Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)
The proportions which family problems have assumed in South Africa, led to an increased demand for research on variables related to the development of marital and family integration. The aim of this study is to conceptualise and operationalise the term commitment to marriage, and to investigate its relation to marital integration. Using a countrywide random sample of white married couples in a combined telephone postal survey, it was found that the term commitment to marriage is a multi-dimensional concept, referring to a long-term perspective, involvement in growth of the relationship, and conformity to underlying values. It was found that commitment to marriage makes a statistically significant contribution towards the explanation of marital integration.