title: Self-esteem agreement in the marital relationship.
abstract: With the use of the circular-causal model of relationship development, this study examined the convergence of the self-esteem of marriage partners over four martial life stages. Three hundred thirty-six married couples in the United States were randomly selected and divided into four life stage groups: younger couples with a child (or children) under age 6; couples with children in school; empty nest couples, in which the wife is in the age range of 45-59 years; and retired couples. Measures of a partner's self-esteem and his or her evaluation of the spouse's self-esteem were taken. The findings demonstrated a convergence of the partners' self-esteem across life stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-1070.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Keith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012649:Self Concept