Toward greater specificity in the prediction of externalizing problems in the context of interparental conflict, interactions between children's parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system (PNS and SNS) activity were examined as moderators. PNS activity was indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA reactivity (RSA-R) to lab…

The authors used data from the Add Health study to estimate the effects of parents' marital status and relationship distress on daughters' early family formation transitions. Outcomes included traditional transitions (marriage and marital births) and nontraditional transitions (cohabitation and nonmarital births). Relationship distress among…

This paper applied the family stress model to the case of Turkey in the wake of the 2001 economic crisis. Using structural equation modeling and a nationally representative urban sample of 711 married women and 490 married men, we tested whether economic hardship and the associated family economic strain on families resulted in greater marital…

The effects of geographic variations in cost of living and family income on children's academic achievement and social competence in first grade (mean age = 86.9 months) were examined, mediated through material hardship, parental investments, family stress, and school resources. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten…

Data from two studies assessed the effects of nonstandard work schedules on perceived family well-being and daily stressors. Study 1, using a sample of employed, married adults aged 25-74 (n = 1,166) from the National Survey of Midlife in the United States, showed that night work was associated with perceptions of greater marital instability,…

Balancing the roles of parent and partner is challenging for most people and may be especially challenging when extra time and effort are required in the parenting role. The current research compared 25 couples whose children have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with 20 couples whose children do not have developmental disorders. Comparisons were…

Families of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit decreases in cohesion and adaptability, increased social isolation (Higgins et al., 2005), higher levels of marital dissatisfaction (Hastings et al., 2005), and overall disruption to daily life (Bristol et al., 1988). Research has provided evidence of higher levels of stress,…

Outlines various factors likely to complicate the process of marital separation and increase the need for intervention. Presents illustrative cases and intervention strategies. (Author/JAC)

We use data from three waves of the Fragile Families Study (N= 2,111) to examine the prevalence and effects of mothers' partnership changes between birth and age 3 on children's behavior. We find that children born to unmarried and minority parents experience significantly more partnership changes than children born to parents who are married or…

This article investigates the effect of inconsistency between parental marital conflict and disruption on children's health. Inconsistent situations arise when minimal marital conflict precedes disruption or when marital conflict is high but there is no disruption. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, two alternative…

Assessed intrapersonal distress and impact of diabetes and vision impairment on marital functioning. Found significant degrees of intrapersonal distress and compromised family functioning. Of 18 subjects in committed relationship at onset of vision impairment, 9 later separated. Totally blind subjects were at greater risk for separation than were…

Examined relationship of marital strain, coping, and depression in 550 Mexican-American women. Found marital strain and coping factors to be intercorrelated and to covary with depressive symptoms. Acculturation level also covaried with some marital strain and coping factors but was not related to depression. (Author/NB)

Examines the health and contentment of husbands of employed women and husbands of housewives, replicating an earlier study. Improvements in sampling, measurement, and analysis procedures were incorporated into the restudy. Husbands of employed women evidenced no more signs of marital discord and stress than did spouses of housewives. (Author/BEF)

Examined three dimensions of divorce-related stressors (occurrence, perceived disruptiveness, and area of life change) in 80 divorced parents 6 to 12 months post decree. Findings showed men and women generally reported similar levels of stress associated with divorce-related experiences. Results support importance of area of life change and…

Examined husbands' appraisals of five marital events which were recorded daily for 90 consecutive days. Subjects (N=20) appraised events according to four qualities: desirability, changingness, meaningfulness, and control. Found no differences in how husbands from distressed and nondistressed marriages viewed events. (Author)