Linda Bell

Lifelong Marriage in the Greatest Generation Linda Bell

Dr. Bell reports findings from a 40-year project studying marriages and families. The book provides a snapshot of long term marriages in the "Greatest Generation." These are couples who grew up during the depression and married after World War II. The book is primarily about more and less healthy long-term marriages. The research focuses on affection and respect in couples. Healthier couples demonstrate both affection and validation, both love, and respect for individuality. Couples say in their own words what it was like growing up during the depression, the importance of their relationships with they own parents, and how they met and married. Also what kinds of supports and challenges they faced living together and raising children. Finally, couples talk about what they think is important in a successful long-term marriage. They cover topics like commitment, integrity, and trust; similarity and complementarity, communication, compromise and humor. They also talk about friends, family, faith and finances.