Background: Childhood adversity is linked to a number of adult health and psychosocial outcomes; however, it is not clear how to best assess and model childhood adversity reported by adolescents with known maltreatment exposure. Objective: This study sought to identify an empirically-supported measurement model of childhood adversity for…

Social systems, like biological systems, sometimes manifest dysfunctions that could be considered forms of "social disease." The author interprets the term "social diseases" as "persistent dysfunctions of social relations" that disrupt the normal functioning of particular elements of society or the entire social…

A questionnaire to 96 spouses of vocational agriculture teachers in West Virginia identified the major benefits and problems experienced by the spouses. The 60 respondents named job security and spouse's range of skills as benefits, work overload without additional compensation as a major problem. (JOW)

This qualitative study identified 4 major themes during interviews with 28 families whose children have dual sensory impairments. Concerns clustered around parental perceptions of a "good life" for their children, and their experiences with fear, frustration, and change. (Author/DB)

Examined functioning and life context of spouses of depressed patients. Remitted and control spouses were comparable in functioning, stressors, and coping with remitted spouses reporting more social and family problems. Nonremitted spouses had significantly more problems than control spouses on most indices. Spouse adaptation was typically…

Discusses principles associated with strength-based approaches to support families of children with disabilities: a philosophy based on family strength; a partnership approach to service; a family-centered agenda; an individualized response to family needs; a comprehensive view of family development; and an assessment of outcomes based on family…

This booklet, which is primarily addressed to the needs of two-parent families, provides practical tips for working parents of preschoolers. The booklet focuses on organizing and managing time, streamlining tasks, and fostering an atmosphere of family cooperation. The first section discusses sharing reponsibilities and establishing routines. The…

Research on family relationships has indicated that the family is the primary basis of security for adults in later life. To explore the family environment and interactional experience of multigenerational families in which the elderly grandparent is chronically ill, 12 families (12 grandparents, 13 adult children, and 11 grandchildren) completed…

This paper looks at the often troubled development of the White House Conference on Families and at the views of its director, John Carr, on its appropriate topics and objectives. (SJL)

This booklet describes the work of the Alaska Women's Commission, a state agency dedicated to the achievement of equal legal, economic, social, and political status for women in Alaska. Since its inception, the Alaska Women's Commission has provided funding for regional women's conferences in rural parts of the state. The document describes four…

This paper presents the hospice as an alternative method of caring for the dying, with emphasis on bereavement follow-up care of the family. Components of this approach are described in terms of: (1) the delivery of care through a physician-directed team supported by nurses, social workers, pastors, volunteers, and consultants; (2) the maintenance…

One of the major polarizations in marriages of workaholic husbands is their pursuit of the "Great American Dream" while their wives are left to pursue the "Petty Realities of Life." Couples must learn to negotiate realistic and functional objectives for themselves, without avoiding the issues. (JAC)

Examines the situation of 40 Missouri farm families who were forced out of farming because of financial reasons. Includes family members' experiences with 15 common reactions to stress, sources of help, degree of adjustment to the uniform way of life, and characteristics of families and farms involved in the study. (JHZ)

A survey of 120 families of children with emotional or behavioral disorders found they received more needed support from formal organizations and paid professionals than from informal organizations and unpaid individuals. However, family members were reported as the most helpful for coping with daily challenges. Parents receiving more support…

This paper explores social and psychological issues facing those with acquired hearing loss, including self-identity, dealing with the loss, communication issues, and the impact of hearing impairment on significant others. Strategies and innovative approaches to promoting the well-being of deafened and hard-of-hearing individuals and their…