Lasting Relationships Research Data Archive

Over 20 years, research was conducted at Boston College with the goal of exploring how couples adapt in relationships that last. In-depth interviews were used to explore how partners deal and cope with various aspects of their relationships over the years. Beginning in the early 1990's, the research focused on a diverse sample of heterosexual couples that had been married over 20 years. One hundred forty-four spouses in 72 marriages were interviewed. As the research evolved through the 1990's, 72 same sex partners from 36 lesbian and gay male relationships were added to the study. The final database includes 216 transcribed interviews. The study examines social influences including economic, racial, ethnic, and other cultural variables and areas such as modes of managing conflict and psychological intimacy. 1. Demographic data for individuals with coding for couples. Tab-delimited and SPSS format. 2. Qualitative Data – Includes transcribed interviews for the 216 participants and interview themes Interview themes are documents created with HyperRESEARCH in Word format with interview extracts based on relations themes such as: Aids; Alcoholism; Change; Circumstances; Commitment; Communication; Conflict; Conflict management; Crises; Decision making; Equity; Family of origin; Feminism; Finances; Homophobia; Initial attraction; Intimacy physical; Intimacy psychological; Intimacy sexual; Marital behavior; Meaning of spouse; Object relations; Parenting; Phases; Problem solving; Racism; Relatedness; Relational evolution; Relational fit; Relational value; Religion; Role expectations; Role models; Roles; Satisfaction; Social support; Therapy; Transitions.