Analyzed 360 university students to see if parentification can predict certain personality characteristics. Results indicated that for both genders, parentification was a significant predictor of masochistic and narcissistic personality, but not of compulsive characteristics. Results support theory that parentification can manifest in two…

Dichotomizes literature on nonoffending mothers of sexually abused children into opinion-based and research-based studies. Argues that most information on nonoffending mothers is opinion based, not research based, and the literature disregards the sources of data. It appears that opinions have been accorded the same validity as research findings.…

Using data collected from arrested youth who entered a home based family intervention project, model of relationships between youths' family problems (including abuse experiences) and drug use and delinquent behavior was tested. Data supported hypothesized model, involving both self-reports of physical/sexual abuse and official records of…

Trends in family support spending and new programmatic initiatives during the 1990s are summarized. Nationally, total spending for family support exceeded $1 billion. Between 1990-2000, family support spending grew from 1.5% to 4% of total resources expended by state mental retardation agencies. Programmatic initiatives include trends toward…

Fifty-two parents of adopted children with histories of abuse or neglect were interviewed. Parents of children with histories of physical and sexual abuse reported lower family functioning than parents of children with histories of neglect. Also, parents who adopted sibling groups reported fewer child externalizing behavior problems but lower…

Studied 82 maltreating and normative families to determine whether reported maltreated children and their siblings differ in terms of maltreatment and/or developmental anomalies. Findings indicated reported abused children and their siblings were similar in stressful life experiences, quality of home environment, reported behavior problems, and…

Presents family systems model for understanding adaptation and coping in childhood chronic illness. Provides overview of systems and social-ecological theories relevant to this population. Reviews literature on stress and coping in these families. Examines unique issues and discusses importance of these models for responding to families with…

Traces the African-American church's traditional role as a source of social support for the African-American community in general, and for men specifically. Offers suggestions on how the church can support adolescent fathers by assuming a leadership role in meeting the social needs related to teenage pregnancy. (FMW)

Describes six books about day care issues and provides availability information. Topics of books include: (1) sexual abuse in day care; (2) a caregiver training package; (3) issues confronting cities and families; (4) tax tips; (5) food safety; and (6) campus child care. (RJC)

Examined 314 dual-earner couples in West Germany to assess how each spouse's role strain and wife's work hours were related to life outlook, marital interaction, and family conflict. Found husband's perceptions of his life unrelated to wife's level of strain, while wife's perceptions of marital interaction and family conflict were associated with…

Tested a two-step infant preventive intervention model. Subjects were 147 multiproblem mothers and their infants. Data partially supported the model. Additional analyses explored factors associated with individual differences in delivery of services and response to treatment. (RH)

An interagency truancy prevention team tries to look at the family as a whole and then work together to solve problems. Five agencies comprise the network: (1) school system; (2) juvenile and domestic court services; (3) police juvenile division; (4) department of social services; and (5) city/county mental health counseling services. (MLF)

Psychosocial factors as possible predictive indicators for adjustment of four-year-old children whose mothers had used amphetamine during pregnancy were studied. Length of maternal alcohol and drug abuse was correlated negatively with the child's adjustment as were numbers of paternal criminal convictions and number of maternal stress factors.…

Analyzes screening data on arrested youths (n=361) at the Hillsborough County, Florida Juvenile Assessment Center in November 1993. Results provide support for the effectiveness of the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument in differentiating among youths released to the community unsupervised, youths placed on home detention, and youths placed in…

Discusses using family systems strategies and the genogram in group counseling to highlight family-of-origin issues with a college student population. Similarities between family therapy and group counseling are described. A case study of a student with family-of-origin concerns using a genogram to facilitate therapy is provided. (JBJ)