Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Vol. 20, No.

1, Spring 2002 ( 2002)

MARITAL ADJUSTMENT AND

IRRATIONAL BELIEFS
Jane Addis
Private Practice, Melbourne, Australia

Michael E. Bernard
California State University, Long Beach

ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to determine which aspects of

Ellis irrational beliefs as well as emotional traits (anxiety, curiosity, anger)
differentiate couples attending marriage counseling from couples couple not
attending marriage counseling as well as levels of marital satisfaction in
couples as measured by the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. Participants were 61 married couples, 18 of whom were attending marriage counseling and 43 who were not attending marriage counseling. Each partner completed a number of self-report questionnaires containing items measuring
irrational /rational beliefs, anger, anxiety and curiosity, and communication
skills. Correlational and multiple regression analyses indicate support for Albert Ellis proposition concerning the importance of individual partners emotional traits and accompanying irrational beliefs in marital adjustment and
dissatisfaction. Self-downing and need for comfort were the dimensions of
irrational thinking most strongly related to marital dysfunction. Anger, anxiety but neither curiosity nor communication skills distinguished individuals
experiencing or not experiencing marital problems. Implications for relationship counseling are briefly discussed.
KEY WORDS: irrational beliefs; marriage; stress; cognitive behavior therapy.

Over the past several decades, cognitive-behavioral theory and research has examined the role of a variety of cognitions in individuals
experiencing marital adjustment and disturbance. Several studies have
Address correspondence to Michael E. Bernard, Ph.D., College of Education, California State
University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840; e-mail: michaelebernard
cox.net.

2002 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

investigated spouses attributions for positive and negative events (e.g.,

Epstein, Baucom & Rankin, 1993; Fincham, 1985) while other studies
have investigated the role of different types of information-processing
constructs such as selective attention, expectancies, assumptions and
standards (e.g., Baucom, Epstein, Sayers & Sher, 1989).
Elliss rational emotive behavior theory (REBT) proposes that the
primary causes of most serious marital difficulties are the emotional
problems of each partner and their attendant irrational beliefs (DiGiuseppe & Zee, 1986; Ellis, 1986). REBT distinguishes between couple
dissatisfaction that consists of moderately intense negative emotions,
rational beliefs in one or both partners and couple disturbance that
consists of highly intense negative emotions and irrational beliefs experienced by one or both couples.
The research into the role of irrational beliefs and marital discord
can be traced to the work of Eisenberg and Zingle (1975) who administered their own measure of irrational beliefs (Irrational Ideas Inventory) to both distressed couples attending counseling and couples not
attending counseling. Their results indicated that individuals with
marriage difficulties demonstrate more irrational thinking than individuals in marriages that are not distressed. This early research did
not examine the relationship between irrational beliefs and negative
emotions nor was the validity of their scale of irrational beliefs discussed. Despite the presence of this study, over the past 20 years, researchers have neglected dysfunctional beliefs of individuals experiencing marital distress.
More recently, Moller and Van der Merwe (1997) investigated the
relationship between marital adjustment and core irrational beliefs
postulated by Ellis as underlying marital distress. Fifty couples completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976) and Kassinoves (1986) Survey of Personal Beliefs. Significant correlations were
obtained between low scores on the DAS and three sub-scales of irrationality (other-directed shoulds, low frustration tolerance, self-worth).
Moller and de Beer (1998) sought to validate the relationship between the different core irrational beliefs and marital conflict in 15
married couples using a thought-listing procedure where each member
of the marital dyad was presented with several marital scenes with
conflict present or absent. Core irrational beliefs and cognitive processes associated with conflict were demandingness of others, negative
rating of self, negative rating of others, low frustration tolerance and
awfulizing.
Moller, Rabe and Nortje (2001) examined the irrational beliefs of

Jane Addis and Michael E. Bernard

healthy couples (20 individuals) and distressed couples (17 individuals) using the Articulated Thoughts During Simulated Situations
Procedure (e.g., Davison, Robins & Johnson, 1983). Scenes representing different dimensions of marital conflict (power/control, boundaries,
expressive investment, instrumental investment) were used. On all
the scenes, the distressed group showed more irrational cognitions
than the non-distressed group while the scenes elicited significantly
more positive thoughts from non-distressed than distressed individuals. The results suggested that it was the presence of irrational beliefs rather than the absence of rational beliefs that was central to
marital distress.
The present study investigated the extent to which rational and irrational beliefs as defined by Ellis as well as emotions and communication skills were associated with two indicators of marital adjustment:
1. whether both married partners were or were not attending marriage counseling, and 2. scores of each individual married partner on
the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (Locke & Wallace, 1959).

METHOD
Participants
Participants were 61 married couples 18 who were attending marriage counseling and 43 who were not attending marriage counseling
in Melbourne, Australia. The average age of individual members of
couples attending counseling was 38 with the average number of years
being married was 11. The average age of individual members of couples not attending counseling was 42 with the average number of years
being married being was 16. Distressed couples were recruited from a
number of counselors conducting marriage counseling who were asked
to identify couples who were willing to provide data required for this
study. Non-distressed couples were recruited from friends and relatives
of both experimenters. In total, nearly 200 questionnaire sets were distributed with 61 sets of completed questionnaires being returned.
Measures and Procedures
Couples who agreed to participate were given an instant sweepstakes ticket to thank them for taking part and a set of questionnaires.
Each set of questionnaires contained two envelopes to seal that would

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

included the completed questionnaire, a letter explaining the purpose

of the project and what they should do, and, finally, a large, addressed
and stamped envelope in which to place both of the smaller sealed
envelopes which contained the individual questionnaires. This method
allowed couples to answer their questionnaires without the concern
that their spouse would be able to see how they had responded.
Individual members of all couples were asked to independently complete the following measures:
The General Attitude and Belief Scale (GABS). Participants completed
the 55-item GABS (DiGiuseppe, Leaf, Exner & Robin, 1988). A principal factor analysis of the GABS yielded one factor of rationality and
six irrationality factors (need for achievement, need for approval, demands for fairness, need for comfort, self-downing and other-downing)
with alpha coefficients for the seven sub-scales scales all above .70
(Bernard, 1998).
The Locke Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. The 15-item Locke-Wallace
(Locke & Wallace, 1959) provides a measure of marital happiness and
allows both couples and individuals to be placed into satisfied and dissatisfied groups according to their score as well yields an overall adjustment score. Divergent validity of the Locke-Wallace has been established in at least one study (Fredman & Sherman, 1987).
The Trait Emotions Inventory. This 30-item inventory is taken from
Spielbergers (1979) State-Trait Inventory designed to assess the level
of emotions of anger, anxiety and curiosity. Only those items that assess trait emotions were included. Substantial research exists concerning the reliability and validity of this inventory.
The Navran Primary Communication Inventory. This 25-item inventory was designed to measure communication in marriage. Nine of the
25 items on the inventory involve making a judgment about ones
spouse and are used as a measure of individual communication behavior of the spouse. Navrans (1967) study indicated that happily married
individuals demonstrate an average score of 105 and those who are
unhappy with their marriage demonstrate an average score of 81. No
reliability or validity information was published in connection with
Navrans (1967) study.

Jane Addis and Michael E. Bernard

RESULTS
Data from combining individual scores into couple scores yielded
very similar results as when individual data was used as the unit of
analysis with significant differences of the same order on the same
independent measures. As individual and couple data were extremely
similar for all analyses performed, only individual partner data is reported here.
A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to
determine if individuals attending marriage counseling varied from
married individuals not attending counseling across the independent
variables of age, years married, anxiety, curiosity, anger, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment score, Navran Primary Communication score,
rationality and irrationality. The results of the Hotellings T2 test
showed a significant difference between groups across the independent
variables F (9, 112) 4.62, p .01. The means and standard deviations for each of the variables are presented in Table 1 together with
the significance of the F-values.
The results indicate that individuals attending marriage counseling
are less satisfied with their marriage, experience greater anxiety and
anger and endorse more rational and less irrational beliefs than married individuals not attending counseling. No differences were found in
ability to communication.
A MANOVA was performed to determine if individuals attending
counseling vary from those not attending counseling across the seven
sub-scales of the General Attitude and beliefs Scale. The results of the
Hotellings T2 analysis revealed non-significant differences between
the groups across independent variables, F (7, 114) 1.92, P .07.
When the independent variables were analyzed separately, there were
significant differences. These results which are summarized in Table 2
indicate that individuals attending counseling are more self-downing,
have greater needs for approval and comfort and are, at the same
time, less rational than individuals not attending counseling.
To determine the relationships among different measures of marital
dysfunction/adjustment, communication, emotionality and irrationality/rationality, Pearson correlations were performed on the data for
individuals (see Table 3). Variables most highly and significantly negatively correlated both with items measuring marital adjustment
and whether individual were not receiving marriage counseling were:
Anger, Anxiety, Total Irrationality while Rationality was positively

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Table 1
A Comparison of Individuals Participating in Marriage
Counseling Versus Individuals Not Receiving Counseling

Age
Years Married
Anxiety**
Curiosity
Anger**
Locke Wall.**
Navran Com.
Rationality*
Irrationality*

Individuals Receiving
Counseling
(n 36)

Individuals Not
Receiving Counseling
(n 86)

Mean

Standard
Deviation

Mean

Standard
Deviation

38.22
11.22
21.22
28.14
21.64
86.39
64.47
24.97
115.92

7.81
9.82
6.61
4.17
5.80
30.18
11.59
3.26
26.71

42.37
16.00
17.40
29.33
17.96
112.69
63.44
26.40
104.84

10.33
10.44
5.21
4.79
4.33
24.54
11.35
2.76
19.82

Note: Univariate tests with (1, 120) degrees of freedom; *indicates significant differences, p
.05; **indicates significant differences, p .01.

correlated. No relationship was obtained between items measuring

communication and items measuring marital satisfaction or whether
individuals were receiving counseling.
Step-wise regression analyses were performed with attending counseling as dependent variables and the variables of Anger, Anxiety,
Curiosity, Navran Communication score, Rationality and Irrationality
as predictors. The following variables were chosen in decreasing order
of significance: Anger (B .029, T 3.79, p .01, r2 .11) and
Rationality (B .31, T 2.37, p .05, r2 .15). No further predictors were extracted.
A separate stepwise multiple regression analysis was carried out to
examine factors that determine marital satisfaction as measured by
the Locke-Wallace. Using the same predictors employed in the previous multiple regression analysis, two predictors were extracted in
decreasing order of significance: Anxiety (B 1.79, T 4.30,
p .01, r2 .13) and Irrationality (B .16, T 1.35, p .05).
Finally, the association between a partners marital satisfaction as

Jane Addis and Michael E. Bernard

Table 2
A Comparison of Individuals Participating in Marriage
Counseling Versus Individuals Not Receiving Counseling
in Irrationality and Rationality
Individuals
Receiving
Counseling
(n 36)

Self-downing**
Need for achievement**
Need for approval**
Demand for fairness
Need for comfort**
Other-downing
Rationality*

Individuals Not
Receiving
Counseling
(n 86)

Mean

Standard
Deviation

Mean

Standard
Deviation

18.84
25.19
16.11
24.75
24.08
7.14
24.97

7.55
6.88
4.21
5.30
6.19
2.02
3.26

15.86
22.83
14.43
23.02
21.28
7.42
26.40

4.20
5.83
3.84
5.66
5.25
1.86
2.76

Note: Univariate tests with (1, 120) degrees of freedom; *indicates significant differences, p
.05; **indicates significant differences, p .01.

measured by the Locke-Wallace and his/her partners characteristics

as defined by the variables used in this study were examined (Anxiety,
Curiosity, Anger, Marital Satisfaction, Communication, Irrationality,
Self-Downing, Need for Achievement, Need for Approval, Need for
Comfort, Demand for Fairness, Other-Downing, Rationality). The
strongest positive correlation of an individuals Marital Adjustment
was his/her partners Marital Adjustment score on the Locke-Wallace
(.74). Statistically significant correlates of an individuals Marital Adjustment were: partners Anxiety (.44), partners overall Irrationality (.33), partners Self-Downing (.35) and partners Need for
Comfort (.36).
DISCUSSION
The results indicate support previous findings (e.g., Moller & De
Beer, 1998; Moller & Van der Merwe, 1997) for Ellis (1986) proposition
espoused in rational-emotive behavior theory concerning the impor-

Table 3
Correlational Relationships Among Variables Associated with Marital Adjustment

Years Married
Coun No/Yes
Age
Sex
Anxiety
Curiosity
Anger
Locke Wal
Navran Comm
Tot Irrat
Self-Down
Need Ach
Need Appr
Need Comf
Dem Fair
Other Down
Rat

Yrs
Mar

Coun
N/Y

Age

Sex

Anx

Cur

Anger

Loch
Wal

Navran
Comm

Tot
Irr

Self
Down

Nd
Ach

Nd
App

Nd
Com

Dem
Fair

Oth
Down

Rat

.21
.73
.00
.13
.10
.14
.11
.02
.06
.01
.08
.09
.01
.07
.10
.18

.19
.00
.30
.12
.33
.42
.06
.23
.23
.17
.19
.23
.14
.07
.22

.16
.16
.12
.10
.17
.12
.03
.08
.01
.03
.09
.00
.10
.28

.18
.18
.07
.00
.07
.04
.05
.09
.03
.06
.02
.12
.05

.33
.64
.37
.13
.41
.41
.28
.27
.42
.26
.11
.15

.26
.10
.03
.25
.07
.07
.22
.26
.36
.18
.09

.29
.11
.39
.27
.31
.30
.35
.31
.18
.06

.07
.25
.32
.15
.19
.24
.12
.09
.09

.22
.18
.12
.24
.25
.13
.03
.25

.73
.81
.83
.80
.80
.47
.39

.56
.58
.47
.39
.23
.41

.57
.55
.51
.39
.30

.71
.67
.27
.35

.71
.28
.39

.40
.19

.02

Note: All correlations higher than .21 significant at p .01 level.

Jane Addis and Michael E. Bernard

11

tance of individual partners emotional traits and accompanying irrational and irrational beliefs in marital adjustment and dissatisfaction.
The consistent patterns of positive correlations between irrational beliefs and emotions supports Ellis central thesis concerning their mutual interdependence (e.g., Ellis, 1994). Additionally, in looking at two
indicators of marital adjustment, Rationality was (along with Anger) a
predictor of whether or no married individuals were receiving marriage counseling, while Irrationality (and Anxiety) predicted scores of
marital adjustment on the Locke-Wallace of marital Adjustment. Communication as measured by the Navron Primary Communication Inventory proved un-related to either indicator of marital adjustment.
While the presence of irrationality is clearly associated with anger and
anxiety as well as with both indicators of marital adjustment, it is not
altogether clear how Rationality may be associated with positive marital adjustment as Rationality was not correlated with dysfunctional
negative emotions.
A closer examination of the data concerning Irrationality including
its relationship with the dysfunctional emotions of anger and anxiety
reveals several interesting associations. Self-downing and need for
comfort appear to be the dimensions of irrational thinking most
strongly related to marital dysfunction. The results suggesting that
marital distress appears to be associated with each partners need for
approval and need for comfort provides a case that tensions in marriage brought about when levels of reinforcement and acknowledgement fall below threshold can be exacerbated to the point of marital
disturbance as a function of the moderating influence of irrational
beliefs.
The absence of an association between demands for fairness and
other-downing are inconsistent with the findings of Moller and Van
der Merwe (1997) and Moller and Van der Merwe (1997) who found
demandingness and negative ratings of others associated with dyadic
adjustment. As in the present study, these researchers, did, however,
find that self-worth and low frustration tolerance were associated with
relationship adjustment. In trying to understand the relationship between marital satisfaction/adjustment and the many variables examined in this study, a number of qualification need to be asserted. First,
there is the perennial problem of a large number of the variables being
inter-correlated, many of them to a high degree. For example, anxiety
was found to be highly correlated with anger (.64) while the sub-scales
of irrationality were found to be highly inter-correlated (between .60
and .79). Second, due to the problems associated with correlating a

12

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

discrete variable such as attending or not attending counseling with

continuous variables, these relationships should be interpreted with
caution. Given this problem, it may be best to look at the relationship
between Locke-Wallace scores with the other variables. The LockeWallace score discriminated well between those attending counseling
(mean 86) and those not attending counseling (mean 113). Third,
the validity and associated psychometric properties of the Navran Primary Communication Inventory has not been established and, as a
consequence, the finding in this study that communication skills of
individual marriage partners were not related to marital adjustment
may be an artifact of an invalid measurement instrument.
The results of this study appear to have implications for the conduct
of marriage and relationship counseling. Specifically, they suggest
that an important component of counseling should be concentrated on
the partners individually rather than the dyadic relationship given the
findings of how each members irrational beliefs and emotional reactions contribute to marital problems. Helping individuals in relationships reduce their need for approval including the challenging of selfdowning beliefs and increasing each partners capacity to tolerate
discomfort would appear to be one way to empower each partner to
regulate their emotional upsets as a pre-requisite to improving aspects
of the relationship.
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13

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