Fathers are involved in treatment for child and family problems to a far lesser extent than are mothers. This article reviews the level of fathers' inclusion in therapy, delineates possible barriers to fathers' participation in child-related treatment, and discusses factors associated with fathers' involvement in therapy. Empirically and…

Although popular literature cites between 25,000 and 100,000 parental child snatchings a year, no empirical studies have been conducted to support this estimate. To determine an empirical estimate of the extent of parental child snatchings, telephone interviews were conducted by Louis Harris and Associates with a representative cross section of…

Considers the medical importance for adoptees of not knowing their family history. Notes the problems adoptees face when others misunderstand their need for information on their background. Points out that the search for background has both intellectual and emotional components for adoptees. (SKC)

A longitudinal study investigated variations in the coping patterns of 52 married men who experienced infertility problems in their first marriage. Styles of coping considered were initial substitutes, subsequent parenting resolutions, and final marital outcomes and the impact of these variations on the men's subsequent success in achieving…

The booklet provides information on current family-oriented research activities based on a survey of 16 Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers and 17 projects funded by the National Institute on Disability Research or other agencies. Information provided for each center includes name, address, phone number, director, funding source and…

Alcohol abuse results in a variety of problems including employment difficulties and family problems. This study integrates a family systems model of alcoholism with a family crisis model for recovery to study spouses of alcoholics and their perceptions of family stress, coping styles, and quality of marriage. Participants (N=60) were husbands or…

Traditionally, research findings on family problem solving have been based on observational data from vignettes provided by the researcher. To examine problem solving in couple relationships from a participatory perspective, 27 married couples discussed a mutually relevant domestic problem, while being videotaped. Subsequently, each partner…

The Double ABCX model of family stress and coping was evaluated with 86 families raising mentally retarded children. The model evaluates the stressor (A), families' use of resources (B), their perception of the stressor (C), and the stress experiences (X). The causal ordering of the model suggested an ACBX rather than an ABCX relation. (Author/DB)

Spouse abuse has emerged as an extensive social issue. Although many studies have examined characteristics of abused wives, there has been a dearth of literature examining the relationship between victim and perpetrator levels of aggression. The purpose of this study was to explore those variables that are related to female victims' own level of…

Need for behaviorally based report procedures capable of describing important aspects of family functioning is expressed. Adaptation of the Areas of Change Questionniare is presented for assessment of parent-adolescent relationships. The potential utility of this instrument in clinical and research efforts is described, and initial psychometric…

The study examined the stress associated with parenting a handicapped child experienced by parents living in rural Ontario communities. Availability of social support emerged as the major predictor of reduced stress. Family characteristics (e.g. cohesion and adaptability) and child characteristics (e.g. severity of handicap) emerged less often as…

Comparison of 16 autistic children receiving psychotropic medication with 16 similar nonmedicated children and their parents found that discriminators of the parental decision to medicate or not included: family stress; the child's speaking ability; and irritable, driven, non-goal-directed child behavior. (DB)

This paper addresses issues in the separation of level of functioning of a child with mental retardation and the general life satisfaction of parents in research on the effects of such children on their parents' level of psychological stress. It also urges development of instruments that do not mix items measuring physical demands and those…

This study of 45 hospitalized abused children examined risk factors for child abuse when social class effects were minimized. Abused children were more likely to have younger parents and fewer siblings and to have been separated from their parents during the first year of life. Their parents were more likely to have been abused as children.…

Results of this longitudinal study (7 years) suggested that the stress attributed to a specific child (including a child with an intellectual disability) by parents (N=93) may be an indicator of more general family stress. Although the strength of parental worry decreased, the pattern of worries did not change over time. (Contains references.)…