Presents a two-tiered developmental guidance classroom unit on parental divorce which acquaints children with the idea of divorce as a family change. Focuses on the needs of the children coping with parental divorce. Discusses results which appear to have a positive effect on child's depression, attitudes and belief about parental divorce and…

The parents of 48 young handicapped children were surveyed concerning parenting stress, family adjustment, and psychological distress of mothers and fathers, and their relation to child characteristics, family social network, parent belief systems, and coping styles. Results strongly supported the utility of a proposed multidimensional model.…

Thirty parents were surveyed on problems experienced following disclosure of extrafamilial sexual abuse when the perpetrator was known or related to the family. Findings related to depression, posttraumatic stress, marital satisfaction, relationship to child victims, and loss of significant relationships are discussed. Parental distress and…

Outlines what stepfamilies need from therapy and describes three important lessons other types of families can learn from remarriage families: dealing productively with losses and changes, accepting and appreciating differences, and enhancing relationships by increasing dyadic interactions. (Author)

Attempted to provide psychosocial description of 187 institutionalized adolescents who completed Adolescent Health Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Findings suggest that these adolescents may not be as psychologically dysfunctional as is commonly surmised, considering their accumulated life events, family problems, and current…

Evaluation of 11 children from 5 exile families with at least 1 parent having been subjected to torture found children were anxious, depressive, and regressive with psychosomatic symptoms, sleep disorders, and family and school problems. Coping strategies including isolation and withdrawal, mental flight, eagerness to acclimatize, and strength of…

This paper describes the cultural influences on the process of interviewing families to develop intervention goals for young children with disabilities. It describes an approach to ethnographic interviewing that involves developing rapport, using descriptive questions, and carefully wording questions, to assist families in discovering answers to…

A mother of a severely handicapped child recounts her experiences and adjustment including the pressures of single parenting, sibling issues, and ways to meet one's emotional needs. (DB)

Compared 10 families with congenitally disabled children and 10 families with child who acquired disability on five scales of Family Assessment Inventory: Differentiation, Dependency, Support, Adaptability, and Satisfaction. Parents in two groups differed significantly on adaptability. Parents having children with acquired disabilities scored…

Presents school counselors with a brief intervention model for conducting family (and classroom) assessment and consultation that can be used within the framework of a parent-teacher conference setting. The family counseling-consultation model described provides school counselors with practical, step-by-step format for assessment and intervention…

Interviews were conducted with 30 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 30 parents of children without disabilities, all graduates of intensive care hospital nurseries. The experience gave both groups of parents a stronger appreciation for children and life itself. Differences between the two groups included amount of caregiving…

This study of 6,007 males born in northern Finland in 1966 found that 6% acquired a criminal record between 15 and 22 years. A higher than average delinquency rate was found among those with lower socioeconomic status, especially when combined with low intelligence. Family social problems had a greater predisposing effect for delinquent behavior…

This study examined whether stress, family resources, and social support are correlates of the child abuse potential of mothers. Stress in family functioning appeared to be an important predictor of child abuse potential. Mothers of children with disabilities may be more inclined than other mothers to have elevated child abuse potential.…

Considers the usefulness of elementary school support groups for children of alcoholics. Discusses identification of young children of alcoholics and offers suggestions for establishing support groups. Examines techniques for exploring feelings, building self-esteem, developing coping skills, managing stress, rehearsing decision making, and…

Examined validity, reliability, and curvilinearity of Clinical Rating Scale and tested scale's ability to discriminate between clinical families and nonclinical families on family cohesion, adaptability, and communication. Data from two groups of problem families and two control groups supported curvilinear hypothesis that problem families are…