Welcome to the Presentation

on
Marital Problems, Effects and Assessments

Presented To:
Shamima Akter (M. Phil.)
Assistant Professor
Department of Phychology
Jagannath University

Presented By:
Afroza Aktar
Roll No.: M- 180603011
Session: 2018-19
&
Nafisa Nur Omey
Roll No.: M- 180603004
Session: 2018-19
Contents
• Marital problems
• Common Causes of Marital Problems
• Effects of Marital Problems
• Assessment Techniques of Marital Problems
Marital problems
Marital problems cause couples to seek a divorce on a daily basis.
Whether or not a marriage survives when a problem hits depends
on the problem and how a couple decides to deal with that
problem.
Couples who are able to work together in resolving conflict are
more likely to be able to save their marriage. Couples who lack
the proper conflict resolution skills may find themselves in
divorce court for problems that could have easily been solved.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

Marital problems are common and can happen for a variety of reasons.
In some cases, the issue might end up as the reason for a divorce. In
other cases, the problems are resolved if both spouses are willing to
make an effort to address them. Here are some of the most common
marital problems between spouses.
1. Money Problems
Money problems are a common cause of marital problems. A difference
in opinion about saving and spending habits can create tension.
Problems can also arise due to a drastic difference in income between
spouses. When one person makes more money than the other, they may
start to feel resentful about the hours they put in at work. They may also
start to think they have more “right” to the money and can spend it
however they want.
If you’re experiencing money problems, it may be a good idea to consult
with a financial advisor to help you agree on how to spend and save.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

2. Lack of Intimacy
Intimacy in marriage is important and also one of the most common
causes of marital problems. A lack of intimacy isn’t a reason to cheat.
However, lack of sex can result in a loss of connection. It can also make
the other person feel unwanted or unloved. If you are no longer
interested in being intimate, consider talking to your doctor or seeking out
a therapist who specializes in these issues.
3. Splitting Up Chores
The distribution of household chores requires careful consideration. If
either spouse feels that the work load is unbalanced, it can lead to marital
problems. Sometimes, one spouse doesn’t think they need to help at
home since they feel they work long hours at their job. Some spouses
believe a stay-at-home parent should be responsible for everything at
home, around the clock. It is unlikely that the person at home is “lounging
around” all day. As long as everyone is working hard all day, a shared
distribution of work during your time together is reasonable.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

4. Change in Appearance
As we grow older, we change. Things like gaining (or losing)
weight, age, stress, and genetics all affect how we age. While you
might want your spouse to look and act the same forever, this
isn’t going to happen. Holding someone to this unrealistic
expectation sets up the marriage for arguments and
disappointment.
5. Fertility Struggles
Many couples assume when they’re ready to have children, it will
be an easy process. Unfortunately, some experience challenges
when they try to start a family – health issues, genetics, changes
in priorities, and more. Sometimes a baby doesn’t come when or
how you want.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

6. Poor Communication
Lack of communication can be one of the toughest marital problems
to work through. Learning to effectively communicate with each other
takes effort and understanding.
If communication is a frequent marital problem you’re facing, you
may want to find someone unbiased such as a therapist to help you
improve your communication. In addition to them helping you
understand each other better, they can give you exercises to make
communication less frustrating for both of you. Taking the time to
address this issue will make all other areas of marriage easier to
navigate.
7. Infidelity
It’s not uncommon for a marital relationship to be tested if a spouse
has been unfaithful. Even internet relationships, which can rise to the
level of “emotional affairs,” have been known to cause marital issues.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

8. Inconsistent Religious Beliefs

There will always be different perspectives within your marriage,
but differences in core beliefs and values may become too big to
ignore. One spouse may get frustrated with always having to do
religious activities separately, especially if you both attend
different places of worship.
9. Experiencing Trauma
No two people experience trauma in the same way. One spouse
might turn away, whereas the other turn to their partner for
comfort. If one of you doesn’t know what the other needs, or
isn’t prepared to give it to them, you may notice a rift develop.
Common Causes of Marital Problems

10. Trust
Some spouses trust each other until they are given a reason not to.
For others, trust must be earned. Whether you are a spouse who
feels you have a reason not to trust the other, or whether you are a
spouse who feels that your partner’s trust is being unjustly withheld,
the lack of trust can present an impediment to a healthy marital
relationship.
11. Too Predictable
Although some people are comforted by their day-in/day-out
routine, other people may simply get bored if their relationship has
become too predictable. Some couples do the exact same things
year after year and without doing anything spontaneous. Although
this may not be a problem if both spouses prefer the tried-and-true,
boredom may become a problem in relationships that lack
spontaneous activity.
Effects of Marital Problems
Marital distress is one of the most frequently encountered and disturbing
human problems. Everyone who is married experiences difficulties. For
some, these troubles reach the point of profound disappointment and
doubts about staying married. Even marriages that are seemingly going well
can suffer distress if a single shattering event, such as an extramarital affair,
takes place. Marital distress has powerful effects on the partners, often
leading to great sadness, worry, a high level of tension, anxiety, and
depression. And, if prolonged, it can negatively impact one's physical health.
The effect on families is also profound, especially when conflict is high.
Children raised in high-conflict homes tend to have more emotional
difficulties. And once marriages are distressed, a progressive dyadic decline
begins that easily cascades downward, ultimately leading to the demise of
the relationship. However, in most situations, this negative direction can be
corrected and most marriages can return to a state of satisfaction. Some can
make these changes on their own, but most often the successful repair of a
relationship in distress is best facilitated by a trained marriage and family
therapist.
Assessment Technique
1. Observation method: The term participant observation, in its general
usage, refers to assessment procedures in which the observer is clearly
visible to the person being observed (Wiggins, 1973). The observer may
maintain a passive, noninteractive role or may directly interact with the
person being observed. In the marital and family literature, that definition
covers three types of observation procedures. First, there have been direct
observations by noninteractive and uninvolved trained coders, that is,
objective observations by a “blend-into-the-woodwork” type of observer
(e.g., Patterson, 1982). Second, there are observations that family members
make of one another during the natural course of daily interactions.
Techniques that record these observations also have been referred to as
quasi-observational or quasi-behavioral (Weiss & Margolin, 1986), because
the observer’s objectivity is affected by the extensive and intensive
interaction that has occurred and continues to occur between himself or
herself and the person being observed. Third are observations in which the
person doing the reporting is also the target of the observation (or is one of
several targets). This type of observation is an example of self-monitoring.
Assessment Technique
2. Interview method: This interview was developed to assess adults'
representations of their current relationship with a partner as an
adjunct to available assessments of relationship representations of
parents with young children (infant-parent attachment) and adults
with their own parents (adult attachment). From this pilot study of
24 couples, we present:
(1) The distribution of marital attachment classifications,
(2) The concordance between marital attachment and adult
attachment classifications; and
(3) The associations between marital attachment classification
(representation) and family factors. We then speculate about the
utility of this new narrative approach for understanding how
attachment in intimate relationships may be useful in
appreciating components of intergenerational transmission of
attachment.
Assessment Technique
3. Relationship Assessment Scale: Relationship satisfaction is one
of the key areas of relationship assessment. While instruments
are available for assessing relationships, many are long and time
consuming and some are only suitable for use with married
couples. The Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) is a brief
measure of global relationship satisfaction. It consists of seven
items, each rated on a five-point likert scale. It is suitable for use
with any individuals who are in an intimate relationship, such as
married couples, cohabiting couples, engaged couples, or dating
couples. The brevity of the scale increases its utility in clinical
settings and for online administration. Research has shown the
scale to be correlated with other measures of love, sexual
attitudes, self-disclosure, commitment, and investment in a
relationship (Hendrick, 1988).
Assessment Technique
Relationship satisfaction is one of the key areas of relationship
assessment.
1. While instruments are available for assessing relationships, many
are long and time consuming and some are only suitable for use
with married couples.
2. The Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) is a brief measure of
global relationship satisfaction. It consists of seven items, each
rated on a five-point likert scale. It is suitable for use with any
individuals who are in an intimate relationship, such as married
couples, cohabiting couples, engaged couples, or dating couples.
3. The brevity of the scale increases its utility in clinical settings and
for online administration. Research has shown the scale to be
correlated with other measures of love, sexual attitudes, self-
disclosure, commitment, and investment in a relationship
(Hendrick, 1988).
Assessment Technique
4. Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale: Marital satisfaction has
been psychometrically measured using many different
instruments not soundly based on theory. The Revised Dyadic
Adjustment Scale (RDAS), consisting of 14 items, is commonly
accepted by researchers and practitioners to measure marital
satisfaction but was not specifically designed to measure marital
satisfaction. The Satisfaction with Married Life Scale (SWML),
consisting of five items, is a short scale specifically targeted
toward measuring marital satisfaction.
Thank You