Premarital and marital problems and problem-solving styles in married and divorced Turkish professional women and men

Close relationships play an integral role in our lives. Problems associated with close relationships could have social and psychological effects on individuals. Research has documented that disruption of a relationship is considered as one of the major life stressors. In this context, the present research aims to identify differences between the intact marriages and those which ended in divorce, in Turkey, in relation to problems experienced during premarital level and marital level. Furthermore, this research has examined the perceived problem solving behaviour of the currently married and divorced individuals with respect to premarital and marital problems experienced. Retrospective survey interviewing was adopted as a data collection strategy in order to study self-reported problems and problem-solving behaviour by respondents. It has been hoped that the findings from the present study would be beneficial for relationship enhancement programs to be developed in Turkey. [Continues.]