Motivated by earlier research highlighting Swedish teachers' beliefs that the setting of homework compromises deep-seated principles of educational equity, this paper presents an exploratory study of Swedish parents' perspectives on homework in their year-one children's learning. Twenty-five parents, drawn from three demographically different…

This longitudinal study investigated identity development across early adulthood. To examine both stability and change in identity development, an explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. First, patterns of identity status development across early adulthood were examined, followed by an in-depth qualitative approach to understand more about…

People with cognitive difficulties often have scarce economic resources, and parents with cognitive difficulties are no exception. In this article, parents' experiences are put forth and discussed, for example, how does economic hardship affect family life? How do the parents experience support, what kind of strain does the scarce economy put on…

This article examines how Muslim girls of Somali origin raised in Sweden imagine their adulthood in regard to career and family life. The theoretical framework is social constructionist in that it assumes that children have agency and are capable and competent actors, in contrast to what has previously been generally assumed about children from…

Swedish parents are entitled to government paid benefits to take care of sick children. In this paper we show that the gender distribution of paid care for sick children is a good proxy for the gender division of household work. Using two examples we show that registry data on care for sick children is a useful data source for studies on gender…

This article explores the influence of working conditions on work-family conflict (WFC) among married/cohabiting employees across seven European countries. Using data from the European Social Survey, the paper first investigates the role of working conditions relative to household level characteristics in mediating work-family conflict at the…

Notes there are many concepts connected to term "family." Sees concepts as different from one another and notes many are unclear. Uses term "dyad" to sort differences to provide greater understanding. To demonstrate how dyadic approach can successfully be used, presents illustrative data from legislation as well as from…

Most previous research on parental involvement in children's homework has focused on the pedagogical advantages or disadvantages of school assignments while neglecting the practice in its social context, family life. By studying parent-child homework negotiations in Swedish families, this paper examines how family members position themselves and…

Reviews history and content of recent U.S. child care and family legislation comparing it to that of four European nations on five policy objectives: increasing supply, supporting maternal employment, easing burdens of child rearing, permitting parental choice, and raising quality of programs. Recent legislation brings United States slightly…

Objective: The study aims to evaluate psychosocial, societal, and family cost consequences of a psychoeducational intervention program. Methods: Sixty boys with ADHD, Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA), and reading and writing disorder (RD/WD) were allocated to participate in a service evaluation project. Every other boy in each…

Presents an account of some important developments that concern the family in Sweden since the beginning of the 1960s. Interprets data from the Swedish fertility survey conducted by Statistics Sweden in 1981 and official statistics for later years. Contends that the young nonmarital cohabitation that has emerged should be seen as a phenomenon…

Examines stories written by adolescent boys on the theme, "My Future Family." Stories reflected how boys explored male identity through the main character. Boys completed the assignment differently, connecting to various styles and genres (not found in girls' stories) and portraying widely varying main characters. Stories combined…

Increasing numbers of mothers of young children are entering the labor force, resulting in the emergence of new family lifestyles in the United States and five European countries. Expanded child-care services, cash benefits, and extended leave are helping adults manage both work and family life. (Author/SK)

Analyzed narratives about future family life and themselves as fathers written by 13- to 14-year-old boys in suburban and rural Swedish communities to examine adolescent construction of self-identity. Found that their writing connected to fellowship, equality, and knowledge transmission. The father role in the narratives gave boys access to adult…

In this ethnographic study of family life, intergenerational video and computer game activities were videotaped and analysed. Both children and adults invoked the notion of a digital divide, i.e. a generation gap between those who master and do not master digital technology. It is argued that the digital divide was exploited by the children to…