Home economics curriculum for middle schools should be based on development of self-forming individuals as family members, on the needs and characteristics of early adolescents, and on the practical problems faced by early adolescents in the process of growth and development. (SK)

Presents updated information on recent changes in selected stages of the family life cycle and in social developments that have contributed to these changes. Closes with differing outlooks regarding marital stability in the United States. (Author)

This study explored family structures in which grandmothers and grandchildren share residences; the degree to which grandmothers participated in parenting activities; and variability in grandmothers' parenting involvement resulting from their employment status and the family structure. (PCB)

Tested relationships between negative and positive sibling interactions and relationship quality and family form. When husband-wife, mother-child, and father-child relationship quality were controlled, marital status was not significantly related to sibling interactions. When parental marital status was controlled, quality of spousal relationship…

Discusses issues related to families and addictions in the context of family-related helping professions and addictions counseling. Describes family systems approach to addictions and some family-based addiction interventions. Notes research articles that have made significant contributions to families and addictions field. (Author/CM)

Puerto Rican cultural value of familism, emphasizing obligation and duties of family members to one another, has endured changes in cultural values caused by migrations between United States and Puerto Rico, influences of social and economic trends, and pressures to acculturate to American society. Understanding of familism is useful to family…

Analyzes the use of fantasy to represent the nuclear family and current social and economic changes affecting the family in four recent children's films: "An American Tail,""Follow that Bird,""The Boy Who Could Fly," and "Pee Wee's Big Adventure." (eight references) (CLB)

Examines next cohort of young-old, those individuals born after the Depression who will enter old age beginning in 1990. Investigates cohort differences, focusing on family life in future. Offers predictions on nature of marriage, remarriage, divorce, and complexity of the family network. Concludes that new generation of young-old will place…

Examined impact of gender and life-cycle stage on three components of work-family conflict using sample of 3,616 respondents. For men, levels of work-family conflict were moderately lower in each successive life-cycle stage. For women, levels were similar in two early life-cycle stages but were significantly lower in later life-cycle stage.…

Used both traditional scientific and feminist methodologies to evaluate effectiveness of family life education program designed to help dual-earner couples (n=14 couples) share domestic labor. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that program produced small increases in husbands' involvement in both housework and child care and large…

Examined discriminant validity of Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) with 60 self-defined adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and 64 college students. ACOAs obtained significantly lower scores on 10 FOS subscales, 2 larger dimensions of Autonomy and Intimacy, and global score. Discriminant function correctly classified nearly 88% of sample. Findings…

Provides background on Schweder et al. article in this issue (PS 523 069), noting that its general concern is with the ways in which cultural practices and principles are interrelated. Notes that developmental questions are not in the foreground of the paper mentioned; the study covers instead adults' accounts as a way to articulate the principles…

The family's values, attitudes, and ways of relating internally and externally determine its health-creating or destroying power. The family's overwhelming impact on human competence makes a strong case for premarital and parent education that prepares people for roles as spouses and parents. (SK)

Synthesizes the theoretical implications of the studies presented in this issue on social repercussions of a unified Germany, highlighting the effects of economic and political change on women, families, and youth, and their relevance for cultural-historical theories of human development. (JW)

A study of 2,964 professional women found no significant difference on abuse prevalence based on family religious preference, but the rate of abuse was mediated by the extent to which religious beliefs were integrated into family life. Examines effects of abuse on the religiosity of the victim, and effects of religiosity on symptomatology, with a…