The research focuses on positive and negative aspects of intercultural relationships such as marriage, close friendship, and long-term work relationships. Because intercultural relations produce greater instability than relationships between individuals of the same culture, it is hypothesized that partners involved in intercultural relationships have developed workable solutions to their problems and/or are receiving benefits that offset the greater costs. Factors which are significant in any relationship include values, perceptions, communications strategies, and interpretation of what the relationship means. Research on intercultural interaction suggests that particular problems arise due to conflicts over differences in perceived causes of a given event and uncertainty about causes of a problem. Findings from a survey of intercultural and interethnic couples in Kansas City, Missouri, indicated that interethnic couples experienced more external problems than couples from the same ethnic background and that intercountry of origin couples reported more problems associated with family life than did couples from the same country. Additional research is suggested on the part intercultural relationships may play in increasing intercultural understanding and decreasing tension. (DB)