The current study investigates the protective influences of family involvement (i.e., parental monitoring, communication, closeness, and family proximity) and sexual self-efficacy on the risky sexual behavior of ethnic minority (predominantly Mexican-origin) adolescents in the southwestern United States (N = 122). Results indicate that whereas…

Using survey data from a western U.S. county (N = 595), we examined how lower, middle, and higher income families negotiate a period of economic stress--the closing of a major employer in the community--through their shopping patterns. Specifically, we examined their participation in local thrift economies such as yard sales and secondhand stores.…

Using in-depth interviews, we explored civic engagement that included volunteering through religious organizations, neighboring, involvement in children's activities, and contributing. The sample consisted of 84 low-income, low-wealth families. Findings indicate that although people of limited resources may be engaged, they face substantial…

Examined whether involving families in programs for pregnant and parenting adolescents is associated with positive outcomes for adolescent, her child, and her family. Data from three federally funded programs suggest that family involvement, regardless of how it is defined and measured, is positively associated with large number of outcomes for…

Examined patterns and correlates of fathers' involvement in household chores and child care in 40 upper-middle class families. Although fathers spent significant time in child care and did perform a number of child-care tasks and household chores, the traditional pattern still held sway to some degree. (Author/ABB)

Investigates the relationship between ethnicity and retention among families participating in a national network of home-based family support programs. Analyses indicate greater participation by African American and Latino parents as compared with European American parents. Retention predictors vary by ethnicity. Strategies to form a supportive…

Three social contexts--family, neighborhood youth centers, and peer relationships--were examined in relation to several measures of adjustment among 1,406 mostly minority, inner-city adolescents. Family and center involvement were directly related to 3 of the 4 adjustment measures (i.e., achievement orientation, emotion regulation, attitudes…

Surveyed adolescent and young adult children of dual-career families on satisfaction with the lifestyle and perceptions of family strength. The children viewed the lifestyle positively and scored their families respectively high in family strength, especially the categories of concern and supportiveness. Nonetheless, problem areas such as time…

Social capital has recently become a guiding theoretical framework for family interventions in low-income neighborhoods. In the context of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections initiative, this research uses hierarchical linear modeling to examine how neighborhood characteristics and resident participation affect bonding social…

There are significant knowledge gaps concerning the experiences of families of persons with co-occurring substance and mental disorders and the impact of families on treatment of individuals with these disorders. This paper presents a conceptual framework for examining family involvement of adults in treatment for co-occurring substance and mental…

Through developing a way to assess quantitatively family interaction by examining activities in the family, relations between family interaction, and certain characteristics of the family environment were investigated. Identified significant relations that existed between total interaction and those activities categorized as social, eating, and…

Gathered data from institutionalized and community-dwelling elderly concerning their satisfaction with various aspects of family relations. While 80 percent of the sample were satisfied, differences were found between the young-old and the old-old, the married and the widowed, as well as between the institutionalized and community-dwelling…

The concept of social organization provides an important framework for understanding families in the context of communities and focuses our attention on norms, networks, and associated processes that typify community life. We discuss the significance of community for understanding family outcomes, discuss challenges in defining community context,…

Interviewed fathers (N=24) to explore their level of child care involvement at home and with family day care (FDC), comparing it with that of mothers involvement. Found fathers more involved in work than mothers but participating in a variety of home and FDC child care activities. (Author/ABB)

Reviewed popular literature (self-help books, magazines, adolescent fiction) that identified stepfamily strengths. Potential strengths of stepfamily life were identified in all three sources. The primary focus of self-help literature and magazine articles, however, was on stepfamily problems. Concludes that adolescent fiction may be used to good…