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Abstract

A fundamental purpose of this study was to furnish marriage preparation prviders (counselors, educators, and ecclesiastical leaders) with information about specific problem areas that might be encountered in LDS first marriages and remarriages. A structured questionnaire was sent to a national sample of LDS counselors, defined as members of the Association of Mormon Counselors & Psychotherapists (AMCAP). These LDS counslors rated 29 problem areas that couples might encounter in a first marriage or remarriage. Results were analyzed in an attempt to determine the most frequently occuring, most damaging, and most difficult problems to deal with in LDS first marriages and remarriages. Findings suggest that "unrealistic expectations of marriage or spouse," "communication," "money management/finances," "decision making/problem solving," "power struggles," and "sex" were all identified as the most frequently occurring problems/complaints which first time LDS marriages might encounter. For LDS remarital couples, "communication," "children," "problems related to previous marriage," "unrealistic expectations of marriage or spouse," "money management/finances," "power struggles," and "decision making/problem solving," were identified as most frequently occuring problems. These findings suggest specific areas of focus in LDS marriage preparation programs and for those who assist couples in preparing for marriage. A secondary comparison of the findings with those of a sample of Protestant clergy counselors confirmed strikingly similar identification and ranking of problems for LDS and Protestant premarital and remarital couples.

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