This instructional guide for a one-credit comprehensive laboratory course for grades 9-12 provides a broad range of knowledge and skills related to personal development and management, promotion of strong families, and preparation for adult roles. Introductory materials consist of a course description; overview of course design; facilities,…

The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) National Library of Education is working to make a wide variety of reports, news releases, and other documents available through the Internet. The information available online is varied, and is constantly being updated. As of May 1995, the gopher site (gopher.ed.gov) included: full-text versions of key…

One of the most persistent findings in the literature on suicidal behavior in adolescence is its association with the characteristics of the adolescent's family. Although empirical work clearly indicates that the family is a critical variable to consider in the study of teenage suicidal behavior, it is less clear how particular family features…

This document discusses the life celebrations of Arab American immigrants to Cleveland from the late 1870s. Assembled from what is largely an oral tradition of family history, the booklet describes the home life, weddings, and final partings when elderly relatives returned to the homeland or died in the United States. The economic situation and…

The chapters in this book were prepared 10 years ago primarily from a developed nation's perspective. Only minor references were made to the black people of South Africa. The principles, methodologies, and methods described in the chapters still may be valid for certain sections of South African society but should be revised to be applicable to…

Codependency is a relatively new idea, emerging in the late 1970s within the chemical dependency treatment industry. However, the belief that the wife of the alcoholic is, by definition, disturbed, has been influential in varying degrees since the 1930s. The perennial influence of the codependency hypothesis suggests that it is a social…

A study examined the interactions of siblings in television families in three popular sitcoms of the 1950s--"Father Knows Best,""Leave it To Beaver," and "Ozzie and Harriet." Nine episodes of each sitcom were videotaped, and the behaviors were coded using a system developed to code sibling behavior in 1980s sitcoms.…

Groups of young, middle-aged, and elderly New Zealand men and women were surveyed for their opinions of the correct ages for a number of different aspects of life. Opinions were asked for the following age norms: (1) Descriptive--ages for young, middle-aged, and elderly men and women; (2) Family Life--age a man or woman marries, becomes a parent,…

This study investigated the processes and outcomes of family decision-making during children's transition from late childhood to adolescence. Members of 28 one-parent families and 40 two-parent families completed four decision tasks independently, then as a family. Decision tasks concerned selecting a bicycle, a snack, a movie, and a camp for the…

This paper describes an application of basic concepts and theory from family life education in a community program for families. Following a review of background theory and philosophy, an action program model is presented and discussed. Experiences with the model are highlighted and implications for future work noted. (Author)

Calls for coordination of existing community structures in combination with the creation of broad-based public support as ways of providing needed child abuse services efficiently, effectively and compassionately. (ED)

A study of 184 college-age premarital couples on their communications interaction resulted in a revised 40-item scale differentiating between good and poor communication. Utilizing this premarital communication inventory, a second study of 265 couples contemplating marriage was undertaken to establish mean scores. (Author)

Describes a program aimed at adult children of aged parents who are in conflict about whether to institutionalize their aged and/or ill parents. A series of six family life education classes enabled group members to share anxieties and concerns with one another, while learning more about institutional services. (Author/PC)

The presence in the family of a child with a disabling condition frequently creates or intensifies stress between husband and wife. By forging and strengthening marital bonds and creating an environment that fosters teamwork, openness, and caring, the marriage partnership will be a source of support and renewal. Reactions to the birth of a baby…