Explores the usefulness of "marital alternatives" as a dimension in explaining marital stability, using longitudinal data from a panel of married, White, urban couples from 16 urban areas. Results indicated the dimension of marital alternatives appeared to be a better predictor of marital disruption than marital satisfaction. (Author/RC)

Examines individual and labor market influences on wage attainment across the different family and work schedules followed by 1,417 married women aged 30 to 44. Results showed early career entry, continuous employment and favorable industrial locations yielded higher wages at midlife, although few women fit this pattern. (JAC)

Uses data from a national survey to examine Black family migration. Presents data, by race, on reasons for long-distance migration and whether wives line up jobs before a move. Stated reasons for moves and migration determinants are similar by race, leading to a residual minority group status explanation. (Author/JAC)

Examined the socioeconomic determinants of the timing of remarriage for young women (N=238). While socioeconomic and demographic variables are only moderately useful predictors of remarriage, not taking into account background factors can lead to significant misstatements of the importance of various factors for interpreting the likelihood of…

Conducted a longitudinal analysis of the relationship of divorce to the national suicide rate in Canada. Found the suicide rate varied directly with the rate of family dissolution, even after taking into account the effects of unemployment and females' participation in the labor force. (Author/ABB)

Explored the effect of psychosocial attributes on the labor-force participation of 49 mothers of young children. Variables asessed included career orientation/salience, nurturance, response to stress, and concerns about infant fussiness and nonmaternal care for infants. Results showed psychosocial characteristics are potent predictors of maternal…

Studied rates of family breakdown in families of New Zealand children (N=1,002) from birth to five years. By five years nearly one child in eight had experienced a family breakdown. Rates were related to family formation and social factors. Risk factors were modeled using the proportional hazards model. (JAC)

Followed 21 premarital couples over five-year period, using microanalyses of Time 1 interaction to predict relationship stability and adjustment. Found dyadic instability to be predicted by negativity reciprocity, positive reciprocity, and level of female's interruptions. Dyadic adjustment was predicted by female's interruptions. Findings support…

Longitudinal study on 48 families of returned prisoners of war to identify factors to explain degree of reintegration of returnee into his family system. Four sets of data were considered: (1) background characteristics of husband and wife; (2) indices of family preparedness; (3) returnees' prison experiences and their psychiatric status; (4)…

Examined family reactions to widowhood using data from the Longitudinal Retirement History Study. Found that average frequency of interaction with available kin increased for both married and widowed persons over time, with greatest increase among women who became widowed. (JAC)

Investigates whether women in dual-earner families maintain full responsibility for domestic tasks. Based on data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Work Experience (NLS data), the findings indicated substantial variability as well as some decrease in the extent of home responsibilities. The major correlates are race, residence, and income.…

Used the National Longitudinal Survey of the Labor Market Experiences of Young Women to examine the work history of 533 women. Findings indicated that employment expectations significantly increased the length of women's employment. Marital and fertility variables differed considerably for those who planned employment for midlife. (JAC)