Marital Dysfunction 1 Chapter 28 : Marital Dysfunction

We examine the literature on marital discord to identify potential indicators. Welldocumented indicators are found both in the interpersonal and intra-individual realms.Personality factors and other abiding individual difference variables appear to play a rolein the development of marital discord. An integrative model is offered, highlighting thepotential for interpersonal, intra-individual, and contextual processes to form a non-linear, dynamic system that is influenced by personality characteristics. The potential forsuch a system to result in discontinuous shift from non-discordant to discordant isdiscussed. We also highlight the potential for marital discord to produce significantmorbidity and burden as well as to influence broader family systems and outcomes forchildren. The emerging model of marital discord suggests that existing modest treatmentand prevention effect sizes can be enhanced. However, it highlights the likelihood thatprevention and treatment efforts may have somewhat different foci.