While most literature concerning families of mentally retarded children concludes that there is an eventual adjustment, the author argues that stresses emerge and re-emerge over time. The gap between parents' expectation and child's performance indicates a continued need for information and counseling. (Author)

Compared the social support of 92 homeless and 115 permanently housed low-income mothers. Results reveal that homeless mothers had less contact with their friends/relatives, could count on fewer people for help and child care in times of need, and felt their social networks were less helpful than housed mothers. (RJM)

Assessed the parenting behaviors of 193 white and African American mothers 15-24 years of age when their children were 12 and 36 months old. Cluster analysis of three dimensions of parenting was used to identify five types of parenting patterns. The strongest discriminating factor--maternal IQ--was associated with more positive parenting behavior…

Questioned 838 aging mothers of children with disabilities to describe the functional and affective relationships characterizing disabled and nondisabled siblings. Mothers reported that nondisabled offspring provided little functional assistance to their disabled siblings but that affective relationships between their children were characterized…

Examined demographic correlates of familial and nonfamilial sources of emergency assistance among Blacks. Data from Panel Study of Income Dynamics-1980 showed both familial and nonfamilial sources of emergency assistance. Revealed age, gender, marital status, and urban-rural differences in sources of assistance. Results highlight importance of…

Examined teenage mothers' transition to mothering as shaped by family (n=16) caregiving practices. Families demonstrating adversarial care experienced conflict over infant care with the mother, whereas families with a responsive ethic of care shared caregiving with the mother in a highly fluid manner. Provides suggestions for responsive…

Tests a parent competency model incorporating the effects of attendance in a parenting skills training intervention. Subjects (n=209) participated in a controlled study to test the model. Results generally supported the model for both mothers and fathers. Child management behaviors mediated parent conventionality and intervention attendance…

Compared parenting and children's (n=136) social, psychological, and academic adjustment across family structures. Biological/adoptive parents in intact families showed more positive parenting and coparenting practices than did parents in other family configuration; children in intact families showed higher levels of adjustment. Found differences…

Data shows couples in low-risk circumstances experience individual and marital distress after having a baby; however, no services exist to ease this transition. Interventions have been offered to high-risk mothers, but few are based on before-to-after parenthood studies that would identify risk factors. Describes interventions in both populations…

Investigated maternal conditions and perceptions after the birth of a very low birthweight (VLBW) infant. Compared to mothers of term infants, mothers of VLBW infants had higher incidence of psychological distress during the neonatal period but did not differ from term-birth mothers in feelings of role restriction, parenting competence, or social…

Examined employer reluctance to consider and/or implement innovations by assessing the relationship between selected demographic features of companies and the receptiveness of these companies to the introduction of innovative changes, as reported by company officials. Found demographic and other features influenced company officials' willingness…

Explores the relation of maternal employment and attitudes toward maternal employment to adolescent achievement. Examines parenting characteristics that mediate relations between maternal employment factors and achievement. Subjects were 240 ninth graders and their parents. Findings were that maternal employment did not influence adolescent…

Includes 14 articles that represent new conceptualizations of various aspects of stepfamily life, in-depth critiques of the literature, and reports of findings from recent research projects. Conveys awareness of the complexities of the research involving remarriage and stepparenting and supplies recommendations for guiding future investigative…

Collected observations of parental behaviors of fifth graders and then obtained adjustment measures for the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. Supportive, aware parenting was associated with early adolescents' positive academic, social, and psychological adjustment in fifth grade and with further improvement in adjustment in seventh grade. (RJM)