Difference and similarities between younger and older marriages across cultures: A comparison of american and israeli retired nondistressed marriages

This study investigated the similarities and differences between older and younger couples and between couples of different ages and cultures using measurement instruments in which normative data are available for comparison. Results show the older Israeli and American samples to be more similar to each other and different from both the Israeli and American younger couples. Older retired nondistressed couples had significantly lower levels of distress, less desire for change in their marriage, and better perceptual accuracy of the changes desired by their partners than younger Israelis and younger Americans. The types of changes desired by the older samples include more desire for social contact with family and friends than do younger couples in both cultures, more desire for husbands' attention to appearances, and less sex- role-stereotyped responses for both sexes. However, some universal concerns of all married couples were pinpointed, including a wish to receive more attention when needed and a wish for more time together.