IS MARITAL QUALITY DECLINING - THE EVIDENCE FROM 2 GENERATIONS

We investigated the possibility that changes in the economic and socia l context of marriage have lowered marital quality in recent marriages . We used data from a national probability sample of two generations r epresenting individuals married between 1969-1980 and between 1981-199 2. Compared with the older group, the younger group (both men and wome n) reported significantly lower levels of marital interaction and sign ificantly higher levels of marital conflict and problems. Increases in age at first marriage and education between generations did not offse t these declines. Changes in economic resources, work and family deman ds, wives' gender role attitudes, and cohabitation prior to marriage a ccounted for these changes.