The meaning-making process can be crucial to individuals as they adjust to their divorce. Demonization is a negative coping response (also known as spiritual struggle) that involves appraising someone or something as related to demonic forces. Individuals may cognitively frame a divorce as the work of Satan in order to understand suffering while…

Combining social construction of gender and equity perspectives on parents' division of labor, this study extended research on associations between parents' childrearing involvement and adjustment by (a) differentiating between types of childrearing activities (task focused vs. relationship focused), (b) examining patterns of differences in these…

Reviews the empirical literature on the longer-term adjustment of children of divorce from the perspective of (a) the stressors and elevated risks that divorce presents for children and (b) protective factors associated with better adjustment. The resiliency demonstrated by the majority of children is discussed, as are controversies regarding the…

Examined influence of interpersonal conflict, affection, and distress concerning dependency and caregiving satisfactions in predicting caregiver strain and negative emotion in 98 family caregivers. Found that interpersonal conflict between elderly carereceiver and caregiver predicted greatest amount of variance in both caregiver strain and…

Discusses emotional problems related to infertility investigation and treatment. Reviews causes and treatment of infertility, coping patterns, and the role of counselors and family life educators in easing the crises of infertility and facilitating successful resolution of associated emotional problems. (JAC)

Reviews the literature on parental divorce and early childhood development, using developmental psychopathology as an organizing framework. Because this review is unique in its focus on divorce-related issues specific to young children, limitations of existing research are noted and directions for future research are suggested. (Contains 63…

Examined associations between children's psychological adjustment in stepfather families and their relationships with their noncustodial fathers and paternal grandparents. Results from 98 children and their families indicated no differences in contact or relationship quality with noncustodial fathers or paternal grandparents for boys or girls or…

Studied partner status, social support, and psychological adjustment of pregnant women. Administered Brief Symptom Inventory to predominantly minority and lower-income pregnant women (N=157) categorized as married, single/partnered, or single/unpartnered. Found single/partnered women were at least risk for emotional disequilibrium and suggested…

Presents a review of attachment theory as it relates to adolescents, and suggests connections between attachment, developmental changes, and adjustment of adolescents in stepfamilies. Includes several propositions for further research. (LLL)

Surveyed 102 women about their experience with miscarriage. Found that family resource variables were a much stronger predictor of level of crisis and recovery than were personal or community resource variables. Adaptation and cohesion were significant predictors of speed or recovery and level of crisis, respectively. (Author/NB)

Examined quality of child care provided by adolescent mothers vs. older mothers and whether maternal child-rearing beliefs predict supportive care mothers. Administered inventory to adolescent mothers (N=20) and older mothers (N=65). Found higher supportive care scores among older mothers and found both supportive-care older and adolescent mothers…

Explored stressors that accompany experience of involuntary childlessness and examined mediators of adjustment to infertility in married individuals. Data showed deleterious effect that coping with infertility can have on couple's sexual relationship. Findings suggest important relationship between self-esteem, marital commitment, and positive…

Examined autonomy and affiliation as potentially clinically significant characteristics for individuals adapting to parenthood. Data were obtained from longitudinal study of initially expectant couples who were seen at twoand five years after the birth of their first child. Found autonomy and affiliation assessed during expectancy to be strong…

Investigated the degree to which current alcohol abuse and psychopathology in adult children of alcoholics (COAs) are associated with the COAs' reports of family disruption, family coping, and individual child coping when the child lived with the parent. Family disruption and coping strategies were found to influence the subsequent adult…

Used intensive interviewing and observation of volunteer sample of six families of victims of head injuries over eight-month period. Results indicated similar experiences and coping responses occurring in families following head injury. Head-injury rehabilitation systems were found to be more client centered than family centered. (Author/NB)