Psi Chi Journal: Spring 2002
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Impact of Different Social Models on Young Adults' Views of Marriage and Divorce
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by Angela D. Nickell and Marcela Raffaelli - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Category: Social
In this study we examined the potential influence of multiple relationship models on young adults' attitudes regarding marriage and divorce. College students (n = 110; 62% women, mean age = 19.1) completed measures of marriage and divorce attitudes and described conflict and happiness of 3 couples (parents, positive marriage model, and negative marriage model). Parent and positive model characteristics were significantly correlated with marriage attitudes such that respondents describing parental and positive models that were low on conflict and high on happiness reported more positive marriage attitudes. In multiple regression analyses, only positive model happiness predicted marriage attitudes; no variables predicted divorce attitudes. Findings suggest the potential role of nonparental models in shaping young adults' attitudes toward marriage and divorce.