PROBLEMS IN REMARRIAGE - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY OF INTACT AND TERMINATED REMARRIAGES

This study explored the problems in remarriages which remained intact and those which ended in divorce to determine differences in the serio usness of problems with step/children and whether the redivorced repor ted greater disagreement on key issues. The effects of gender and fami ly structure on marital consensus were explored also. Using a matched sample of 26 remarried and redivorced individuals, the findings indica ted that those redivorced did not report problems with step/children t o be more serious. They did report a significantly greater frequency o f disagreement with spouses on matters involving money, parenting of s tep/children, spousal and outsider relations, household expectations, and miscellaneous issues. It also was found that gender and remarried family type did not significantly affect consensus except for ''outsid er'' relations; remarriages with children born only to the current mar riage reported greater disagreement than either simple or complex step families.