ABSTRACT
Role transitions and life-event changes have long been recognized as stressful (George, 1980; Holmes & Rahe, 1967), for they may require the performance of new and distinctive tasks (Duvall, 1971), the redefinition of behaviors and beliefs (Abrahams, Feldman, & Nash, 1978; Parsons & Bales, 1955), and even the reorientation and reorganization of personality (Feldman, Biringen, & Nash, 1981; Lidz, 1976). Consequently, the behavioral, attitudinal, and relational patterns that are developed for one stage of life may no longer be functional at a later stage.
