What is Your Relationship Type?

 Hello, there has been a major shift in the marital quality and stability among the African American community (Allen & Olson, 2001). Foregone is the decade where children are raised in traditional two-parent households within the African American community (Allen & Olson, 2001). More and more African Americans are abandoning or delaying marriage altogether (Allen & Olson, 2001). Allen and Olson (2001) conducted a study to determine if there were differing marital typologies among African American marriages. There were five distinctive marital typologies: a) vitalized, b) harmonious, c) traditional, d) conflicted, and e) devitalized couples (Allen & Olson, 2001). Couples who fell within the vitalized and harmonious typologies were couples who exhibited the highest levels of marital satisfaction and were least likely to divorce (Allen & Olson, 2001). Traditional couples reported moderate levels of marital satisfaction, had infrequent thoughts of considering divorce, contrasted with couples who fell into the Devitalized and Conflicted domains (Allen & Olson, 2001). Couples in these groups yielded higher levels of couple dissatisfaction, one and/or both partners have considered divorce, and have a higher likelihood of experiencing low marital instability (Allen & Olson, 2001). Knowing these specific marital typologies, can help clinicians understand how these typologies may shape their current perceptions of marriage.

Allen, W. D., & Olson, D. H. (2001). Five types of african-american marriages. Journal of   Marital and Family Therapy, 27(3), 301–314. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606. 2001.tb00326.x