This article discusses the importance of family practices to children's acquisition of literacy and describes attempts to influence such practices through the institution of family literacy programmes. One of these is the Family Literacy Project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which both served as a model and provided material for a similar…

Maternal self-efficacy (MSE) has been shown to be important, yet little is known about how it develops over time and whether increasing knowledge about child development and parenting results in feeling more efficacious, especially for first-time mothers. Furthermore, research is lacking about whether increased maternal self-efficacy results in…

Performance terminology can be applied as a form of analysis to evoke unique understandings of the identity of adult children of alcoholics (ACoA). By observing ACoA meetings, one can see members relying on positive reinforcement, validation perceptions, rewriting and visualizing healthy parenting skills, and rehearsing more functional alternative…

Summarizes the essential stipulations in laws relating to custody determination in table form. Issues of joint or shared custody, the principle of the best interests of the child, Uniform Child Custody Act, and the acceptance of psychological investigations of the child and his or her family are discussed. (Author/JAC)

Notes that studies on transition to parenthood and parent-infant relationship have investigated role of father. Sees family systems perspective focused on triadic and family-of-origin effects in early parenthood. Introduces object relations theory and self-psychology, which permit development of concept of psychic parental coalition, seen as…

Focuses on noncustodial parents, who are usually fathers. Discusses 10 dilemmas of parents in the noncustodial position and delineates what can be done by individual and family counselors to enhance ability of noncustodial parents to maintain parenting relationships with their children. (Author)

Reviews literature relating to naturalistic and laboratory studies of primates, human bonding, family systems theory, psychoanalytic notions of multiple inner representations, and pathological parenting in child abuse and neglect. Attempts to understand uniqueness of parent-child attachments and unique grief experienced at death of child. Proposes…

Explores concept of insight and preconditions for the development of insight for clinicians working with incestuous fathers. Details framework which promotes insight in incest fathers developed for use in Baltimore County Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, and offers suggestions for applying framework in offender treatment. (Author/NB)

Attempts to describe the psychological processes that predispose an individual to adopt a Satanic belief system. Describes processes in terms of child-parent relationships and the developmental tasks of adolescence. Proposes a model called the web of psychic tension to represent the process of Satanic cult adoption. Describes techniques for…

Custody planning among parents living with HIV or AIDS (PLHAs) can buffer the negative impact of parental death. The formal and informal custody plans for 594 children by 253 PLHAs and the relationships among custody plans, parental health, and psychosocial status were examined. About one-half of the parents had no formal custody plan. Parents…

Discusses three categories of children overburdened by responsibilities resulting from divorce. Describes economic, social, and psychological stresses affecting parent-child relationships, as well as the potential for psychopathology within the relationship. (JAC)

Describes how parental functions essential to children's growth and development are damaged or destroyed by alcoholism and examines interpersonal problems of latency age children of alcoholic parents. Also describes therapist's problems in working with such children and offers recommendations for helping them work through faulty relationship…

Discusses relationship between family structure and achievement of adolescent developmental task of separation-individuation. Views adolescent separation-individuation as continuum. Suggests that successful accomplishment of separation-individuation is affected by such factors as conflict, parental relationship, and accomplishment of previous…

Defines and discusses advantages of parenting coalitions when children have contact with both of their parents after divorce and remarriage. Outlines developmental sequence leading to such coalitions and describes common obstacles encountered by the adults. Major focus is on therapeutic interventions which can help adults form parenting…

Notes that parent-adult child coresidence typically reflects housing needs of coresident children who are disproportionately unmarried and living in households of parents. Sees considerable gaps in understanding implications of coresidence for parent-child relations and well-being. Uses conceptual approaches related to life course transitions and…