Aims: Previous research has documented a clear association between drinking alcohol and engaging in criminal activity. However, it is unclear how this relationship is formed and maintained in young people. Such knowledge could be instructive in the appropriate design and effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of the…

The association between thoughts of self-harm and help-seeking among youth with symptoms of depression was examined. Data were drawn from the Health Behavior of School-aged Children Study ("n" = 15, 686), a nationally representative sample of youth in the United States. Analyses focused on comparing help-seeking behaviors among youth…

This qualitative study examined messages of everyday communication (small talk and routine interactions). The importance of these messages was highlighted in light of their role in creating structure, safety, and meaning making in the family at the end of life. In addition, family rituals that developed from children's everyday communication were…

The present study examined the role of adolescents' self-esteem and perceptions of family and classroom contexts on their domain specific self-perceptions. 345 Greek junior high school adolescents aged 14-16 completed measures of domain specific self-perceptions, self-esteem, parenting styles and classroom climate. Hierarchical regression analyses…

An examination of the economic, service, social and emotional support systems of Chicago area widows indicates an infrequency of appearance of the extended kin. Children and, in the case of younger widows, parents, are frequent contributors to these support systems. (Author)

The study explored family characteristics and behavioral-emotional reactions of 77 physically maltreated adolescents. Six different patterns of adolescent reaction to abuse were identified: acting-out, depression, generalized anxiety, extreme adolescent adjustment, emotional-thought disturbance, and helplessness-dependency. (Author/CL)

Reviews research and outlines patterns of support among in-laws. Examines parental aid to married children and indirectly to their spouses, help directed specifically toward children-in-law, in-law support in later life, and effects of marital dissolution on in-law support. Includes discussion of how various demographic factors may affect nature…

To explore the link between interparental hostility and adolescent problem behaviors, the current study examines four important maternal parenting dimensions as potential mediators: acceptance, harshness, inconsistency, and psychological intrusiveness. With a primary sample of 1,893 sixth-grade students, the measures included adolescent and…

Study includes variety of subjectively positive as well as negative outcomes of becoming a parent for the first time. Using large urban sample, crisis was found to be slight or moderate. Several variables were found to be significantly related to the ease of dealing with first year of parenthood. (Author)

A family doll placement technique was used to study separateness and connectedness within the family as this varies over positive and negative emotional themes. As hypothesized, positive emotional themes were represented by closer doll placements than negative themes. Emotions were also characterized by using certain kinds of groupings and…

Observations of conflictual family interaction have revealed that several distinctive behavior patterns tend to occur during the course of a family dispute. Patterns such as negative reciprocity, positive reciprocity, and coercion have been described and utilized as predictors of marital satisfaction and parent-child relations. This study examined…

This paper reviews literature and reports empirical data concerning filial responsibility (FR) expectations and realizations among 595 low-income, elderly parents. Age, marital status, income, and health were significantly associated with both FR expectations and realizations; race was unrelated to either. (Author)

Assessed how family interaction patterns are influenced by television viewing. Results revealed that children oriented toward their parents less, talked less, and were less active and that fathers oriented toward their children and spouses less, talked less and made fewer positive facial expressions during television-viewing than during family…

Behaviors observed in 47 families interacting at home were recorded in terms of interactions between a target child and other family members. The types of behaviors emitted by a target child to parents versus siblings were analyzed as were the types of responses that parents versus siblings gave to the target child's behavior. (Author/RH)

Examines the relative effects of membership in two family structures (married-never divorced vs. divorced-not remarried) and interparental conflict on children's well-being. Findings support the hypothesis that parental conflict influences children's well-being regardless of family structure. Implications of results for theory, research, and…