Family processes associated with childhood role reversal and related adult outcomes were examined in a community sample 128 adults using a semistructured interview exploring family, friend, and romantic relationships. Women showed stronger role reversal than men, and role reversal was stronger with mothers than with fathers. Role reversal of women…

We describe a democratic citizen model of community organizing for mobilizing and partnering with families, using the overscheduling of children as a case example. We provide an overview of the growing body of research on this aspect of family time, describe the difference between a citizen model and program models for working with families, give…

We used data from 769 mother-child dyads nested within 300 later life families to explore the accuracy of adult children's perceptions of mothers' patterns of favoritism in terms of closeness and confiding. Adult children were generally accurate regarding whether their mothers preferred a specific child, but often had difficulty identifying whom…

A defining characteristic of grandparents raising grandchildren is parenting a second generation of children. To learn how grandmothers compare parenting their grandchildren to parenting their children, 40 custodial grandmothers were interviewed. Results of a qualitative analysis indicated that grandmothers perceived themselves as wiser, more…

Reviews current resources (books and films) that are available for family life educators offering general parenting courses. Focuses on contemporary views of parenting, parenting and psychological theory, parenting strategies and techniques, changing family configurations, and developmental needs of children. (Author/ABB)

Used Gibb's categories of supportive and defensive communication climates to investigate communication climate during discussions of sexuality between undergraduates (N=194) and their parents and undergraduates and their closest fiends. Gibb's categories could be collapsed into one factor labeled communication climate; climate between parents and…

Analysis of responses of 280 mother-father-young adult child triads showed that both parents had limited ability to gauge their children's attitudes. Parents made best guesses on Fundamentalist Religious Beliefs and Sexual Permissiveness. Mothers were slightly better than fathers at knowing daughters' opinions; neither parent was better at…

Identified parenting behaviors portrayed in family-oriented, prime-time television programs. Results indicated television fathers were more active as parents than were mothers and both mothers and fathers were portrayed in traditional ways. Television children responded differently to performance of parental roles and to child rearing patterns…

Studied single-parent fathers to assess goal facilitation, transition procedures, normative change, role strain, and ease of role transition. Concluded that single-parent fathers, although able to adjust successfully, may improve their adjustment by gaining education and experience with children, and participating in household activities. (Author)

Studies alternate custody arrangements: joint custody and father custody. Interviews indicate that joint custody decisions are an outgrowth of prior parent-child relationships. The children interviewed asserted that their best interests are served when they participate in the custody decision-making. (Author/JAC)

Observed father's behaviors toward newborns. Found fathers who had been present during delivery exhibited more distal attachment-type behaviors. Proximal father behavior (touching) did not differ according to father presence at delivery. Attendance at prenatal classes was not related to either father behaviors observed. (Author)

Sex of the absent parent was correlated with the type behavior manifested; absence of the father with "acting-out" and absence of the mother with "acting-in" behavior. The propensity of children of absent fathers to "act-out" and of absent mothers to "act-in" was related to whether children were aware of their parents' incarceration. (Author)

Investigated effects of parent education/play group program on types of involvement fathers (N=30) had with their children and their perceived sense of competence in parenting skills. Found significant program effects on treatment group fathers' (N=15) responsibility, forms of involvement, and their perceived sense of competence in parenting…

Reviews research from several disciplines to examine impact of stillbirth and infant death on parents, and the effect of various socio-demographic, pregnancy-related, and postbirth factors upon parents' grieving and adjustment. Reports that one-third of mothers reported serious physical and emotional deterioration. Notes that care and emotional…

Describes WCASA (Wilmington Cluster Against Substance Abuse) Families Matter! demonstration project designed to train low-income, urban, minority parents in family drug abuse prevention strategies. Discusses preliminary findings of project evaluation which show strong parent support for the project. (Author/CM)