Investigated how psychological state influences reporting of early family experiences. University students (n=176) completed measures of psychological distress and childhood family experiences at beginning and end of semester. Found increases in psychological distress associated with recalling parental marital relationship more negatively, more…

Used national, longitudinal data from two generations to assess explanations for intergenerational transmission of marital instability, one based on relationship skills and the other on marital commitment. Results suggest that offspring with divorced parents have an elevated risk of seeing their own marriages end in divorce because they hold a…

Compared respondents from national survey of Australian young adults who experienced parental divorce as children with respondents from two-parent families on attitudes toward marriage and family life. Compared to those from intact families, respondents from divorced families held more negative attitudes toward family of origin. Found few…

Examined effects of divorce and remarriage on adjustment and development of children. Elementary school children (N=172) and adolescents (N=170) reported on processes in mother-custody one-parent, mother-custody stepparent, and intact two-parent families. Children reported similar levels of support and punishment from mothers, regardless of family…

Using longitudinal data, examined the impact of parental marital quality, divorce, and remarriage on the exchange of assistance between parents and offspring. Found that family members were able to adapt to alterations in family structure in a way that minimized the effects of changes by maintaining patterns of needed support. (RJM)