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This collection provides information on 731 married wives of couples living in the Detroit metropolitan area in 1955. Data are provided on the frequency and interaction of respondents with their relatives, as well as their attitudes on family. The collection is a combination of two studies: A DESCRIPTION OF URBAN KINSHIP PATTERNS by Morris Axelrod, and THE URBAN FAMILY by Robert Blood. Data are provided on the frequency of and reasons for large family gatherings, the nature of help that the respondent's family received from relatives, the nature of help that the respondent gave to relatives, and the nature of the relationship with the respondent's relatives on both sides of the family. Other questions explored respondents' family attitudes. They were asked about the division of labor and decision-making processes in their homes, their interactions with their spouses, including communication between them and the causes and methods of handling disagreements, and their attitudes toward marriage in general. In addition, the respondents were asked about expected family size and what they felt the advantages were of having children. Also probed was their use of leisure time. Demographic variables specify age, sex, race, education, marital status, occupation, family income, length of residence in the Detroit area, home ownership, and religious preferences.

The purpose of the Early Years of Marriage (EYM) Project was to determine ways in which the early development of marriage for Black couples and White couples affect the mental and physical health of spouses, marital stability, long-term marital outcomes, patterns of family life and, for those who divorce, individual adjustment to family disruption. The EYM Project began in 1986 with 373 newlywed couples--174 White couples and 199 Black couples. The marriages were all intra-racial and it was the first marriage for both spouses.

Year 1 interviews, which queried the couples on various aspects of married life, began after four to nine months into the marriage. Very few respondents who originally participated in Year 1 of the study refused to participate in subsequent phases of the study. In 1986 (Year 1) and 1988 (Year 3) spouses were interviewed in their homes separately and together, with the interviews conducted by interviewers of the same race. In 1987 (Year 2) and 1989 (Year 4) shorter individual telephone interviews were conducted.

In all four years, respondents were queried on a wide variety of topics such as feelings and perceptions of their own family, spouse, in-laws, and their spouse's friends, family planning, how many children they should have, how the children should be reared, childcare, and household roles and responsibilities. A series of questions was asked about reasons for getting married, how satisfying married life was, what, if any, were the special pleasures and good feelings that came from being married, how often arguments and disagreements occurred, main reasons for arguments, and how they were eventually resolved. A series of questions were also asked regarding the mental and physical health of the spouse, job satisfaction, job security, and how the job affected the family. In Year 2 and Year 4 interviews (Parts 2-4), a series of questions regarding separation and divorce were also asked.

Demographic variables include race, gender, age, level of education, occupation, income, and religious preference.