Asked 30 families who cared for family member with Alzheimer's disease to provide narratives of daily care over 18 months. Found that different family members experienced their relationship with Alzheimer's disease patient to be continuous, continuous but transformed, or radically discontinuous with their relationship prior to the disease.…

Personal interviews were conducted with 67 adult adoptees who had reunions with birth relatives. Postreunion relationships were studied; closeness of the ensuing relationships was assessed. Interactive and motivating factors associated with the development of particular relationships were identified. Implications for clinical practice are…

This qualitative analysis of 50 couples explored how gender equality is related to the construction of motherhood in their day-to-day interactions. Results identified two models of mothering: (a) mothering as a gendered talent and (b) mothering as conscious collaboration. The first model perpetuated gender inequality through a recursive…

Adult adoptees (n=100) and nonadoptees (n=100) were compared with regard to self-esteem, identity processing style, and parental bonding. Although some differences were found with regard to self-esteem, maternal care, and maternal overprotection, these differences were qualified by reunion status such that only reunited adoptees differed…

This study examines indicators of family strength among a random sample of low-income households with children. The Family Strength Index assesses strength according to economic, problem-solving, communication, family cohesion, and social support assets. Variations in family strength are explained according to parental status and level of…

Our purpose was to test a model explaining the quality of attachment of 123 children in foster care receiving supervised visitation with their biological parents. The results indicated that for families in which reunification is a goal, children who have more consistent and frequent contact with their biological parents have stronger attachments…

Describes one model for an integrated, multi-agency program for adolescent mothers and their children. Each of the four agencies involved provides financial support and is responsible for one component of the program. Factors important in its success include a wide base of support, on-site services, established mechanisms for integration, and…

Examined interdependencies of marital and stepparent-stepchild relationships and children's psychological adjustment in 62 stepfamilies. In stepmother families, higher marital quality was associated with more positive stepmother-stepson relationships and better stepson adjustment, but less positive stepmother-stepdaughter relationships and poorer…

Compared rural and urban older adults on exchanges of assistance and social activities with children and friends. Found that illness prompted more giving and receiving of assistance for rural in comparison to urban informal supports. Rural widows were more actively involved in exchanges of assistance with friend networks than were urban widows.…

Conducted home visits to gather data from 49 parents living with psychiatrically disabled child at time of latter's entry into psychiatric rehabilitation program. Found high level of emotional distress on part of mothers and fathers. When differences were found between parents, mothers reported significantly higher degrees of anxiety, depression,…

Investigated relationships among parenting knowledge, quality of stimulation in the home environment, and infant developmental performance in three socioeconomic status groups. In low socioeconomic status families, parenting knowledge was significantly associated with quality of stimulation in the home environment, which in turn was significantly…

Discusses the results from a content analysis of popular articles on stepfamily life from 1940-1980. Results showed that articles were primarily directed to women or general audiences, shared personal or professional experience and/or advice, viewed stepfamily life as optimistic, and saw most stepfamily problems stemming from the stepparent and…

Describes adult-child incest involving 16 victims. Cases were analyzed and discussed in relationship to previous studies. Emphasis is placed on replicated and newly identified risk factors including alcohol dependency, spouse abuse, other (nonsexual) child abuse or neglect, inadequate housing, social isolation, birth order, and other family…

Presents two studies on the effects of father identification on the sex role and peer intimacy of college-age daughters (N=221). The first concerns the masculinizing quality of a strong primary father identification and the daughter's diminished heterosexual orientation. The second explores the role of empathic skill in distinguishing between the…

Through interviews and observation, the impact of caring for an elderly parent or in-law on 30 women was studied. The study differentiated between care provision and care management. Social and behavioral precedents and consequences of the role were identified. Costs of caregiving were much greater for providers than managers. (Author/JAC)