Effects of spousal, friend, and family relationships on marital instability across the first 16 years of marriage

Rosie Shrout, MiKaila J. Leonard, Rasheedah Adisa, Terri L. Orbuch, TeKisha M. Rice Wallace, Melissa M. Franks, Arthur Aron, The University of British Columbia, Purdue University, Ball State University, Oakland University, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, Stony Brook University

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Published online on March 25, 2026

Abstract

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Ahead of Print.
We applied marital stress and stability frameworks to investigate how spousal, family, and friend dynamics contribute to marital instability risks during the first 16 years of marriage. Using longitudinal data from the Early Years of Marriage Project and ...