Reports the effectiveness of Thailand's Functional Literacy and Family Life Planning project in the village of Nonglungka, based upon several months of observation by the author. Concludes that, although literacy skills were improved, the participants did not apply this knowledge to their daily lives. Makes suggestions for improvement of the…

Nine gifted learning-disabled children with organizational skill deficits were put on a structured timetable of after-school activities. Parents were taught behaviorally based discipline techniques designed to reduce disruptive family behavior. Improvements were subsequently observed in the middle school students' home and school behavior, school…

Examines the salient features of families with employed women and young children in India. Found that the majority of the mothers worked due to economic necessity, felt guilty of neglecting their children and family, and were dissatisfied over lack of alternative childcare facilities available. Reexamining the father's role has been stressed as a…

Examined the effect of family type on parent and child interaction behaviors during evening meals. Found that a relationship does exist between family structure and categories of adult and verbal behavior. Results indicated that families with different familial structures utilize different amounts of nurturant and control behaviors, inevitably…

Examines hypothesis that stepfamilies experience more marital conflict than do biological families. Measured remarriage's and stepchildren's impact on marital conflict frequency. Findings suggest that remarriage and stepchildren are not necessarily associated with more frequent marital conflict and that stepchildren's effect varied depending on…

Compared the transitions to adoptive and biological parenthood. Adoptive parents had more positive expectations and satisfying experiences than biological parents. Expectations and depressive mood predicted parental experiences for both groups; ego strength for biological parents; and feelings of deprivation, social support, and self-concept for…

Describes a study which was conducted to test the ability of four motivators to explain adult use of the public library: (1) home and family life; (2) vocational growth; (3) religion; and (4) politics. Other general user characteristics were examined as supplements to the four motivators in predicting library use. (16 references) (LRW)

Examines correlates of maternal acceptance of preschool children by their Mexican-American migrant farmworker mothers, including problems in life conditions and social support. Findings indicate social support accounts for more variation in maternal acceptance/rejection than problems in life conditions alone. Suggests the importance of identifying…

Examines the impact of male intimates, external confidants, and approval of the male friend by an external confidant in relation to the quality of parenting among 80 low-income African-American single mothers. Results suggest that male companionship and confidant support cut the risk of maladaptive parenting. (GLR)

Interviews with 41 Alaska Native parents examined their perceptions of how children learn the skills and traditional knowledge needed to survive through subsistence activities. Implications and recommendations are discussed for developing school programs and curricula that incorporate traditional knowledge, cultural values, and teaching methods.…

Homework is a battleground for many families. Increasingly, parents are asking their school boards to reconsider the amounts of homework assigned, and administrators are questioning homework quality. A New Jersey district has imposed strict limitations, allowing students more downtime and reading/informal learning opportunities. (MLH)

Reviews basic and evaluative research that has reported a relationship between sex education and pregnancy-related behaviors among adolescents. Examines findings from national probability surveys about the relationship between sex education and coital behavior and contraception. Review behavioral success among different types of primary…

Investigates experiences of Greek mothers who cared for a child dying of cancer. Highlighted some needs during the terminal period. Fifteen mothers were interviewed and both quantitative and qualitative procedures were used to analyze findings. Family networks played a significant role in supporting mother-child units, especially when death…

A study investigated the influence of self-concept and perceived family environment on psychosocial adjustment among 180 early-entrance college students (ages 14-17). Family cohesion, conflict, and expressiveness and overall self-concept were predictive of adjustment to college. Family cohesion, organization, control, conflict, and overall…

The concept of dual-career couples in student affairs and higher education, while not new, continues to be a growing phenomenon. These dual-career relationships present both professional and personal challenges and require regular adjustments. The authors discuss these challenges and adjustments from both a theoretical and an experiential…