Compared personality characteristics of couples in alcoholic and nonalcoholic marriages. Couples in which one spouse was alcoholic showed fewer personality interrelationships than nonalcoholic couples, raising questions about the hypothesis that alcoholic marriage partners complement each other. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic males differed…

Outlines a series of six imperatives designed to provide educators and other child advocates with a backdrop against which they may implement strategies for serving handicapped young children. (MP)

Surveyed 575 newly married couples in 1972 and 425 divorced couples in 1975 to examine risk factors leading to divorce in Estonia, USSR. Found risk factors included an unstable parental home, unsuitable age at marriage, and duration of courtship. Incompatibility of value orientation and role expectation were other factors. (JAC)

Reviews the increasing separation of contemporary families from the community in terms of alienation. Suggests that the isolation of the nuclear family exerts a pathological influence on the mental health of families and of individual family members. Urges family therapy to exert a significant corrective influence on isolation factors. (Author/JAC)

Examined whether children of separation/divorce experience more associated family disorganization and stress than those from homes broken by parental death or from intact families. Findings indicated that divorce and not the more general case of family dissolution, is significantly related to increased levels of family stressors for the child.…

Reports on the incidence of family violence in the United States and reviews causal studies concerned with the psychological needs of the violent individual, the social situation in which violence occurs, and the norms and values which sanction violence. Also discusses intervention measures and prevention strategies. (Author/GC)

Interviews with 21 children of lesbians in greater Boston area, ranging in age from 9 to 26, identified several major issues. Problems experienced involved parents' divorce and disclosure of mother's homosexuality. Problems between mother and children were secondary to the issue of children's respect for difficult step she had taken. (Author/NRB)

Demonstrated the effect of a contingency contracting treatment package for treating a distressed couple. A multi-method assessment package was used. The treatment package was responsible for producing behavior change and changes in levels of satisfaction. Multi-assessments provided the therapist with concrete data on a couple's progress in…

The article reviews recent literature on families of learning disabled (LD) children. The literature describing parental reactions to the diagnosis of learning disabilities and the problems inherent in living with these children is discussed, as well as the children's reactions. (Author)

Explores how child abuse investigators make decisions and examines the disposition of their reports. Services were recommended to families on the basis of the child's injuries and the parent's receptiveness to help. With medical evidence to support abuse charges, investigators were more likely to enter the home, take the case to court, and remove…

Discusses engagement techniques including: (1) techniques enabling therapists to achieve influence with family members or entry into the family system; (2) techniques utilized in teaching the family how to behave in the therapy setting; and (3) tactics therapists may use to manage difficult moments in the session. (Author)

Examines common characteristics of stepfamilies, and suggests relevant principles for social workers when dealing with these families. A fundamental principle is that the practitioner's overall approach should be based on an awareness of the economic and sociological context of divorce and remarriage. (Author)

The paper examines family responses to a physically disabled or chronically ill member, including both adaptive and pathological responses. An overview of how families deal with the stress of having an ill or disabled family member is given. The author suggests models of treatment and counseling guidelines that influence and actively involve…

Considers variations in use of social supports among persons in the process of divorcing. Most frequently turned to for help were friends, spouse, and counselors. Perceptions of the degree of stress evoked by the divorce appeared to be a major force behind use of social supports. (Author)

The review suggested that atypical infants/children (with mental, physical, or behavioral abnormalities) are at risk for child abuse. An explanatory model of abuse was outlined and several studies described whose findings provide support for the model. (Author)