Many studies have found that marital quality is high in the early years of marriage but declines and remains at a relatively low level until later in the marriage, when it may rise again, especially after children leave home. More recent research suggests that the steepest decline in marital satisfaction occurs shortly after marriage. There are many factors that may be affecting Tom in his current marriage and I will discuss ten different factors: Predictability of the stressor. Social support (human relationships); Perceived (or actual) control over the stressor; The amount of stress; Exercise; Cognitive appraisal; Relaxation; Explanatory style; Personality ("Type-A"); and The "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (Gottman).
There are many factors that may be causing stress to a newlywed couple. Every marriage has its challenges, but stress in your marriage may be affecting more than just your relationship. New studies have revealed that couples in stressful marriages are physically less healthy than couples in happy marriages. According to this research, unhappy couples have compromised immune systems, higher blood pressure and faster heart rates than their happy counterparts. Even more alarming, they could be at an increased risk for heart disease, arthritis and cancer. How can we prevent stress in marriage? We can begin by discussing communication.
Tom and his wife have been bickering non-stop in their marriage and nothing is being resolved. We can predict they may be having trouble in the communication department. Communication is an important component of intimate relationships (Noller and Fitzpatrick, 1990; Weiss and Heyman; 1990). It is the key in resolving conflict and resolving differences. When communication between partners is positive and effective, both are likely to be satisfied with the relationship. When communication is negative or ineffective in resolving problems (as Tom’s), partners are much more likely to view the relationship as...