Examined relations among parents, stepparents, and children after separation and divorce. Results suggest that most children have little contact with their nonresident parents, and what contact there is tends to be social rather than instrumental. However, when the former spouse remains active, stepfamily life does not seem to suffer. (Author/BL)

Examined data from a longitudinal study of divorce and remarriage to ascertain whether remarriage is helpful in enhancing one's well-being following marital separation. Concluded that remarriage after divorce is not associated with enhanced well-being. Moreover, no other variables were identified which appear to predict well-being following…

Used data from National Survey of Children to identify predivorce individual and family characteristics that explain portion of effect of parental separation on long-term well-being of children (educational and economic attainment, patterns of family formation, delinquency, psychological well-being). Divorce was associated with some outcomes,…

Although not the preferred type of family formation, conjugal succession is now an accepted, if not expected, alternative to continuous marriage in the United States. This new trend appears to be related to a shift in the meaning of matrimony. Previously, marriage was part of a cultural pattern of transitions and as such was closely timed to…

The marital histories of 203 young women who became premaritally pregnant in their early teens and 90 of their classmates most of whom married before pregnancy show that disruption in the courtship process and limited economic resources are the most important factors in marital dissolution. (Author/AM)

Explores the remarkable shift in marriage and divorce practices that has occurred in the last third of this century in the United States. Information is presented on trends in this country and other industrialized nations, and some reasons for these changes are explored. (SLD)

Using a 1981 national sample, examines (1) the incidence of marital disruption in children's lives; (2) children's living arrangements following a disruption; and (3) the amount of contact children maintain with the outside parent. The analysis reveals large differences between Blacks and Whites in both the incidence and aftermath of disruption.…

Family ties remain part of American life, but three kinds of American families will dominate in the years ahead: families of first marriages, single-parent families, and families of remarriages. Many related topics such as ethnic families, growing up in changing families, family obligations, and intergenerational relations are discussed. (NW)