Stressful life events and marital dysfunction

The relationship between stress and marital dysfunction was examined in 1979-80 through a study of two demographically matched groups of married couples. The study group consisted of couples who had been referred for therapy for marital problems while the control group had never been referred for psychiatric treatment of any kind. The authors compared the incidence, magnitude, and source of stressful life events. The two groups of couples differed in their reports of the incidence and sources of stress, but not in the magnitude of stress. Study couples reported almost twice the frequency of stressful events over the three-year period before referral and a significant increase in stress in the year immediatly before referral. Changes in family structure, family interaction, or both were the major sources of stress for both groups but especially so far the referred couples. The authors concluded that a significant association exists between stressful life events and marital dysfunction, and that the clincal assessment of life events can play a meaningful role in evaluation and treatment planning.