enrolled in college at the time of the research and 28% had graduated from college.

Seventy-one percent of the women were enrolled in college and 19% had graduated.

 A cluster analysis of the data from the two samples produced the four styles

identified by Gottman, demonstrating the factorial validity of the scale. In the sample of

married couples, 13% of the husbands were classified as hostile, 19% as

volatile/validating, 32% as conflict-avoiding, and 37% as validating. For the wives, 14%

were classified as hostile, 21% as volatile, 41% as conflict-avoiding/validating, and 24%

as validating. In the sample of unmarried couples, 19% of the men were classified as

hostile, 28% as volatile/validating, 29% as conflict-avoiding, and 24% as validating. For

the unmarried women, 17% were classified as hostile, 33% as volatile/validating, 37% as

validating, and 14% as regulated undifferentiated. The regulated undifferentiated cluster

found among the unmarried women was comprised of respondents indicating very

infrequent use of a hostile couple conflict type, and only moderate frequency of using

validating, volatile, or conflict-avoiding conflict types. In each sample, some clusters

combined couple conflict types (i.e., volatile/validating and conflict-avoiding/validating);

the authors suggested these findings are consistent with Gottman's (1994) research, in

which couples using a volatile conflict style believe "volatility in conflicts is a 'small

part' of a loving relationship" (Holman & Jarvis, 2003, p. 279) and conflict-avoiding

couples perceive themselves as engaging in some degree of conflict.

 The factor analysis of scale responses produced a set of factors paralleling

Gottman's four couple conflict types across two significantly different groups. Hence the

construct validity of the scale was supported. Additionally, participants classified as

employing a hostile couple conflict type reported the lowest relationship satisfaction and