Dyadic adjustment: An ecosystemic examination

This study examined the relationship of background, individual, and family influences on dyadic adjustment, using an ecological perspective. Data from 102 married couples were used. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine hypotheses. For both husbands and wives, overall stress, emotional health, number of marriage and family problems, and family life satisfaction were significantly related to dyadic adjustment in bivariate correlations. For wives, physical health was also significantly related to dyadic adjustment in bivariate correlations, whereas for husbands, age at current marriage was significantly related to dyadic adjustment in bivariate correlations. Analyses were conducted in a three-step hierarchical procedure, examining background variables, then individual variables, and last family variables. Age at marriage (for husbands), emotional health (for wives), and number of marriage and family problems as well as family life satisfaction (for both husbands and wives) were related to dyadic adjustment in the multivariate context. Implications are discussed for premarital counselors and marriage and family therapists.