This study examined the nature and correlates of adolescents' perceptions of sibling influence. Participants included 2 siblings (firstborn age M = 17.34; second-born age M = 14.76 years) from 191 maritally intact families. Adolescents' perceptions of sibling influence were measured via coded responses to open-ended questions about whether their…

Notes two cross-cultural and transhistorical myths associated with stepmotherhood: the evil stepmother myth and the myth of instant love. Asserts that the tenacity of these myths has served to stigmatize stepmothers. Describes myths associated with stepmothers, details how these myths affect stepmother life, reveals dilemmas in identity management…

Used data from membership survey of National Council on Family Relations to explore variations in demographic profile and organizational attitudes of three professional role identity groups (educators, researchers, practitioners). Found wide variation in the profile and attitudes of the three groups. Concluded that professional role diversity…

Critiques relevant literature, identifying current strengths and weaknesses of family life in United States and considering future threats to U.S. families. Views roles and responsibilities of family life educators in strengthening families from structural-systems stance, and sees advocacy as primary role for new generation of family life…

Summarizes literature about fatherhood in the United States today and various resources available to those who work with fathers and families. Topics covered include summary of fathering literature across the family life cycle; implications for family and public social policy, and fathering resources. Fathering resources discussed are book,…

Reviews findings from selected studies on roles of spouses and stepparents; then uses review as foundation for nine clinical recommendations for therapists working with stepfamilies. Concludes that normalizing and educating members of stepfamilies to realities of stepfamily living is important key to successful clinical intervention. (Author/NB)

Used ethnographic methodologies in day care setting to explore potential impacts of changing roles and changing dependencies on women, children, and families. Findings suggest various supports for women and families that will enhance the environment of child care and facilitate interactive child development. (Author/NB)

Critiques the few scholarly reports found on interventions to help dual-earner couples share domestic labor and to increase fathers' temporal involvement in child care. Presents model of forces both constraining and driving equitable participation in domestic labor. Recommends model as basis on which to design, implement, and evaluate family life…

Tested model of family structure and process using 133 children where both divorced parents remained in children's lives about 3 years after separation. Found role diffusion, lack of coparental alliance, parental boundary problems, parent-child rejection associated with reduced social competence and behavioral difficulties (especially in boys and…

Examined differences between 216 spouses in remarriages classified as having low or high boundary ambiguity. Found high boundary ambiguity to be more prevalent in certain types of remarriages (stepmother families with nonresidential children). Few significant differences were found when wives were compared with wives and husbands with husbands in…

Examined ethnic diversity of the grandmother role and implications for strengthening support networks of older African-American women. Findings from 79 African-American grandmothers and 87 white grandmothers 65 years of age and older showed cultural distinctions in grandmother role. Results have important implications for strengthening the natural…

Interviewed 149 retired rural couples to examine conjugal role organization. Found that subjects showed a traditional, gender-differentiated division of household tasks, but that household role segregation decreased significantly after retirement; spouses made majority of decisions jointly; and spouses participated in large number of joint leisure…

The death of one's spouse brings trauma, grief, and the necessity of restructuring one's life. Some widowed persons experience economic hardships, emotional and social problems, and ill health. Help should be offered to widowed persons in such a way that they are not made to feel dependent. (Author)

Content analyzed a sample of 110 Grandparents' Day Cards. Results showed cards expressed love but not personal commitment. They avoided physical portrayal of grandparents and presented the elderly as nonpowerful and benign. The symbols used conveyed passivity. (NRB)

Examined how assessments of role behavior in the family and relative deprivation in work-family situations were linked with depression among homemakers (N=130) and employed married women (N=135). Results showed that negative evaluations of role behavior in the family were more depressing to homemakers than to employed women. (NRB)