A multicausal model of adolescent homelessness was tested in 54 homeless adolescents and 58 controls. The homeless adolescents were found to be significantly more deprived emotionally, socially, and culturally than the controls. Subjects reported a lack of parental warmth, care, and support; unstimulating family environments; high levels of family…

This introductory article to a special issue on families of children and adolescents with special needs across the life span notes the articles' focus on theory, research, and practice as a way to provide information about current work in the fields of early intervention, special education, and family support from an ecological perspective. (DB)

The conversations of 10 deaf children (ages 10-12) and their families at dinnertime were examined, and spoken and signed verbal exchanges were documented. Results showed that deaf children responded more loquaciously to questions than they did to statements or expressions of ideas, and the children were unsuccessful in continuing topics of…

Expresses concern with prevailing models that suggest comprehensive assessment across all areas of family strengths and needs for Individual Family Service Plan development for families of young children with disabilities. Issues of instrument development and use, the types and nature of early intervention services provided, and the role of…

Used a latent trait-state model to study aspects of maternal and adolescent depressed mood. Found that maternal depression was predicted by lower family income, lower family cohesion, lower perceived social support, and higher parental role stress. Found that adolescent-trait depression was predicted by lower perceived family support, lower grade…

Examined linkages between congruence in perceptions of family functioning and adolescent competencies in a sample of first-year college students and their parents. Found that congruence analyses portrayed a more complex picture of congruence and divergence than previous studies and highlighted the importance of examining interaction patterns.…

Examined whether associations between marital discord and trajectories of adolescent depression and delinquency varied as a function of intrapersonal attributes. Found that difficult temperament potentiated effects of marital discord on adjustment trajectories. Heightened perceived family support protected adolescents from adverse marital discord…

Interviewed adopted college students regarding perceptions of adoptive family life. Found that overall satisfaction with adoptive status and family life was the strongest predictor of perceived general family environment. Perception of adoptive parents' communication styles predicted different aspects of family environment. Acknowledgment of life…

For many children and their families, the period of time between Thanksgiving and the New Year is marked with great cheer, delicious home-cooked meals and exciting road trips to visit family and friends. But families affected by attention deficit disorder (ADD) can often miss out on the joys of the holiday season if the condition is not managed…

The purpose of the current study was to examine how perceptions of family interaction patterns as defined along three dimensions of family environment (quality of family relationships, family goal-orientations, and degree of organization and control within the family system) predict vocational identity and career planning attitudes among male and…

Cognitive-behavior therapists define schemas as cognitive structures that organize thought and perception. Schemas are also viewed as having an integral influence on emotion and behavior. In this article, I examine the role of schema in family conflict and the specific interventions used in restructuring them during the course of family therapy.…

Based on Bronfenbrenner's (1999) ecological perspective, a longitudinal, prospective model of individual differences in the quality of home environment (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment--HOME) was tested in a sample of 179 Brazilian children and their families. Perinatal measures of family socioeconomic status (SES) and child…

This multi-method study sought to identify parameters of developmental change and stability of child reaction patterns to interparental conflict in the context of family relations in a sample of 223 6-year-old children and their parents followed over the course of one year. Consistent with the sensitization hypothesis, interparental withdrawal and…

This paper explores the factors involved in the adjustment of children who must live with grandparents. Some studies indicate these children may be at higher risk for the development of psychopathology and pre-delinquent behavior. In contrast, other studies seem to indicate the love and care of supportive grandparents can lessen the impact of a…

A brief introductory review of the literature reveals that research on family influence in the development of political orientations in adult children is inconclusive. This study focused on highly politicized families and examines: (1) the relative influence of family emotional climate versus family political climate; and (2) the relative…