Sex Differences in Adjustment during the Process of Marital Separation

Four different studies are reported in which the differential adjustment of men and women during the process of marital separation was investigated. In these studies consistent sex by time period findings were obtained. Prior to separation, women reported significantly more severe psychological symptoms than did men. During the early postseparation period, men reported significantly more severe symptoms than did women. The development ofa briefself-report measure ofpsychopathology used in all four studies is described.