Reviews the problem of adolescent pregnancy/early childbearing, discussing some of the most common misconceptions about the issue as well as some of the reasons why this problem is of major concern. Suggests some possible solutions. Provides information on a number of resources that could be useful to professionals and parents. (Author/ABL)

Used qualitative interview data from study of 60 single-parent mothers and 11 single-parent fathers to examine family problems and strengths identified by these parents. With exception of family finances and ex-spouses, mothers and fathers seemed to have very similar experiences. About two-thirds of single parents reported that single parenting…

Presents a model which blends the family and work spheres into an exchange-based model of family interaction in two-generation farm families. Specific recommendations are made to help rural family practitioners, educators, and Cooperative Extension agents better understand and work with two-generation farm families. (LLL)

Presents case report of the treatment of a bulimic young woman and her family to illustrate method for working with the family's interactions and the client's internal processes. Includes guidelines and caveats for use of the method, which conceptualizes both levels and systems similarly. (Author/NB)

Examined divorced fathers (n=84) who had infrequent or no contact with their children. Found four sets of fathers: (1) those embroiled in conflict with former spouses; (2) those with personal problems or barriers; (3) those who are long-distance parents; and (4) those with teenage children with busy lives. (ABL)

Notes that working with marital and family problems complicates the concept of therapeutic responsibility. Discusses several societal contributors to ethical dilemmas in contemporary family therapy and summarizes an ecological framework for therapy on the basis of which a profile of the ethical family therapist is derived. (Author/NB)

Three-state study used Issues Validation, environmental scanning process for family life educators that combines literature reviews, professional and public opinion, and survey research to identify issues facing families and youth. Samples of residents, local advisory committees, and community professionals ranked 30 issues facing families and…

Examined families' concerns regarding readiness for community placement of their relative discharged from long-term state psychiatric facility resulting from hospital closing. Interviewed 49 families approximately 1 month after patient's release and 1 year later. Results indicated that over one-half of families questioned readiness of their…

Evaluated family preservation program using pre- and postservice assessment of risk of out-of-home placement for 995 families. Found modest, but statistically significant, increases in family functioning during services, as measured by scales assessing parent-centered, child-centered, and economic risk. Instrument-assessing risk did not predict…

Describes the types of coping strategies household families use to manage problems that affect them when the mother has a chronic illness. Reports alterations in household management as the most frequently used strategy (38 percent) employed by these families. (Author/ABB)

Reviews and critiques 11 stepfamily self-help books for children and adolescents. Codes books on dimensions of appropriate audience, author background, issues, advice, and strengths. Rates general interest and quality of writing of books and assigns categories of recommendation. Discusses use of the books as an adjunct to therapy. (Author/NB)

Reviews six studies of neglect and abuse of elderly persons in their homes. All of these investigations agree that a substantial but undocumented problem of domestic neglect and abuse exists; variety and severity of mistreatment ranges from reasonably benign to very severe, and causal theories are numerous. (WAS)

Evaluated Stress Management and Alcohol Awareness Program (SMAAP) for children from alcoholic families, in which 79 children of alcoholics between the ages of 9 and 13 participated in 8-week school-based curriculum on alcoholism, self-esteem enhancement strategies, and coping strategies. Found greater positive coping strategies, decreased…

Examined maternal ratings of family functioning and children's depression, anxiety, and problem behaviors among 53 families. Women (n=26) with alcohol-dependent partners reported significantly more marital and family disruption and higher levels of child problem behaviors. Both fathers' alcohol dependence and family risk factor index accounted for…

Assessed adolescents' perception of family adaptability and cohesion to identify whether and in what ways family systems of adolescent sex offenders (n=39) differ from those of violent juvenile delinquents (n=25), nonviolent juvenile delinquents (n=41), and from nonproblem families. Families of sex offenders were characterized by greater family…