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Discordance in couples’ reporting of courtship stages: Implications for measurement and marital quality.
- Source :
-
Social Science Research . Jul2013, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p1143-1155. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Abstract: The symbolism of rituals creates a shared understanding of events among group members. In the context of romantic relationships, a shared understanding of relationship status transitions may be associated with greater commitment and higher quality relationships. We argue that couples with differing retrospective accounts of their premarital courtship may not have had clear discussions or rituals marking relationship turning points. We test the association between discordance in couples’ reports of premarital courtship stages and marital quality using data from married couples in a national online survey (n =1504). We find that couple discordance is common, particularly among former premarital cohabitors and for the less institutionalized relationship stages of dating and stayovers, and is associated with lower marital quality. Implications for relationship measurement and the meaning of couple discordance are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *COURTSHIP
*MARITAL quality
*SYMBOLISM
*RITUAL
*DATA quality
*INTERNET surveys
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0049089X
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Social Science Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 88985694
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2013.01.009