Examines the use of the Hassidic Yahrzeit observance as a model for new family rituals designed to incorporate repressed material into ongoing memories of deceased loved ones. The observance allows for overt recognition of positive as well as negative recollections and emotions and does so with flexible practices in a fixed time frame. (Author/MKA)

Discusses possible stressors and enhancers of marital and family life for the family therapist. The results are examined in terms of respondents' gender, work setting, theoretical orientation, number of hours worked, income, age, and marital status. (Author/BL)

Field theory is interactional. It asserts that genetic predispositions, acquired characteristics, uniqueness, and behaviors of individual impact are affected by events and people in environment. This can be seen clearly in development of children who join family rather than being born into it. Resulting complexities can be seen in family therapy…

Examined the relationship of various leisure activity patterns to individuals' overall satisfaction with time spent with their spouse and to global marital record in 251 married individuals. Found time spent either in individual activities or with others excluding spouse was significantly correlated with marital distress. (Author/ABL)

Discusses negative societal attitudes toward diverse family types, particularly stepfamilies. Outlines and discusses the importance of understanding stepfamilies in terms of basic human needs and indicates the benefits of such an approach. (JPS)

Identifies characteristics of the celebrity family, examining issues of confidentiality and trust, family boundaries, parenting roles, unrealistic expectations of and for the children, and family isolation. Describes the family as entering into a tacit contract enabling the celebrity to pursue his/her career by relinquishing the parental role to…

Reviews two conferences sponsored by the Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy: "Professional Systems and the Family," focusing on the interfaces among family therapists and professionals in education, health care, and human resources, and "Family Systems Over Time: The Fourth Dimension," focusing on the family life cycle, and…

Examines reports of marital problems from couples at different stages of the life course. Results indicated that presenting problems were generally the same, regardless of whether the couple was newly married, in the childbearing years, or married over a decade. Moreover, wives reported more problems in the their relationships than did husbands,…

Explores the association between sex roles and relationship adjustment and communication skills. Baucom's sex role inventory was administered to couples who reported on relationship satisfaction and engaged in problem solving. Results suggest that clinical interests might be better served by studies less focused on validating Bem's model of…

Examined discriminant validity of Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) with 60 self-defined adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and 64 college students. ACOAs obtained significantly lower scores on 10 FOS subscales, 2 larger dimensions of Autonomy and Intimacy, and global score. Discriminant function correctly classified nearly 88% of sample. Findings…

Investigated the relationship of family structure to psychosocial health in "healthy" and "normal" male adolescents. Families of healthy subjects had significantly more effective parental coalitions and generational boundaries. Suggests the importance of marital transactions for establishing parental coalitions and generational boundaries. (Author)

Examines some effects that diagnosis of autism may bring to family and some of potential family stressors that presence of autistic child may present. Discusses problem areas, including communication, bonding, early sleep patterns, unpredictable behavior, difficulties created by changes in routine, splinter effects, respite, and financial matters.…

Examines how family therapists can be more responsive to the unique needs and problems of deaf family members. Compares methods of training in communication for deaf children, addressing the conflicts that may accompany the adoption of a given method. Stresses the pivotal role of communication problems between hearing and deaf family members in…

Outlines what stepfamilies need from therapy and describes three important lessons other types of families can learn from remarriage families: dealing productively with losses and changes, accepting and appreciating differences, and enhancing relationships by increasing dyadic interactions. (Author)

Examines the association between Vietnam veterans' levels of war-related symptoms of arousal and avoidance and their spouses' perceptions of their current family cohesion, adaptability, communication, and parental and marital satisfaction, using veterans' and their spouses' self-reports. Results indicate associations between the psychological…