Communication variables and voice analysis of marital conflict stress.
Pauses, laughter, interruptions, and questions were postulated to be inversely related to marital conflict stress, which was measured by voice analysis of spouses using the Psychological Stress Evaluator. Conflict between spouses was stimulated by the Inventory of Marital Conflicts. Sixty-eight middle-class couples volunteered to participate. Because communication variables were positively related to stress, the hypotheses were not supported. It is postulated that stress as measured in this study was a function of problem-solving activity rather than marital conflict. Significant correlations between communication variables indicate that this pattern of communication may be valuable as an assessment index of family system health.
D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013637:Tape Recording; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014831:Voice