MIGRATION AND MARITAL DISTRESS - THE CASE OF SOVIET IMMIGRANTS

Israel is experiencing a major wave of immigration from the Soviet Union. Thousands of families are relocating from a different country, a different culture and different values. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 families covering issues of importance in the life of the family. Topics included areas of difficulty, areas of strength of the family, relationships and communication among family members, the nuclear family and the extended family, support systems, and critical incidents before, during, and after the relocation experience. Qualitative analysis methods, namely, analytic induction and constant comparison strategies were used. Findings will be discussed in terms of. (1) changes in family structure, family work patterns and income; (2) coping familial patterns and changes in closeness and distance, communication, role changes, and power in the family; (3) therapeutic interventions in family and marital issues.