjusted marriages. The sample is examined in five...