Asynchronous Development between Partners

In the context of this encyclopedia, asynchronous development between partners contains two hidden assumptions that must be made explicit at the outset: (1) asynchrony is presumed to exacerbate stress that in turn is known to serve as a generalized risk factor for a host of medical, social, and emotional illnesses; and (2) asynchronous development presumes a change over time—both historical-social time and partnered time. Asynchronous development is also considered to be a risk factor for divorce in contemporary society. This entry examines changes in family parenting roles, gendered educational attainment, and the implications of both for life satisfaction, stress, and health.