DYSPHORIA AND MARITAL DISCORD - ARE DYSPHORIC INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FORMARITAL MALADJUSTMENT

The effect of dysphoria on husbands' and wives' later marital adjustme nt was examined in a sample of 264 white couples about to marry who re sponded to advertisements. Relationship satisfaction and level of dysp horia were assessed in both spouses prior to marriage, 6 months after marriage, and 18 months after marriage. Premarital dysphoria was assoc iated with later marital dissatisfaction. Husbands' premarital dysphor ia, regardless of chronicity, was associated with greater deterioratio n in both their own and their partners' marital satisfaction. Wives' p remarital dysphoria was associated with greater deterioration in marit al satisfaction only if it was chronic. Results suggest that premarita l dysphoria is associated with subsequent deterioration of marital rel ationships.