Early Family Ties and Marital Stability Over 16 Years: The Context of Race and Gender

Authors

Terri L. Orbuch, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
José A. Bauermeister, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Edna Brown, University of Connecticut
Brandyn Dior Mckinley, University of ConnecticutFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2013

Publication Title

Family Relations

Abstract

Spouses' emotional ties to family early in marriage are linked to marital outcomes, but little is known about how these ties affect marital stability and whether these effects vary by race and gender. The present study examines the links between emotional ties to family of origin and in-laws in the first year of marriage and marital stability over the first 16years of marriage. Data were collected as part of a longitudinal study following Black American (n=199) and White American (n=174) married couples. Analyses revealed that perceptions of closeness to in-laws early in marriage were associated with odds of divorce over time, but the results varied by race and gender. Findings are discussed in terms of couples' ties to family early in marriage and the role that in-law bonds play for marital stability. We also offer insights for practitioners who provide premarital and marital education and counseling services to couples.

Keywords

Black Americans, Divorce, Family ties, Marriage, Race

Volume

62

Issue

2

First Page

255

Last Page

268

DOI

10.1111/fare.12005

ISSN

01976664

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Orbuch, Terri L.; Bauermeister, José A.; Brown, Edna; and Mckinley, Brandyn Dior, "Early Family Ties and Marital Stability Over 16 Years: The Context of Race and Gender" (2013). School for Social Work: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ssw_facpubs/31