Recently, sibling incest, a type of intrafamilial incest, has received notice from mental health professionals; however, many professionals still do not recognize the seriousness of the problem. This article reviews current research on the individual and family dynamics that allow sibling incest to occur, the effects of sibling incest on victims,…

A teacher's personal account of a fifth-grade child suffering from parental neglect due to the family pressures of a handicapped sibling illustrates the varieties of child neglect and the stresses sometimes imposed on siblings of children with disabilities. (DB)

Describes a school for mentally retarded preschoolers in Beijing, China, that helps young children and their parents. (PCB)

The article reviews a case study of the counseling needs of a family which included a 16-year-old child with a severe learning problem. (DB)

Notes that many children who experience abuse, family disruption, or poverty reach adulthood with a strong commitment to family life. Questions whether changes in American families are indicators of pathology, deterioration, and instability; and asks how dysfunctional families transmit commitment to the concept of family to succeeding generations.…

Compared 10 compulsive eaters and their spouses with 10 compulsive drinkers and their spouses. Interview data revealed pattern suggesting that couples were often unable to process feelings and resolve conflicts. For subject, couple relationship seemed to affect and perpetuate compulsive behavior. Results point to need to redefine construct of…

Considers families of people suffering from psychosomatic disorders from perspective of second-order cybernetics in which emphasis is on autonomy of various levels of system. Describes psychosomatic symptoms and illustrates symptoms as expression of ideas aimed at conservation of autonomy, both at individual and family level. Highlights…

Examines whether a new instrument for measuring couple functioning would differentiate couples in therapy for sexual dysfunction from couples in therapy for other problems. While the other-problems group had greater sexual satisfaction than the sex dysfunction group, the groups were similar in experiencing moderate marital distress. (JPS)

Presents a script for a 1-act play about a 17-year-old girl whose mother neglects her and her alcoholic absentee father. Relates how the protagonist, Tara, becomes pregnant by a classmate who she barely knows, and plans to leave home to raise her child alone after graduating high school. (PA)

Three-state study used Issues Validation, environmental scanning process for family life educators that combines literature reviews, professional and public opinion, and survey research to identify issues facing families and youth. Samples of residents, local advisory committees, and community professionals ranked 30 issues facing families and…

Examined families' concerns regarding readiness for community placement of their relative discharged from long-term state psychiatric facility resulting from hospital closing. Interviewed 49 families approximately 1 month after patient's release and 1 year later. Results indicated that over one-half of families questioned readiness of their…

Evaluated family preservation program using pre- and postservice assessment of risk of out-of-home placement for 995 families. Found modest, but statistically significant, increases in family functioning during services, as measured by scales assessing parent-centered, child-centered, and economic risk. Instrument-assessing risk did not predict…

Examines the effects of long-term unemployment on families, marital relationships, and children. Discusses impact of financial hardship, stress, and emotional upheaval as they affect family systems. Presents counseling interventions for addressing needs of children in these families. Includes 54 citations. (Author/CRR)

Predictors of increases in marital distress in the first 3 years of marriage were identified for 310 couples. Predictors for wives were low income, living with stepchildren, many rewards, few costs, and high emotional investment. Predictors for husbands were few months of living together. For both husbands and wives, few years of education and not…

Describes one family therapist's experience in dealing with a difficult family in a counseling setting. Describes the difficulty in working with a resistant client and explains how the therapist worked to overcome that resistance. (NB)