title: The personality of marital distress: an empirical typology.
abstract: Couples seeking marital therapy (N = 102) completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & McKinley, 1943). Cluster analytic procedures were performed on partners' MMPI validity and clinical scales. Five distinct types of couples were identified: Conflicted, Depressed, Dissatisfied Wives, Dysphoric, and Domestic Calm. The resulting cluster solution was successfully replicated with a separate sample of dissatisfied couples. With reference to additional measures of marital adjustment, a description of each couple type is provided, along with implications for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fals-Stewart
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Birchler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lucente
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics