Tested the hypothesis that sequenced patterns of interaction in which mothers deferred control to their sons and sons assumed control would discriminate high- and low-problem single mother-son dyads. In high-problem dyads, compared to low, mothers' submissive communication was more likely to elicit sons' dominant communication and sons' dominant…

Interviewed 1,200 male Vietnam veterans and spouses or coresident partners of 376 of these veterans. Compared with families of male veterans without current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), families of male veterans with current PTSD showed markedly elevated levels of severe and diffuse problems in marital and family adjustment, in parenting…

Conducted one-year follow-up study on families randomly assigned to settle custody disputes either in mediation or through adversary procedures. Consistent with Time 1 reports, at Time 2, fathers who mediated were substantially more satisfied than were fathers who litigated. Fathers who mediated also complied more with child support orders.…

Studied 44 patients in marital or family therapy at an outpatient clinic and offered them the opportunity to list new complaints at subsequent assessment points in addition to the initial session. More than half the patients reported new problems, and when these arose, they were significantly correlated with outcomes. (BH)

First-time parents completed questionnaires 3 months before childbirth and 1 and 9-10 weeks after birth. Found that 39 Lamaze-trained couples reported similar levels of marital satisfaction, state anxiety, and birth-related problems at all testings, while 37 non-Lamaze trained couples showed decreases in marital satisfaction and increases in…

Addressed the effect of continued familial conflict on adolescents' (N=217) adjustment and self-concept. Results indicated that high conflict produces lower self-esteem, greater anxiety, and less feeling of control regardless of whether or not family dissolution occurred. (LLL)

Examined mother-child dyads (N=52) in a training program to modify aggressive child behavior. Obtained several measures of mother-child interaction and compared them between dyads that succeeded and dyads that did not. Results indicated unsuccessful mothers were more aversive and indiscriminate in their use of aversive behavior toward their…

Randomized adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to 8-10 sessions of behavior management training (n=20), problem-solving and communication training (n=21), or structural family therapy (n=20). All treatments resulted in significant reductions in negative communication, conflicts, and anger during conflicts and improved ratings…

Examined effects of birth of premature infant on the family system , focusing on how problems associated with premature birth place family at risk. Mothers of preterm infants felt overprotective, were unwilling to leave infants with babysitters, and perceived initial negative effect on the family. Preterm infants showed less exploratory play and…

Sixty self-rated depressed, behavioral-problem, and normal third- through fifth-grade children closely matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic status were assessed for number, quality, and impact of stressful life events in the past year. Results indicated that dysphoria-reporting children experienced more life events and higher qualitative index…

Compared interpersonal and behavioral observational systems in their ability to differentiate families with a bulimic-anorexic daughter using the modified Marital Interaction Coding System (MICS) and the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). Results showed both measures successfully discriminated between groups, accounting for…

Clinical evidence suggests wives of brain-injured men go through a crisis period one year following their husbands' injury. Such women were compared to wives of paraplegics of one year and to wives of normal men. It was predicted that they would report greater and more disturbing changes in their lives. (Author)

Bidirectional relationship between life events and self-reported depression was examined across a one-year period. Results describe a complex relationship between stress and depression and suggest that the relationship between stress and depression is moderated by type of stress. (BF)

Assigned 103 elementary students of separated/divorced parents to support group, support and skill building group; support, skill building, transfer, and parent training procedures; or no-treatment control. Children (n=26) from intact homes served as controls. Two skill-building conditions yielded durable improvements in adjustive behaviors in…

Contrasted 30 delinquent adolescents who had attempted suicide with 120 delinquent controls. Suicidal ideation, depression, gender, a tendency to act out, conflict with parents, childhood hyperactivity, and the interactions of gender with depression and with acting out accounted for 49 percent of the variance in suicide attempts. (Author)