Because abuse affects all members of an abusive family, the entire family system must be assessed and treated. A three-phase comprehensive assessment and treatment model is proposed that includes individual, marital, sibling, and family dynamics. This combination of treatment approaches culminates in conjoint family therapy. (Author)

Introduces a new concept, "We-statements," that is similar but slightly different from the "I-statement" concept widely used in family life education. Discusses basic assumptions made with these two concepts, and theorizes about the effects they have in family systems. Suggests several guidelines for using these concepts.…

Describes a pedagogical approach toward fatherhood issues in which 15 graduate students in education formed a research team to develop a questionnaire and collect data on attitudes toward fatherhood in their own rural communities. Findings from 75 rural fathers confirmed the existence of new attitudes toward fatherhood, but showed little change in…

Examined maternal involvement of adolescent and adult mothers with handicapped and at-risk preschool children. Adolescent mothers of handicapped and at-risk children were rated as significantly less contingent and verbal, and provided less positive affective climate than did adult mothers. Perceived social support and locus of control were…

Interviewed 62 families that had recently placed their mentally retarded children about their experiences. Placements generally followed gradual build-up of child-related stress. Parents reported high satisfaction with placement and positive family adaptation following placement. Family experiences generally were not related to child's age, level…

Examined cultural variations in parenting attitudes, behavior, and involvement of mothers and fathers in two-parent families. Findings from Caucasian (n=2,642), African-American (n=469), Hispanic-American (n=357), and Asian-American (n=49) parents revealed that, as group, ethnic parents indicated greater general emphasis on children exerting…

Compares the objective (time demand and support provided) and subjective dimensions (caregiving burden) of caregiving for fathers and mothers of children and adults with mental retardation. Results based on 113 families indicate that mothers spent more time providing care, offered more types of support, and perceived more caregiving burden. (RJM)

This study examined family characteristics associated with the coparenting behavior of 60 parents with an 11- to 15-month-old infant (30 boys, 30 girls) during a structured triadic play session. Mothers reported on family demographics, social support, and child temperament. Both parents reported on their self-esteem and childrearing beliefs.…

Contrasted parents whose adolescent had left home for college, with those whose child commuted to college from home. Found parent role stress for both groups significantly related to the quality of parent-adolescent communication (for mothers and fathers), and the degree of emotional connectedness (for fathers) in the family prior to the…

Reviews research on day care in terms of family influences, day care influences and child outcomes, addressing implications for policy. Critiques resources including books, reports and other documents, organizations, and audiovisual materials, available for parents and professionals. (Author/KS)

Reviews the research literature on children's experience of the restructuring of the family following divorce. The effects of divorce are organized according to differences observed as a function of the child's age and gender, parental conflict, post-divorce family stability, and parent-child relationships. Conflict reducing custody arrangements…

Describes seizure disorders as affecting the individual's and the family's sense of control and the individual's consolidation of a sense of mastery in the environment. Suggests seizures may distort family negotiations by affecting parent's and child's transactions over issues related to the child's autonomy and competence. Discusses therapeutic…

Surveyed parents of preschoolers about their future plans for sex education. Found most middle-class mothers and fathers expected to discuss a wide range of sexual topics and in the same general sequence. Suggests delaying discussion of value-laden topics may limit parents' effectiveness. Discusses recommendations for family practitioners.…

Present study examined a model of the direct and indirect influences of mother, child, and family factors on home learning activities in low-income families. Results provided partial support for the model. Separate analyses yielded comparable results for Anglo- and Mexican-Americans. Ways to facilitate parent self-efficacy are discussed. (Author)

Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that parental distress would mediate relations between parental lifetime alcohol and physical health problems and child behavior problems. Results indicated that sons of parents with alcohol and physical health problems are at elevated risk for behavior problems, partly related to…