Adolescents may seek to understand family conflict by seeking out confidants. However, little is known about whom adolescents seek, whether and how such support helps youth, and the factors that predict which sources are sought. This chapter offers a conceptual model of guided cognitive reframing that emphasizes the behavioral, cognitive, and…

Asian American families are often portrayed as affluent, having achieved a high level of education and occupational prestige. Despite this model-minority image, many Asian Americans suffer from economic hardship. Using a sample of 95 Asian Americans, this study examines the effect of perceived economic hardship on coping behavior, family…

This study investigated similarities and differences in relations between stress and parenting behaviors for 509 Mexican American and European American fathers and mothers in Southern California. Our model posited that family cohesion mediates the relation between stressors and parenting behavior, and we found that family cohesion strongly…

This study examined the links among parents' interaction styles, their children's social information processing, and peer acceptance. Fourth-grade children (N = 159) and their parents were observed during family discussions. One year later peer acceptance and children's information processing choices (goals, strategies, and attributions) in…

This study assessed the extent to which infants use fathers as referencing targets and the familial context that might mediate referencing to both parents. Infants used fathers and mothers as referencing targets to an equal extent. Marital satisfaction was found to be a significant modifier of referencing. (PCB)

Investigates relations between economic hardship, coping, and family relationships in African-American, Latino, and Euro-American families. Results indicate similarities in the families' experiences of economic distress, yet significant differences in the overall pattern of relations among the three ethnic groups. (Author/MKA)

Examined role of grandparents in infancy in comparative analysis of grandparent-infant grandchild and parent-infant interaction patterns. Results revealed that both grandmothers and grandfathers were active interactive and support agents, with pattern of similarities and differences in interactive style across generation and gender. (Author/NB)

This paper presents two studies which explored the manner in which the father interacts with his newborn infant and compared paternal and maternal interaction patterns. In contrast to earlier studies, a direct observational approach was employed that permitted a detailed specification of father behaviors in the presence of the newborn. In the…

Explored the connection between emotional expression in the child's family environment and children's social competence with school peers using direct observation of affective dimensions in naturalistic environment (n=50). Reported expressiveness and observed parental affect were both found to be meaningful predictors of children's sociometric…