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Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW. LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8022250 C o l o s im o , Ch a r l e s P h il ip PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS CORRELATES IN THOSE EXPERIENCING THE STRESS OF VARIOUS MARITAL STATES: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY The Ohio State University PH.D. 1980 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 18 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EJ, England Copyright 1980 by Colosimo, Charles Philip All Rights Reserved PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS CORRELATES IN THOSE EXPERIENCING THE STRESS OF VARIOUS MARITAL STATES: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirenents for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Charles P. Colosimo, B.S. , M.S.W. The Ohio State University 1980 Approved By Reading Committee: Anthony C. Riccio, Ph.D. James Wigtil, Ph.D. Don Dell, Ph.D. DEDICATION This Dissertation is dedicated to my wife, Rosearm, whose timely assistance, support, encouragement and understanding was instrumental in completing this work. — to her I dedicate this Dissertation. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dissertations are the product of much personal and professional influences on the writer. Recognition and appreciation is extended to those most influential in the final product. They are Dr. Anthony C. Riccio, whose expert guidance and support facilitated this endeavor, Dr. James Wigtil, Dr. Don Dell, and Dr. James Kelsey. Thanks is extended to Jolaine Scholl who provided programming assistance. I would also like to thank the United States Air Force for allowing me to use their facilities for research. In particular I thank Dr. Bealer Rogers, Conmander, Wright Patterson Medical Center, Dr. Thomas Foley, Chief Outpatient Mental Health Service, Dr. James Deutch, Associate Chief, Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, and Colonel Ben Tadano, Assistant Administrator/Registrar Functions, for their generous assistance to complete the data gathering. I thank my father and mother-in-law, Thomas and Evelyn Calvey, and my children, Kelly and Sean, for their support and encouragement. Lastly, no words can express the thanks to my parents, Patrick and Josephine Colosimo, whose dedication and hard work I have tried to emulate. VITA September 3, 1948 ........ Bom - Frostburg, Maryland 1 9 7 1 .......................... B.S., Psychology, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Emnitsburg, Maryland 1 9 7 1 .......................... United States Air Force, Mental Health Technician 1975... ........................ M.S.W., Clinical Social Work The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. 1975 - 1979 .................. Officer - US Air Force, Clinical Social Work and Mental Health Officer, Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio 1978 - 1980 .................. Psychological Intern, Rickenbacker AFB, Rickenbacker, Ohio 1977 - 1980 Doctoral Studies The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio PUBLICATIONS The A and B Therapist in a Dyadic Interview: A Descriptive Study. (Master's Thesis, The Catholic University of America) Washington, D.C. 1975. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Counselor Education Studies in Counselor Education. Professor Anthony C. Riccio Studies in Counselor Education. Professor James Wigtil Studies in Counselor Education. Professor James Kelsey Studies in Counseling Psychology. Professor Don Dell Studies in Counseling Psychology. Professor W. Bruce Walsh v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION............................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................... iii VITA .................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ........................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................... xi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION................................... 1 Problem Statement......................... 4 Purpose ................................... 5 Statement of Hypotheses................... 6 Definition of Terms ....................... 8 Limitation of the Study ................... 11 Organization of the Dissertation .......... 14 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE....................... 15 M a r r i a g e ................................. 15 Marital Conflict ........................ 21 Divorce and Remarriage ................... 35 Stress . ....................... 46 Summary and Conclusions................... 54 III. METHODOLOGY ................................... 58 Research Approach ......................... 58 S e t t i n g ................................... 58 Sampling Procedure ....................... 59 Data Recording Format ..................... 60 Data Analysis............................. 62 Interpretation of Variables............... 63 S u m m a r y ................................... 63 vi Page IV. RESULTS .......................................... 64 Descriptive D a t a ............................ 64 Hypoth e s e s .................................. 82 Additional Findings ........................ 100 S u m m a r y .................................... 115 V. SUM1ARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS ...... 117 O v e r v i e w .................................... 117 Summary of S t u d y ............................ 117 Conclusions ................................ 120 Sane Societal Implications.................. 123 Future Recccnnendations...................... 126 VI. APPENDIXES ...................................... 127 A. Check Sheet of Physical I l l n e s s ................................ 127 B. Check Sheet For Mental H e a l t h .......... 131 VII. LIST OF R E F E R E N C E S .............................. 133 vxi» • LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. The Total Sample Number By Sex and Military Status of the Sampled Population........................ 65 2. Year Seen At A Military Mental Health Clinic By S e x ................................................. 66 3. The Number of Years Married By Sex of the Sampled Population...................................... 67 4. Marriage Status By Sex of the Sampled Population.............................................. 68 5. Previous Marriages By Sex of the Sampled Population.............................................. 70 6 . Previous Marriage By Four Marital Groups of the Sampled Population .............................. 71 7. Number of Children By Sex of the Sampled P o p u lation............................................. 72 8 . Ages of Men and Women Sampled .......................... 73 9. Extent of Education of the Sampled Population .......... 76 10. Rank in Military of Sampled Population.................. 77 11. Race of the Sampled Population.......................... 79 12. Race By Marital Status of the Sampled Population........ 80 13. Religious Preference of the Sampled Population.......... 81 14. Results of Emotional Disorders By Marital Status By S e x .......................................... 84 15. Results of Qnotional Disorders By Marital Status By S e x ......................................... 85 viii Table Page 16. Percentages of Minor Illness Reported By Marital Status By S e x ............................... 87 17. Results of Minor Illnesses By Marital Status By S e x ......................................... 88 18. Percentages of Minor Illnesses Reported By Marital Status By S e x ............................... 90 19. Results of Minor Illnesses By Marital Status By S e x ......................................... 91 20. Results of Major Illnesses By Marital Status By S e x ......................................... 92 21. Results of Major Illnesses By Marital Status By S e x ................................................ 94 22. Results of Elnotional Disorders By Marital Status ........ 96 23. Results