Fiery wives and icy husbands: Pre-marital counseling and covenant marriage as buffers against effects of childhood abuse on gendered marital communication?

    Authors

    K. M. Krivickas; L. A. Sanchez; C. T. Kenney;J. D. Wright

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Soc. Sci. Res.

    Keywords

    Pre-marital counseling; Covenant marriage; Childhood abuse; MENTAL-HEALTH CONSEQUENCES; SEXUAL-ABUSE; RELATIONSHIP QUALITY; ADULT; RECOLLECTIONS; LONGITUDINAL VIEW; PHYSICAL ABUSE; CONFLICT; COUPLES; COHABITATION; SURVIVORS; Sociology

    Abstract

    We examine relationships between childhood abuse and two maladaptive marital communication patterns - hostile and withdrawing - and test whether covenant marriage or pre-marital counseling mediate the effects of childhood abuse. Drawing on a sample from the Marriage Matters (1997-2004) data, we find both gendered differences in communication and in the relationship between childhood abuse and negative communication patterns. Wives are more likely to use a hostile style of communication, whereas husbands are more likely to use a withdrawing style. We also find that childhood abuse affects hostile communication for both spouses but influences only wives' withdrawing. Neither covenant marriage nor pre-marital counseling is associated with hostile communication for either spouse. Covenant marriage increases husbands' withdrawal from conflict, whereas pre-marital counseling increases the use of withdrawing communication in both wives and husbands. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Social Science Research

    Volume

    39

    Issue/Number

    5

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    700

    Last Page

    714

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000281361500003

    ISSN

    0049-089X

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