The study compared the self-concepts of siblings of handicapped children with norms and examined mediators for this personality variable. Thirty-four siblings of handicapped children (2-15 years old) from the United States and Canada completed a children's self-concept scale while their parents filled out two questionnaires: one on parental…

The record of the 1985 hearing addresses policy issues concerning families of disabled children. Statements are presented from parents of severely disabled children, educators, researchers, agency personnel, and disabled consumers. Topics addressed include sources of family stress, need for financial and respite services, the effects on other…

This paper describes Laurelhurst Manor's family treatment program to help families affected by chemical dependency, a 7-month program which treats family members from the perspective of developmental stages and family roles. The center, located in Portland, Oregon, is a 40-bed, free-standing facility having a 20-bed adolescent unit and a 20-bed…

This paper addresses the theory and data from differing disciplines regarding the generic aspects of nonnormative crises (those unrelated to ontogeny or stage of the family life cycle) in order to increase understanding of the underlying processes involved. The first part of the paper reviews the literature on the study of family crises,…

Cluster analytic studies of the home environment of 115 trainable mentally retarded (TMR) and 218 educable. mentally retarded (EMR) and educationally handicapped (EH) children revealed two taxonomies. In homes with TMR children, there were five family clusters or life styles, while homes with EMR-EH children had seven family clusters. Criterion…

Differentials in separation and divorce among blacks are compared to those among whites. Differences in marital instability depend heavily on the variables included for study. The paper concludes with a methodological analysis of alternative definitions of instability with a focus on the measurement of black white differences. (EH)

Study includes variety of subjectively positive as well as negative outcomes of becoming a parent for the first time. Using large urban sample, crisis was found to be slight or moderate. Several variables were found to be significantly related to the ease of dealing with first year of parenthood. (Author)

The booklet provides the families of disabled persons, as well as those involved with such families, information to aid in coping more effectively with disability, and thereby minimizing its disruptive impact on the family. Following an introductory chapter is a chapter on inner factors (such as physical and emotional health of family members) and…

Changes in family relations that result from concurrent life-cycle changes of middle-aged parents and their adolescent offspring are discussed in this pamphlet. A perspective on the young adolescent's family is offered that conceptualizes the family as both systemic and developmental. Key changes in adolescence and mid-life are outlined and these…

Intense sibling loyalty was examined in three sibling groups: (1) four brothers in mid-life, aged 36-45, three of whom were married; (2) two brothers, aged 20 and 22, attending the same university; and (3) a brother age 6 and his sister age 9 living together in a foster home. Anecdotal excerpts from extensive videotaped interviews are used to…

This keynote address to the Midwest Association for the Education of Young Children consists of an overview of problems of contemporary life that represent challenges for family life and the nurturance of children. The family is seen as the place where the child learns what it means to be a human being. Implications of this concept are indicated.…

THE 68 ENTRIES, WITH PUBLICATION DATES FROM 1935 THROUGHT 1965, ARE ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY BY AUTHOR AND ANNOTATED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FINDINGS ON FAMILY AND OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE EVEN THOUGH THESE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE MAJOR FINDINGS OF A GIVEN STUDY. GENERAL STUDIES OF ASPIRATION AND ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION, SPECIFIC OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE…

The potential for affective learning by college students was measured through a T-group experience that combined a T-group method with a course in family relationships. Investigated were changes in verbal behavior, the experimental group's influence as models, personality and grade point changes as well as the sociometric influence of T-group…