Most treatment programs for alcoholics and their families fail to show a systematic understanding of the interaction between the alcoholic, his drinking problem, and the family as a whole. Based on a review of the literature, the author presents a systems approach and ways of utilizing it in practice. (Author)

The hypothetical constructs of attraction and barrier forces, as well as contrasting alternative attractions are used to organize the research literature on the determinants of marital stability and dissolution. (Author/AM)

Focuses on the effects divorces of children have on the kinship networks of the older generation. Found a common source of expansion among paternal grandmothers who retained relationships with their former daughters-in-law and her relatives at the same time that they added new relatives with sons' remarriages. (Author/ABB)

Gives a brief account of recent developments in matrimonial law related to divorce, custody, and visitation to the children of divorcing couples. Discusses the development of mediation, its organizational structure, and its place within the context of the legal system of the United Kingdom. Outlines the principles of conciliation. (Author/ABL)

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 effects of marital disruption on the academic aptitude and achievement of fourth-grade children. Analyses showed children in recently dirupted single-mother families had greater problems in some but not all areas of school achievement and performance than children in early disrupted single-mother families or children in never disrupted…

Compared divorced men and women in regard to previous levels of marital adjustment and problems experienced in former marriages. Used personality traits assessed at the beginning of each marriage to predict problem ratings reported after divorce. Results indicated that wives reported more problems in their former marriage than husbands. (BH)

Examines the Marriage Contract Game which can improve the skills of distressed couples and refocus their attention away from their children and toward their own marriages. Subjects were four distressed couples. Results showed that game play improved couple's problem-solving and positive feeling statements in home discussions of problems. (BH)

Examines hypothesized consumption and finance-handling differences between couples who subsequently become divorced or remained happily married. Happily married couples were found to practice role specialization, with greater influence of the wife and less husband dominance in family finance handling, and greater joint and wife influence in…

Presents two articles which examine the relationship between intimacy and self-disclosure in 10 clinical and 10 nonclinical couples using the Self-Disclosure Coding System (SDCS). Results suggested positive self-statements, time spent talking, and affective manner discriminated between the two groups and were related to intimacy. (JAC)

Hypothetically, earlier marriages are more likely to dissolve, but reasons for this are as yet unclear. A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 259 couples revealed that those who married later, had more education, and did not experience unemployment, were more likely to remain in a stable marriage. (KH)

Children of divorced parents are entitled to have their mental, cultural, and physical well-being protected. The wishes of the children in this regard superseded the desires of the parents. (CK)

This article points out many possible danger signals, and suggests some reasons why they are often overlooked or ignored, either by the principals or by their friends and relatives. (CJ)

This study deals with the relationship between number and spacing of children and family role structure as measured by decision making and household task performance. Data on childbearing patterns and family role structure indicate that family size, spacing between marriage and first birth, and spacing between first and last birth are all related…