Deck 7: Marital Relationships Over the Family Life Cycle

Question 1

The family life cycle consists of phases over the life span which are determined by:

A)researchers who compile statistics
B)specific age cut-off points
C)ages of children
D)major life changes

Answer 1

D

Question 2

According to Census Bureau statistics,men tend to remarry within _____ years of divorce and women tend to remarry within _____ years of divorce.

A)2; 3
B)3; 4
C)4; 3
D)5; 4

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following does NOT fit in with the text's definition of "marital adjustment"?

A)the process of modifying individual and couple patterns of behavior
B)a means to an end
C)becoming adjusted to each other but still being unhappy and dissatisfied with the relationship
D)a process that is completed early in marriage

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Research shows that one big problem before marriage that declines substantially after marriage is:

A)jealousy
B)communication
C)money
D)relatives

Question 5

According to Census Bureau statistics,men tend to remarry ______ after divorce than women.

A)sooner
B)later
C)about the same number of years

Question 6

According to Census Bureau statistics,the median age of first marriage for couples who later divorce is:

A)2 years younger than for couples who never divorce.
B)2 years older than for couples who never divorce.
C)4 years younger than for couples who never divorce.
D)4 years older than for couples who never divorce.

Question 7

Which of the following became less of a problem after marriage than had been true before marriage - according to longitudinal research of couples?

A)money
B)communication
C)religion
D)alcohol and drugs
E)both C and D

Question 8

According to Census Bureau statistics,children are typically born _____ year(s)apart.

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 9

According to Census Bureau statistics,on average,a couple waits about _____ year(s)before having the first of _____ children.

A)1; 2
B)2; 2
C)3; 3
D)4; 2

Question 10

According to Census Bureau statistics,on the average,remarried women can expect to be widows for about __________ years.

A)4
B)5
C)7
D)10

Question 11

Making adjustments to one's partner in a marriage:

A)will always improve the marriage
B)does not necessarily make partners happier
C)may provide the highest satisfaction possible under the circumstances
D)both B and C
E)none of these

Question 12

According to Census Bureau statistics,fathers who divorce and remarry will most likely live with their _____ children.

A)biological
B)step

Question 13

In the traditional family life cycle,what does the Census Bureau say are the average ages of the mother and father when the youngest child leaves home?

A)woman is 45; man is 47
B)woman is 50; man is 51
C)woman is 51; man is 53
D)woman is 54; man is 56

Question 14

According to the text,couples' personal happiness depends to a large degree on the _____ of their marriage.

A)overall length
B)general quality
C)stability
D)state

Question 15

_____ was a bigger problem after the first child was born than either before marriage or in the first year.

A)religion
B)relatives
C)communication
D)recreation

Question 16

According to a longitudinal study of couples during three early stages of their relationship,_____ was the number one problem at all stages of the relationship.

A)jealousy
B)communication
C)money
D)relatives

Question 17

According to Census Bureau statistics,couples who divorce usually remarry when their children are:

A)preschoolers
B)early elementary age
C)middle school age
D)high school age

Question 18

According to Census Bureau statistics,youngest children typically leave home when they are _____ years old.

A)18
B)19
C)20
D)21

Question 19

According to Census Bureau statistics,in _______ couples,women typically will spend more years as a widow.

A)never divorced
B)divorced and remarried

Question 20

According to Census Bureau statistics,women tend to marry men who are ____ than/as they are.

A)about 2 years older
B)about the same age
C)about 2 years younger
D)much older

Question 21

According to research,which of the following is NOT true regarding stress and parenthood?

A)The less stressful a couple's marriage before parenthood,the more stressful parenthood becomes.
B)Part of the stress arises because couples are inadequately prepared for parenthood.
C)Parenthood is more stressful if it is not planned.
D)Part of the stress arises because of the abrupt transition to parenthood.

Question 22

The post-parental years usually refer to:

A)the period between when children go away to college and then return to live at home for some time
B)the period between the last child's leaving home and the parents' retirement.
C)the period when middle aged adults take care of their elderly parents
D)a time of marital dissatisfaction

Question 23

According to research studies,which of the following issues was as much a problem after the birth of the first child as before marriage?

A)jealousy
B)friends
C)relatives
D)religion

Question 24

Because today's generation of young adults may return home several different times to live,they are referred to as the:

A)sandwich generation
B)upside-down generation
C)good-bye kids
D)boomerang kids

Question 25

Social support during the transition to parenthood is associated with:

A)positive parent-child interactions
B)more positive adaptations to parenthood
C)more negative mental and physical health outcomes
D)all of these
E)A and B

Question 26

Which of the following is characteristic of Chinese American families?

A)great emphasis on the extended family as the most important unit
B)children have high sense of duty to parents
C)emphasis on the importance of fulfilling individual needs
D)all of these
E)A and B

Question 27

Mexican American families,in comparison to European American families:

A)have more frequent social interactions
B)show stronger levels of obligation
C)exchange more support
D)are less likely to share living arrangements with the elderly
E)A,B,and C

Question 28

The generalized capacity for flexible and resourceful adaptation to stress is referred to as:

A)coping-skill
B)play-quotient
C)ego-resiliency
D)combating-depression

Question 29

Middle-aged adults are sometimes called the __________ generation because they carry both the care-giving responsibilities for their children and for their elderly parents.

A)flip-flop
B)sandwich
C)reverse
D)upside-down

Question 30

Which of the following problems became much more serious after the birth of the first child?

A)jealousy
B)communication
C)religion
D)sex
E)both B and D

Question 31

The text points out that the most noticeable changes of midlife are

A)physical
B)emotional
C)intellectual
D)social

Question 32

The text points out that one result of the "boomerang kid" phenomenon is:

A)stronger extended family ties
B)the easing of financial pressure on middle-aged parents
C)increased conflict between parents and children
D)later retirement

Question 33

In a multicultural study of fathering,most fathers reported _______ about fatherhood.

A)ambivalent feelings
B)feeling disappointed
C)positive feelings
D)fears

Question 34

During which period of the family life cycle are most adults first confronted with their own mortality?

A)beginning marriage
B)after the first child is born
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 35

Research shows that children who receive support from their parents during childhood:

A)have fewer psychological and physical problems
B)have lower levels of depressive symptoms
C)have lower levels of self-esteem
D)A and B
E)none of these correlates

Question 36

Of the following positive contributions that fathers make to their children's well-being,most fathers tend to think that _____ is the most important feature of being a good father.

A)sharing child care responsibilities
B)being a provider
C)being available to their children
D)teaching their children

Question 37

Which period in the life cycle is the time of heaviest responsibilities at work and in the community,often leading to considerable stress?

A)Single adulthood
B)Young adulthood
C)Middle adulthood
D)Late adulthood

Question 38

Late adulthood is defined as the period of life in which adults:

A)are over 65
B)are over 75
C)become grandparents
D)lose their independence

Question 39

According to your text,middle adulthood:

A)marks a stage of low life fulfillment for most individuals.
B)marks the prime of life in many ways.
C)sees very few physical changes but many psychological changes.
D)is marked by rapid physical changes.

Question 40

The stress of new parenthood arises because of:

A)inadequate preparation for parenthood
B)abrupt transition to parenthood
C)immaturity of the parents
D)all of these
E)A and C

Question 41

According to the text,what happens to marital satisfaction during late adulthood?

A)It continues to decline.
B)It decreases after the children are launched.
C)It increases after retirement.
D)It increases briefly,then decreases.

Question 42

Studies reveal that widows report that the biggest problem they have is:

A)low income
B)loneliness
C)isolation from children
D)self-identity

Question 43

In research looking at relationships between parents and grown children,the grown children tend to describe their relationship with their older parents in terms of:

A)the quality of the relationship
B)how much their parents need them
C)how often they contact and help them
D)how available their parents are to them

Question 44

)Research findings indicate that one of the most important predictors of life satisfaction for the elderly is:

A)retirement
B)home maintenance
C)high status and prestige
D)good health

Question 45

Research shows that stress arises in _____ because of the sudden transition to the stage.

A)early marriage
B)parenthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 46

Which of the following has been shown by research NOT to be a key factor in the relationship between older adults and their grown children?

A)emotional support
B)frequent contact
C)reciprocated help
D)moderate level of support

Question 47

Studies show that during ______marital satisfaction is at its lowest point.

A)early marriage
B)middle adulthood
C)retirement
D)post retirement

Question 48

Studies show that older adults generally feel ______ when their children give them extensive help when they need it.

A)resentful
B)encouraged
C)the need to give back
D)incapacitated

Question 49

Research findings indicate that as adults get older they tend to:

A)prefer living alone
B)lose interest in pursuing friendships
C)take on different gender roles at home
D)resent their children's concern about them

Question 50

In _____,the text points out that there is significant loss of status and prestige.

A)early marriage
B)parenthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 51

The text refers to the "young-old" as being between _____ years of age.

A)45-54
B)55-64
C)65-74
D)75-84

Question 52

According to census statistics,on average,about how many years will a woman be a widow in her later years?

A)3
B)4
C)7
D)10

Question 53

How one deals with the challenges of widowhood depends on:

A)physical factors
B)emotional factors
C)spiritual factors
D)all of these
E)A and B only

Question 54

Which of the following living arrangements is of great importance to older people?

A)living in their own home
B)living with their grown children
C)living with a roommate
D)living in an extended care facility

Question 55

In _____,the text suggests that a tired marriage may need to be revitalized.

A)early marriage
B)parenthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 56

Research indicates that the majority of older people:

A)rent housing
B)live with adult children
C)live in homes they own.
D)live in senior citizens' communities

Question 57

_____ is often a period of disillusionment and disenchantment for couples who have not realized what marriage involves.

A)Early marriage
B)Parenthood
C)Middle adulthood
D)Late adulthood

Question 58

Which of the following was NOT cited by younger widows as a problem after their spouses died?

A)loneliness
B)home maintenance and car repair
C)finances
D)increased independence

Question 59

Research indicates that later-life parental divorce has a _______ effect on the relationships between older adults and their grown children.

A)generally positive
B)generally negative
C)devastating
D)strengthening

Question 60

The text makes a strong point that during ______ a great deal of stress can occur because the couple is inadequately prepared.

A)early marriage
B)parenthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 61

Discuss the traditional family life cycle of spouses in an intact marriage in the United States.

Question 62

What problems and stresses do widows face?

Question 63

The more stressful a couple's marriage prior to parenthood,the more likely they are to have problems in adjusting to their first child.

Question 64

Unmarried children continue living with their parents for a longer period of time than they used to for three basic reasons.Discuss them.

Question 65

In looking at the population over age 45,the number of widows is about 4 times the number of widowers.

Question 66

What usually precipitates a midlife crisis?

Question 67

Stress related to parenthood is greater if parents are young.

Question 68

Parents today see their children leaving home at an earlier age than in past decades.

Question 69

Ego resiliency refers to the generalized capacity to be flexible and resourceful in adapting to stress.

Question 70

Identify and give an example of five of the twelve marital adjustment tasks early in marriage as discussed in the chapter.

Question 71

Typically,according to census figures,a woman remarries 3 years after her divorce.

Question 72

The family life cycle can be said to consist of the phases,or stages,over the life span and to describe changes in family structure during each stage.

Question 73

The goal of marital adjustment is to eliminate conflict.

Question 74

Describe the "sandwich generation." To what does this term refer? Give some examples in your answer.

Question 75

Couples who prepare for parenthood find greater satisfaction in being a parent than do those who do not prepare.

Question 76

According to longitudinal research,jealousy is often a big problem after marriage,even though it was not before the marriage.

Question 77

Identify four of the nine categories of major adjustments facing elderly people that were discussed in the chapter.

Question 78

Researchers have found that gay and lesbian families are very different in most respects than are heterosexual families.

Question 79

Same sex couples have very little role flexibility.

Question 80

The chief psychological task of the final stage of life is the development of ego integrity - contentment with one's life as it is and has been.