Data from two longitudinal studies (Normative Aging Study and Terman Life Cycle Study) were used to investigate the intrapersonal predictors of earlier and later divorce. Initially married individuals were classified as having not divorced, divorced before 20 years of marriage, or divorced after 20 or more years of marriage. Individuals rated as more disagreeable (angry, vain/egotistical, lacking sympathy/tenderness) and more impulsive (lacking conscientiousness and perseverance) were at higher risk for earlier than later divorce. Although individuals rated higher on neuroticism were more likely to divorce, certain aspects of neuroticism (feelings of inadequacy and sensitivity) were not associated with the timing of divorce. Results indicate that intrapersonal characteristics that are associated with divorces occurring relatively early in marriages are not necessarily predictive of divorces occurring in marriages of longer duration.
Aldwin, C.M. , Spiro, A., Levenson, M.R. & Bosse, R. (1989) `Longitudinal Findings from the Normative Aging Study: I. Does Mental Health Change with Age?'Psychology and Aging4: 295-306.
2.
Becker, G.S. (1991) A Treatise on the Family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
3.
Bentler, P.M. , & Newcomb, M.D. (1978) `Longitudinal Study of Marital Success and Failure', Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology46: 1053-1070.
4.
Bossé, R. , Ekerdt, D.J. & Silbert, J.E. (1984) `The Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study', in S.A. Mednick, M. Harway & K.M. Finello (eds) Handbook of Longitudinal Research: Vol. 2. Teenage and Adult Cohorts, pp. 273-295. New York: Praeger.
5.
Bradbury, T.N. , Campbell, S.M. & Fincham, F.D. (1995) `Longitudinal and Behavioral Analysis of Masculinity and Femininity in Marriage', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology68: 328-341.
6.
Brodman, K. , Erdmann, A.J. & Wolff, H.G. (1949) Manual for the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire. New York: Cornell University Medical College.
7.
Bumpass, L.L. , Castro Martin, T. & Sweet, J.A. (1991) `The Impact of Family Background and Early Marital Factors on Marital Disruption', Journal of Family Issues12: 22-42.
8.
Caspi, A. , Elder, G.H. Jr & Bem, D.J. (1987) `Moving Against the World: Life-course Patterns of Explosive Children', Developmental Psychology23: 308-313.
9.
Castro Martin, T. & Bumpass, L.L. (1989) `Recent Trends in Marital Disruption', Demography26: 37-51.
10.
Costa, P.T. Jr & McCrae, R.R. (1985) The NEO Personality Inventory Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
11.
Franz, C.E. , McClelland, D.C. & Weinberger, J. (1991) `Childhood Antecedents of Conventional Social Accomplishment in Midlife Adults: A 36-year Prospective Study', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology60: 586-595.
12.
Heaton, T.B. (1991) `Time-related Determinants of Marital Dissolution', Journal of Marriage and the Family53: 285-295.
13.
Heaton, T.B. , Albrecht, S.L. & Martin, T.K. (1985) `The Timing of Divorce', Journal of Marriage and the Family47: 631-639.
14.
Karney, B.R. & Bradbury, T.N. (1995) `The Longitudinal Course of Marital Quality and Stability: A Review of Theory, Method, and Research', Psychological Bulletin118: 3-34.
15.
Kelly, E.L. (1939) `Concerning the Validity of Terman's Weights for Predicting Marital Happiness', Psychological Bulletin36: 202-203.
16.
Kelly, E.L. & Conley, J.J. (1987) `Personality and Compatibility: A Prospective Analysis of Marital Stability and Marital Satisfaction', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology52: 27-40.
17.
Kiernan, K.E. (1986) `Teenage Marriage and Marital Breakdown: A Longitudinal Study', Population Studies40: 35-54.
18.
Kurdek, L.A. (1993) `Predicting Marital Dissolution: A 5-year Prospective Longitudinal Study of Newlywed Couples', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology64: 221-242.
19.
Musante, L. , Treiber, F.A., Davis, H., Strong, W.B. & Levy, M. (1992) `Hostility: Relationship to Lifestyle Behaviors and Physical Risk Factors', Behavioral Medicine18: 21-26.
20.
National Center for Health Statistics (1984) `Advance Report of Final Divorce Statistics, 1981', Monthly Vital Statistics Report32(9): Suppl. (2), DHHS, Publication No. (PHS) 84-1120. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service.
21.
Rockwell, R.C. , Elder, G.H. Jr & Ross, D.J. (1979) `Psychological Patterns in Marital Timing and Divorce', Social Psychology Quarterly42: 399-404.
22.
Sears, R.R. (1977) `Sources of Life Satisfactions of the Terman Gifted Men', American Psychologist32: 119-128.
23.
Sears, R.R. (1984) `The Terman Gifted Children Study', in S. Mednick, M. Harway & K. Finello (eds) Handbook of Longitudinal Research, Vol. 1, pp. 398-414. New York: Praeger.
24.
Terman, L.M. (1938) Psychological Factors in Marital Happiness. New York: McGraw-Hill.
25.
Terman, L.M. & Oden, M.H. (1947) The Gifted Child Grows Up: Twenty-five Year Followup of a Superior Group. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
26.
Tucker, J.S. & Friedman, H.S. (1996) `Emotion, Personality, and Health', in C. Malatesta-Magai & S. McFadden (eds) Handbook of Emotion, Adult Development and Aging. London: Academic Press.
27.
Tucker, J.S. , Friedman, H.S., Wingard, D.L. & Schwartz, J.E. (1996) `Marital History at Midlife as a Predictor of Longevity: Alternative Explanations to the Protective Effect of Marriage', Health Psychology15: 94-101.
