Studied the family history of preschool children (N=1,067). By 6 years, 16 percent of children born to two-parent families experienced a family breakdown. Findings suggest that, once children left the traditional two-parent family, there was a strong possibility they would be exposed to both marriage formation and breakdown. (BH)

Compared relative effectiveness of two interventions in treatment of marital discord: a cognitive-behavioral intervention (teaching problem-solving skills) and an experiential intervention (focusing on emotional experiences). The effects of emotionally focused treatment were found to be superior to problem-solving treatment on marital adjustment,…

Explores the effects of family structure during the teenage years on the likelihood of marriage later using data from two national longitudinal surveys of young people. Results indicated that childhood family patterns do influence later family formation. Sons and daughters and Blacks and Whites are affected somewhat differently. (JAC)

Studied the risk-taking behavior (i.e., smoking, intemperate drinking, and failure to fasten seat belts) of 4,539 Canadian adolescents. Results showed adolescents who lived in intact families engaged in less health-risk behavior than adolescents from separated or divorced families. Results from widowed families were mixed. (JAC)

Data from a national sample found that cohabitors are more violent than marrieds. However, cohabitors over 30, divorced women, those with high incomes, and those who were together for over ten years, had very low rates of violence. Suggests cohabitation should not be seen as a unitary phenomenon. (Author)

Investigated marital stability and perceptions of marital adjustment and family environment among Navy prisoners of war repatriated from Vietnam (RPWs) and a Navy comparison group. Results indicated that the post-repatriation divorce rate among the RWP group was significantly higher than for the comparison group. (Author)

Investigated relationship between locus of control and marital stability of young men. Factors derived from locus of control measures included leadership, personal, and fate scales. Results indicated the only significant difference was on the leadership scale between men remaining married and those who did not. (RC)

Age at marriage, marital duration, religiosity and income have an effect on thinking about divorce independent of their effect on marital dissatisfaction. Wife's employment and the presence of preschool children are likely to lead to thoughts about divorce. (Author)

Three studies demonstrate that the Inventory of Family Feelings, a measure of family affective structure, has high reliability and construct and concurrent validity. It is appropriate for affective comparisons by age, sex, and ordinal position of children and for measuring change after family or marital therapy, or after predictable stress…

Used national longitudinal data to examine parent-child relationships before and after divorce. Parental reports of relationship problems with children were significantly elevated as early as 12 years prior to divorce. Findings suggest that the quality of the parents' marriage has both direct and indirect long-term consequences for parent-child…

Found an excess mortality, especially among women, among people who are remarried and cohabiting. A narrower than expected gender mortality difference existed when work status and number of children were taken into consideration. Unemployed women, as well as unskilled male workers, were in particularly vulnerable situations at divorce. (RJM)

This study examined the relationship between bullying and victimization in school and exposure to interparental violence with 1059 Italian elementary and middle school students. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses of questionnaire responses revealed that bullying and victimization were predicted by exposure to interparental violence,…

The role of adolescents' family relationships as moderators of the negative associations between early steady dating and adjustment was investigated. As predicted, negative associations between early steady dating and adjustment were moderated by family factors and gender. Findings suggest that success in prior relationships contributes to…

Used a model of family process to predict 178 children's emotional adjustment and behavior problems during parents' divorce. Findings showed that the parents who had less marital conflict had better relationships with their children after separation, which in turn was associated with more adaptive child functioning. (TE)

Examined differences within 34 pairs of parents bereaved by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 3-40 months after their loss. Findings revealed that bereaved parents sought support from within family most frequently and from outside resources the least. Bereaved mothers used these coping patterns significantly more often than did fathers. Found…