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Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

8-1973

Citation

Thesis (M.S.)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1973. Department of Human Development and the Family.

Comments

Copyright 1973, the author. Used by permission.

Abstract

This research has been conducted to examine the possible effects of crisis upon remarriage during the middle years.This research has been concerned with remarriage (RM) during the middle years only as it relates to the following crises:(1) income, (2) employment, (3) relocation, (4) problems with the children, (5) loneliness, (6) social activities, (7) religion, (8) critical health problems, (9) minor health problems, and (10) death.

The 86 subjects participating in this sample were representative of a middle class socio-economic group living in a community of 160,000 people.There were 45 subjects who were remarried and 41 subjects who were formerly married.These two groups were subdivided into four: (1) the remarried divorced with 28; (2) the remarried widowed with 17; (3) the formerly widowed divorced with 22; and (4) the formerly married widowed with 19.

When assessing the reactions to the ten crises suggested in this study, the following was found:

  1. No difference was found in the number of crises experienced between the remarried and formerly married.

  2. The remarried and formerly married ranked the ten crises in a very similar manner.

  3. Although there were no significant differences in the crises checked for other age levels, the findings suggest that the 35-39 age group may be at the peak regarding the experiencing of crises (giving some support for the concept of middlescence).

  4. The remarried indicated a stronger desire to face future crises with a mate than did the formerly married.

When assessing the scores from the Life Satisfaction Scale the following were found:

  1. The remarried had significantly higher scores than the formerly married.

  2. The remarried widowed had significantly higher scores than the remarried divorced.

  3. There was no significant difference in the scores of the formerly married divorced and the formerly married widowed.

  4. There was no significant difference in the scores of the remarried and first married (giving implications for further study regarding the success of remarriage).

    Advisor: Ruby Gingles

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