No longer a myth: A study of the happy and healthy marriages of African American male professional athletes

by Dees, J.E.M.E.G. Vann

The marriages of professional athletes have been examined for years, but the positive factors in those marriages have rarely been examined. This study focuses on the factors that contribute to the strength and happiness in the marriages of professional athletes. Five professional athletes and their wives were interviewed in effort to determine the factors that contributed to the strength of their marriages. Open communication, shared values, religion/faith, and trust were consistently found to be important components contributing to the strength of these marriages. This study adds to the limited literature available discussing the positive aspects of professional athlete marriagess