How do African Americans in Strong Marriages Handle Marital Conflict?

 

Hello, how do strong African American couples handle marital conflict? The notion of being “equally yoked”, strong kinship bonds, and having strong religious beliefs have been used to characterize strong African American marriages (Vaterlaus et al., 2015).  The researchers of this study wanted to investigate the resources couples in strong African American marriages sought out if marital problems were present? (Vaterlaus et al., 2015). The study revealed African American couples in strong marriages rely on their faith and their family members when marital problems arise compared to Caucasians in strong marriages who seek out professional help when marital conflict is present (Vaterlaus et al., 2015). This is not surprising as some African Americans believe that personal matters should not be discussed outside of the home (Vaterlaus et al., 2015). For that reason, it is vital to set a solid foundation in the beginning stages of the relationship (Vaterlaus et al., 2015). Effective communication and being a good listener are the components of sorting out marital conflict among African Americans in strong marriages (Vaterlaus, et al., 2015).

Vaterlaus, J.M., Skogrand, L. & Chaney, C. (2015). Help-seeking for marital problems: Perceptions of individuals in strong african american marriages. Contemp Fam Ther, 37,  22–32.            https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-014-9324-4