Ozarks Marriage Matters

Mark never saw it coming. Of course he knew the economy wasn’t doing well and that some lay-offs might occur at the plant where he worked, but he never anticipated the shut-down of the entire facility. After the announcement was made he drove away from the plant in shock. What would he tell Amy? How would they manage with two small children, a house payment, two car payments and a balance on their credit card?

Sam had been worrying about layoffs for a few months now. He just hoped he would be able to hold on to his job for the sake of Erin and the kids. When his supervisor told him he needed to report to the office late in the day on Friday afternoon, he knew his worst fears were about to be realized.

For Better or For Worse

We may promise to stay married “for better or worse, for richer or for poorer,” but the truth is that it’s a lot harder to stay married when the husband loses his job. According to Rege, Telle and Votruba (2007) in “Plant Closure and Marital Dissolution,” the increased risk of divorce is not due to an unexpected decline in the husband's future earnings, but rather the qualities much less tangible. It appears that when a husband fails to fulfill the traditional “masculine” role of breadwinner, his self-esteem and attractiveness decline. In fact, husbands who experienced a plant closure were 11% more likely to see their marriages end in divorce in the years following that event. When wives  lost their jobs, however, no subsequent increase in divorce occurred.

Hanging Together

It’s easy to isolate one’s self and avoid contact with others when you’re feeling discouraged and depressed. It turns out this is one of the worst things you can do when things are not going well. Couples who manage to do better during tough times get up and get out. They are open to help and encouragement from others. They learn how to face their problems together and become stronger, as opposed to turning against each other in frustration and anger.

Love, Money and the Bottom Line

Beginning this week, Operation Us is incorporating a class addressing financial matters into all its workshops for couples. “Love, Money and the Bottom Line” helps couples work as a team to address potential difficulties. Together they learn more about their money tendencies in a fun and interactive lesson designed to build teamwork and diminish stress. Operation Us is devoted to helping couples survive and thrive during the economic recession. Avoid being a statistic; sign up for a class today at www.operationus.org or (417) 823-3469.