• 414-01 - Alexithymia and Marital Quality: The Mediating Role of Loneliness
  Presented by: Nick Frye-Cox
• 414-02 - “I’m too Tired”: Sexual Attempts and Relational Health
  Presented by: Brian Willoughby, Chelom Levitt, Adam Farero
• 414-03 - Turning Inward vs. Turning Outward : Relationship Work and its Effects on Relationship Quality
  Presented by: Jakob Jensen, Amy Rauer
• 414-04 - Positive Marital Quality of Spouse Caregivers and Its Health Benefits for the Care Recipients: Evidence From the 2004 Health and Retirement Survey
  Presented by: Heejeong Choi, Jeremy Yorgason, Sunwoo Kang

Abstracts

Alexithymia and Marital Quality: The Mediating Role of Loneliness

Presented by: Nick Frye-Cox

 This study examined whether loneliness mediated the association between alexithymia and marital quality. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, path analysis (N=155 married couples), the results revealed that both spouse’s degree of loneliness fully mediated the relationship between alexithymia and marital quality. More specifically, husband’s and wives’ levels of alexithymia predicted their own as well as their partner’s degree of loneliness, which in turn, predicted lower levels of self and partner reports of marital quality.  

“I’m too Tired”: Sexual Attempts and Relational Health

Presented by: Brian Willoughby, Chelom Levitt, Adam Farero

The present study utilized a sample of 1,233 premarital and marital couples to understand how sexual attempts were associated with relational health. Sexual attempts were conceptualized as attempts to initiate sexual contact with a partner. Mixed hierarchical regression results suggested that such attempts were generally associated with more relationship satisfaction and higher stability. Additional analyses revealed that such associations were largely determined by both gender and actual couple sexual frequency. The implications for understanding the difference between low-pressure sexual attempts and high-pressure sexual coercion within the context of couple relationships and couple well-being will be discussed.

Turning Inward vs. Turning Outward : Relationship Work and its Effects on Relationship Quality

Presented by: Jakob Jensen, Amy Rauer

This proposal highlights that across different theoretical and methodological approaches and across the lifespan, intimate relationships are of the utmost importance. That is why researchers, practitioners, and the couples themselves work so hard to enhance the quality of these relationships. Further, in keeping with the theme of this year's conference, this symposium takes the view that by understanding what supports or impedes the quality of couples' relationships, we can begin to better understand how to promote health and well-being across the lifespan.

Positive Marital Quality of Spouse Caregivers and Its Health Benefits for the Care Recipients: Evidence From the 2004 Health and Retirement Survey

Presented by: Heejeong Choi, Jeremy Yorgason, Sunwoo Kang

This proposal highlights that across different theoretical and methodological approaches and across the lifespan, intimate relationships are of the utmost importance. That is why researchers, practitioners, and the couples themselves work so hard to enhance the quality of these relationships. Further, in keeping with the theme of this year's conference, this symposium takes the view that by understanding what supports or impedes the quality of couples' relationships, we can begin to better understand how to promote health and well-being across the lifespan.