International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 2013 1

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Marital Adjustment, Mental Health and Frustration

Reactions during Middle Age
Dr. Shikha Goel*, Dr. Darshan Kaur Narang**, Dr. Kavita Koradia***
*
Bhagini Nivedita college, University of Delhi, New Delhi
**
Department of Home Science, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur(Rajasthan)
***
Department of Home Science, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur(Rajasthan)

Abstract- The present research was taken up with broad objective at some point (usually at about age 40 years). A mid-life crisis is
to study the marital adjustment, mental health and frustration an emotional state of doubt and anxiety in which a person
reactions in different age groups of middle age from Delhi, India. becomes uncomfortable with the realization that life is halfway
The sample comprised of 300 middle aged subjects (n=300) over.
which are bank employees, doctors and lecturers, within the age
range of 40-55 years from Delhi, India. It was seen that subjects
from AR1 (40-47 years) indicated better recreational adjustment, II. RATIONAL
role distribution and autonomy than age group AR2 (48-55 Human beings constantly have to adjust to various roles,
years). environmental demands and pressures. Throughout the course of
life, human beings strive for well-being and happiness in various
Index Terms- India, Marital adjustment, Mental health, spheres of life - personal, social, economic, marital and work.
Frustration Reaction, Middle age. Achievement and success in these spheres lead to satisfaction in
life, whereas inadequacy to do the same leads in frustration. In
the present modern era, professionals like bank employees,
I. INTRODUCTION doctors and lecturers have to spend more time at their work place

A specific time period with physical, mental, behavioural or

other characteristics that are presumed to characterize, is
know as "Adulthood" or "Middle age". Middle age is generally
and are more indulge in activities related to their career and
professions. They have less time to fulfil their family
responsibilities which may lead to dissatisfaction. Marital
considered to extend from age forty to age 60 year. It is an maladjustments are the consequences of dissatisfaction,
especially difficult time in one's life; adjustment to it is greatly especially during middle aged (40-55 years) as a result people are
dependent on the foundation laid earlier. The period of middle becoming more inclined towards extra-marital relationships and
age is typically marked with physical changes; as, well as new divorce. So, researcher was interested to know about the marital
responsibilities of caring for younger children and grand adjustment during middle age as well as the mental health and
children, and also older parents. A central issue in the lives of also to explore how they react in frustrated situations.
young adults in the anxiety and anticipation of a "mid-life
transition" as they enter middle adulthood. Middle aged adults
often focus on midlife career change that is how much time they III. MARITAL ADJUSTMENT
have left for retirement and the speed with which they are Marital adjustment and satisfaction are highly personal, and
reaching with these occupational goals. They also are striving for a person's satisfactions with other aspects of life are likely to
a healthy balance between work and leisure. affect his or her satisfaction with marriage. Marital adjustment is
Marriage is one of the most important events of a person's a life longs process; although in the early days of marriage one
life. Marriage is a social security for all the individuals, i.e. has to give serious consideration. As Lasswell (1982) points out,
society through marriage system provides security of needs and "understanding the individual trait of the spouse is an ongoing
cares thereby its existence and prosperity is secured. Marriage is process in marriage; because even if two people know each other
for pleasure, happiness and peace of mind on account of before or at the time of marriage, there is a possibility that people
satisfaction through interactions with others, trust, understanding change during the life cycle. Marital adjustment, therefore, calls
and fulfilling social obligations and enriching personality for maturity that accepts and understands growth and
development. A marriage relationship is a delicate, development in the spouse. If this growth is not experienced and
Kaleidoscopic and complex phenomena. It may be very difficult realized fully, death in marital relationship is inevitable. Sinha
to disentangle anyone particulars casual element. Besides and Mukerjee (1990) defines marital adjustment as, "the state in
Marital Satisfaction or dissatisfaction or "Marital Adjustment or which there is an over all feeling between husband and wife, of
Maladjustment," "mid-life-crisis" also have some other thoughts happiness and satisfaction with their marriage and with each
to include: Worries about the future, inability to enjoy leisure other." It, therefore, calls experiencing satisfactory relationship
time, a feeling that health is deteriorating, a negative evaluation between spouses characterized by mutual concern, care,
of work life, and stress arising from taking care of the elderly. understanding and acceptance.
Midlife transition "is a natural stage that happens to many of us

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Sexual compatibility and mutual enjoyment is an important which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope
factor contributing to the success of most marital relationship, with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, fruitfully
Job of spouse, shape families in a variety of ways. Two major and is able to make a contribution to his/her community (The
aspects of work directly affect family life: (1) the level of world health reports 2001). Mental health covers an elusive and
economic rewards associated with work and (2) the conditions diffuse field and the term in itself encompasses a multiplicity of
associated with performing a job. meaning.
Blanofield (1967) defined mental health as a composite of
Marital conflicts attitude towards oneself, ability to realize once potential through
No matter how satisfactory and inevitable marriage is, action, degree of independence form social influence and the
some conflict theorists assert that marital relationships reflect and ability to perceive realistically the world around. Fergson (1965)
reinforce gender inequalities (Degler, 1980). Examples that stated that mental health is the ability to cope with one's
support such an assertion are: (1) until the past few years, a environment in such a way that one's institutional drives are
husband could rape his wife and not be charged; (2) in traditional gratified. They considered that mental illness and mental health,
marriage vows the bride is given away to the groom; and (3) the are two opposite ends of the continuum on which any individual
woman has traditionally taken the surname of the husband after can be placed depending on the soundness of his mind. There is a
marriage. Conflict theory helps to explain the extent of violence general agreement that two terms mental health and mental
in families, where care and cooperation are supposed to exist ¬ illness refer to behaviors which are interpersonal in nature and to
something not easily explained by functionalist theory. Good mental illness is judged to be dysfunctional according to the
communication skills do not prevent conflict. Actually a conflict, norms of an observer.
followed by a confrontation, can produce positive results. Matsuoka (1996) conducted a study on 58 middle aged
Fujihara (1998) did a study on 153 married couples which people to determine the degree to which family cohesion
showed that marital adjustment was significantly correlated with accounted for different outcome measures of mental health
subcategories of social adjustment (1) household adjustment among native Hawiian families on an island on the verge of
(except the spouse), (2) external family adjustment, (3) work major tourism development. This development will cause
adjustment, (4) social leisure adjustment and (5) general economic changes that will pose major challenges for the native
adjustment. Thus, marital adjustment may be a part of social agrarian families. A series of interviews of focus groups elicited
adjustment for women, but the two may be discrete for men. A qualitative information on the relationship between family
study, made on 1,609 couples from the Russian Army, found that cohesion and mental health. The findings show a clear
marital dissatisfaction from husband will cross over to the wife relationship between family cohesion and mental health status.
directly, whereas the indirect crossover, when a stressor, such as Willitts, Benzeval, and Stansfeld (2004) interviewed 2127
economic hardship or a negative life event increases the strain of men and 2303 women aged less than 65 to describe the .mental
a partner, is mediated the impact of the wife's social undermining health of men and women with differing histories of partnership
behaviour on her husband (Westman, Vinokur, Hamilton & transitions. They came to the conclusion that partnership protects
Roziner, 2004). mental health. The negative outcomes of splitting partnership for
Eng, Kawachi, Fitzmaurice and Rimm (2005), studied health are long lasting in women.
38,865 men aged (40-75) to examine the affect of change in Tiffin, Pearce and Parker (2005) studied 503 subjects from
marital status on health behaviours among men and found a birth cohort to investigate the affect of socio-economic status
Marital termination (Remarriage, widowhood and unmarried) throughout the life course on self reported mental health at age
may adversely affect health and dietary behaviours of men. 50 years and land up with the conclusion that a downward socio-
Vohs, Catanese, and Baumeister (2004) ended that, economic trajectory over the whole life course is associated with
consistent with the traditional sexual script, research has poorer self reported mental health in men but not in women.
consistently shown that men have a stronger sexual motivation Research has shown that engaged workers report well
than do women. Further, Sprecher (2002) found that relationship mental and psychosomatic health (Demerouti et al., 2001).
satisfaction (but not sexual satisfaction) negatively predicted the Furthermore, they exhibit personal initiative, proactive behavior
likelihood of relationship breakup for women but not for men. In and learning motivation (Sonnentag, 2003; Schaufeli and
contrast, sexual satisfaction (but no relationship satisfaction) Salanova, 2007).
negatively predicted the likelihood of relationship dissolution for
men but not for women. Thus, perhaps for men decreased sexual
satisfaction leads to decreased relationship satisfaction, whereas V. FRUSTRATION REACTIONS
for women, the reverse is true. We are often unable to satisfy our desires or accomplish
our goals. Sometimes our ambitions exceed our abilities, or we
misperceive the possibilities. But sometimes we are blocked by
IV. MENTAL HEALTH an external barrier that precludes gratification. Frustration refers
The concept of mental health includes subjective well- to the thwarting or delaying of some ongoing course of action or
being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, goal gratification. Frustration is a broad term, it refers to the
intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's situation which produced thwarting or the psychological effects
intellectual and emotional potential among others. From a cross- of this situation, as when someone is frustrated tends to react
cultural perspective it is nearly impossible to define mental with anger, withdrawal depression, or distress. Frustration is an
health compressively. Mental health is a state of well being in important component of psychological stress, since virtually any

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seriously harmful condition will thwart important needs and Anupama Shah et al (1992), to asses the problems faced by
goals and will requires some adjective activity to repair the unmarried women and their self-perception conducted a research
damage, if possible. study on 116 un-married women founded by ICSSR on single
Frustration has been defined in various ways by various women, in Baroda. It was found that the unmarried women faced
psychologists. Most of the definitions agree in stressing the role a lot of psychological and emotional problems. They had
of interference in goal response in producing frustration. insecure feeling regarding old age, loneliness and 34% of the
Rosenzweig (1944) defines frustration as "frustration respondents reported frustration with life.
occurs, whenever the organism meets a more or less Dill, Jody and Anderson, Craig (1996) tested Berkowitz's
insurmountable obstacle or obstruction in its route to the reformulation of the frustration aggression hypothesis which
satisfaction of any vital need." Dolland et al (1939) defined states that any negative or aversive stimulus such as frustration,
frustration as "an interference with the occurrence of an even if justified, will result in same measurable tendency to
instigated goal response at its proper time in the behaviour aggress. 34 college students served as selected samples. Degree
sequence." of hostile, aggression directed at the frustrating individual was
Obstacles of many kinds cause frustration. A useful measured. As predicted, justified frustration produced less hostile
distinction can be made between external and personal sources of aggression than unjustified frustration but even justified
frustration. frustration produced more hostile, aggression than no frustration
External frustration is based on conditions outside of the at all. Result support Berkowitz's frustration aggression
individual that impede progress towards a goal. All of the reformulation. Findings were also consistent with the view that
following are external frustrations: getting stuck with a flat tire; frustration induces negative affect, which in turn, increases
having a marriage proposal rejected. In other words external hostility toward the experimenter.
frustrations are based on delay, failure, rejection, loss and other
direct blocking of motives. External obstacles can be either social
or non-social. Frustration usually increases as the strength,
urgency, or importance of a blocked motive increases. VI. HYPOTHESIS
Motivation becomes stronger as we near a goal. Frustration On the basis of the previous researches the hypothesis
is more intense when a person runs into an obstacle very close to tested in this study are as follows:
a goal. Personal frustrations are based on personal
 Significant difference will be seen in marital adjustment
characteristics; Frustration is actually based on personal
of middle aged couple from different age ranges i.e.
limitations. Yet failure may be perceived as externally caused.
AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years).
All individuals at one time or another, in greater or lesser
 Significant difference will be seen in mental health of
amount, have to tolerate frustration in their life. The term,
middle aged couples from different age groups i.e. AR 1
frustration tolerance, refers to the amount of stress one can
(40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years).
tolerate before his integrated functioning is seriously impaired.
Thus frustration tolerance refers to the capacity of the individuals  Significant difference will be seen in frustration
to show persistence in efforts despite repeated failures and reactions of middle aged couples from different age
antagonistic environment to maintain the integration of the group i.e. AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years).
personality.
The person who continues his/her efforts may be said to
have more frustration tolerance than the one who discontinues VII. METHODOLOGY
his/her efforts or indulges in any reactionary mode of behavior. For conducting the present study, "purposive sampling
In ability to tolerate frustration leads to mental breakdown, technique" has been used. The total sample consisted of 150
maladjustment and problems in also personal relationship. The couples i.e. 300 subjects (N=300). The sample was subdivided
low frustration tolerance also leads to antisocial behaviour or in into two categories according to the age i.e. AR1 (40-47 years)
other maladaptive behavior. and AR2 (48-55 years). Doctors, lecturers and bank employees
were included in the sample.

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Research Design

(N=300)

150 AR1 150 AR2

50Doctors 50Bank employees 50Lecturers 50Doctors 50Bankemployees 50Lecturers

test is having reverse key also. Higher the score higher is the
The following statistical tests were computed: adjustment, lower the score poor will be the adjustment.
 Mean and Standard Deviation were computed.
 Pearson's 'r' was computed. Mental health Inventory
Mental Health Inventory is a self-reporting four point scale
Criteria for sample selection and developed by Dr. Jagdish and Dr. A.K. Srivastava (1984).
• Subject must belong to the upper middle socioeconomic status. Validity and reliability of Mental Health Inventory is .54 and .73
• The age range of the subject should fall between (40-55 years). respectively. The six dimensions have been inculcated in the
• Minimum working hours of men and women should be 6 to 8 scale are Positive self - evaluation (PSE), Perception of Reality
hours per day. (PR), Integration of Personality (IP), Autonomy (AUTO), Group
• Subject must be either doctors or lecturer or working with the Oriented Attitudes (GOA), Environmental Mastery (EM). The
banks only. items of the scale are in statement form seeking information for
each in any of the four options, which are Always, Most of
Tools For Measurement Times, Sometimes, and Never. The weight is 4, 3, 2 and 1
Two tools were used for the measurement of the Marital respectively. Therefore, the higher the score on the scale, higher
adjustment and Mental health. Those are: the status / level of mental health, or vice versa.

Marital adjustment Questionnaire Frustration Reactions Questionnaire

Marital Adjustment Questionnaire was developed by the The frustration reactions questionnaire was developed by
researcher (2004) to assess the marital adjustment in the couples the researcher herself to assess the frustration reactions in the
during middle age. Pilot study was conducted by researcher on subjects during the middle age. Frustration Reactions
the 10% subjects of total sample (N=20) of the research. Questionnaire (FRQ) consisted of 25 items with 3 point scale.
Necessary corrections were made to tool after the pilot study. The nature of items used in the rating form constitutes its crucial
The reliability and validity scores respectively are .96 and .74. and unique feature. Certain items of behaviour of middle aged
Some basic needs of successful marriage during middle age were people were used as points of references for rating. The
used as points of references for rating. Those are Family reliability and validity scores respectively are .86 and .59. Item
adjustment, financial adjustment, Emotional adjustment, Sexual of the scale are in statement form seeking information for each in
adjustment, Recreational adjustment, Role distribution, Social any of the three options i.e. Never, Sometimes and Always. The
adjustment. Marital adjustment questionnaire consisted of 42 weightage is 0, 1 and 2 respectively. The test is having reverse
items with a five point scale. Items of the scale are in statement key also. Highest score that can be obtained is 50 and lowest
form seeking information for each in any of the five options, score is 0. Therefore, if a respondent is having high score on the
which are "Very Rare", "Rare", "Sometimes", "Often", and scale his / her frustration level is high or vice versa i.e. the lower
“Very often". The weight given is 1,2,3,4 and 5 respectively. The the score, the lower the frustration level.

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VIII. RESULTS

Table 1
z-values of marital adjustment of middle aged couples (N=300) belonging to different age groups : AR 1 (40-47 years) and AR2
(48-55 years)

Variables Age range Mean SD Z value

(years) Calculated Table
FMY (40-47) 24.98 3.45 NS
1.56 1.96
(48-55) 24.31 3.93
FIN (40-47) 22.66 3.03
1.59 NS 1.96
(48-55) 22.07 3.40
EMO (40-47) 23.03 2.73
1.02 NS 1.96
(48-55) 22.69 3.03
SEC (40-47) 24.76 2.75
0.871 NS 1.96
(48-55) 24.46 3.20
REC (40-47) 22.74 2.87
2.12** 1.96
(48-55) 22.01 3.09
RD (40-47) 23.96 2.49
1.99* 1.96
(48-55) 23.29 3.30
SOC (40-47) 23.40 2.88
0.397 NS 1.96
(48-55) 23.27 2.93
* Significant at .05 level
** Significant at .01 level
NS - Non significant
(1.96). It indicates that couples from AR1 (40-47 years) have
A glimpse at the above table shows that the calculated z better recreational adjustment and capacity for role distribution
values for recreational adjustment and role distribution are 2.22 as compared to couples from AR2 (48-55 years).
and 1.99 respectively which are higher than the table value

Table 2
z-values of mental health of middle aged couples (N=300) belonging to different age groups : AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-
55years)

Variables Age range Mean SD Z value

Calculated Table
PSE (40-47) 25.79 2.74
.953NS 1.96
(48-55) 26.11 3.06
PR (40-47) 17.74 2.01
1.843NS 1.96
(48-55) 17.29 2.24
IP (40-47) 17.52 2.22
1.881NS 1.96
(48-55) 17.03 2.32
AUTO (40-47) 10.92 1.63
2.996** 2.59
(48-55) 10.31 1.90
GOA (40-47) 21.07 2.42
0.537 NS 1.96
(48-55) 20.91 2.74
EM (40-47) 14.85 2.51
0.088 NS 1.96
(48-55) 14.82 2.76
* Significant at .05 level
** Significant at .01 level
NS - Non significant

The table shows no significant difference in both age Results revealed that couples of AR1 (40-47 years) enjoy high
groups of middle aged couples regarding their mental health in level of autonomy than couples of AR2 (48-55 years).
total but significant differences were found in autonomy of z values of other dimensions of mental health, have been
middle aged couples of both age groups. The calculated z value found non significant. It may be due to the fact that middle aged
for autonomy is 2.99, which is higher than table value (2.59). couples of both age groups are striving for and proceeding

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towards the achievements of their life time goals, settling down mental health.
their children and securing their future, maintaining their sound

Table 3
z-values of frustration reactions of middle aged couples (N=300) belonging to different age groups : AR 1 (40-47 years) and AR2
(48-55 years)

Variables Age group Mean SD Z value

Calculated Table
Frustration (40-47) 7.44 6.08
1.67NS 1.96
(48-55) 8.22 5.48
NS = Non significant
men but not in women. The effective balancing of various
Above table clearly shows that there is no significant professional and personal roles presumably could play a salient
difference found in couples of different age groups i.e. AR 1 (40- role in their level of job satisfaction, life satisfaction and overall
47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years) regarding their frustration well - being (Barnett and Hyde, 2001 ; Frone, 2000 ; Marks,
reactions. Couples are adjusting well with the problems establish 2001 ; Moen & Yu, 2000).
harmony / balance between home and career responsibilities, The third hypothesis states that “Significant difference will
hence overcome frustration leading a sound life. be seen in frustration reactions of middle aged couples from
different age group i.e. AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55
years).”and findings rejects the stated hypothesis. Dubey and
IX. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Kumar (1986) conducted a study which shows that the current
The study hypothesized that "Significant difference will be miserable condition of the society and its mental health is
seen in marital adjustment of middle aged couple from different alarming; tension and stress have become a part of life. The
age ranges i.e. AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years).” and twentieth century was branched as the age of stress and anxiety.
finds partial support for this hypothesis. Couples from age group Coping mechanisms of family to adjust because of excessive
(40-47 years) have better understanding for distributing roles tension and stress in the society. The cause may vary from faulty
appropriately; they achieve their goals in time after successful learning, confliction objective, and unclear philosophy of life,
completion of family tasks and hence, find more time for dualism, false ego and fast changing values. Byers (2005) found
recreation. This can be supported by research involving 87 that relationship of satisfaction partly mediates the association
middle aged and 75 older couples revealed that marital between self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction. The authors
interaction is more effectively positive for older couples interpreted this finding as showing that self-disclosure leads to
(Levenson, Cartensen & Gottman, 1994). Marital interaction was greater relationship satisfaction, which in turn, leads to higher
found to be less physiologically arousing for older couples than sexual satisfaction.
for those of middle age. These findings were consistent with The research can be concluded that:
other research in which marital happiness increases with age Couples are having better marital adjustment during early
(Guilford & Bengston, 1979). If there is a relationship between adulthood than in late adulthood. Even if, working females play
marital interaction and happiness in marriages, then older dual roles and are over burdened but still they try to make
couples may interact more positively, but perhaps less often due adjustments in family and are satisfied and cool under all
to low arousal. Barling (1986) in a study on "inter role conflict circumstances. They participate in family matters, cooperate
and marital functioning" found that conflict regarding work and more and make themselves available when ever required for
family roles was associated with lower levels of marital family matters. They try to seek recreation and satisfaction out of
adjustment among dual earner couples. successful management.
Second hypothesis states that “Significant difference will be It is also supported by the following research studies:
seen in mental health of middle aged couples from different age Nearly, Terrence and Joseph (1985) interpreted for good
groups i.e. AR1 (40-47 years) and AR2 (48-55 years).” and marital adjustment. They stated that age is the significant factor
findings partially supports this hypothesis. Couples of AR 1 (40- in marital adjustment. Elderly couples are happy and have good
47 years) are comparatively more energetic, enthusiastic in marital adjustment. Kington and Nock (1987) studied and found
fulfilling their responsibilities; enjoy their lives and rights to that the amount of time spend together by couples is significantly
resume their work with zest. They are at peak stage to achieve reduced by the number of hours spent in the paid force, this
their goals and goals of their children. They enjoy each aspect of affects marital adjustment adversely.
freedom in different phases of life in taking important decisions Similarly, couples are more mentally healthy during early
regarding future. Tiffin, Pearce and Parker (2005) studied 503 adulthood than in late adulthood. A great importance of balance
subjects from a birth cohort to investigate the effect of socio- of psychic forces in the males showing sound mental health.
economic status throughout the life course on self reported Ability to understand and to share other people's emotions, the
mental health at age 50 years and land up with the conclusion ability to concentrate at work and interest in several activities in
that a down ward socio-economic trajectory over the whole life middle aged males results in good adjustment with spouse and
course is associated with poorer self reported mental health in with the family members. They always have an inner feeling to
spend quality time with their spouse, take care of and satisfy

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sexual needs of the partner. They have concern and feel

responsible for needs of the family members and for smooth
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