Presents review of strengths and weaknesses of U.S. families, opportunities and threats that they will face in the next decade, and policy recommendations to improve their functioning. Makes specific suggestions in areas of employment conditions, economic support, community-based initiatives, and role of family scientists. (Author/NB)

Notes that proponents of famology stress unique qualities of family as exemplified in certain differentiating characteristics of the family realm. Contends that examination of these characteristics in light of recent research suggests they disregard negative aspects of family life, present stereotypical roles for males and females, and minimize…

Sees traditional modernist family sociology as oppressive and reactionary. To examine responsibilities of those who study postmodern family life, explores recent material with regard to theoretical, methodological, and policy-related issues. Links sociological practice, everyday practice, and policy formation. Argues that family professionals must…

Clarifies concept of family life education by using methods of analytical inquiry. Systematically examines two essential features of family life education concept (general purpose/intended outcome and subject matter/content) and of the meaning of the word "education." Also clarifies distinction between family life education and other…

Data regarding consensus and mental health were collected from 252 women, their husbands, and an adolescent child in 3-generation households. Suggests consensus is best represented by six separate constructs and mental health by three separate constructs. Mental health of individual family members was differentially predicted by indicators of…

Examined relationship between gender role and family attitudes of husbands and wives and five indicators of marital satisfaction. Data from 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households revealed that spouses who held nontraditional attitudes toward family life were less satisfied with their marriages, as were men and women whose attitudes…

Reviews previous theoretical approaches to understanding adolescent suicide (Durkheim's sociological theory of suicide, social learning theory, psychological theory, and family systems theory), and proposes utilization of human ecological theory. Examines factors associated with adolescent suicide at organism (individual), microsystem, mesosystem,…

Discusses asexual reproductive technologies (in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation, artificial insemination, sperm banks, genetic engineering, ovum transfer, cloning, ectogenesis, surrogacy) and suggests that theoretical implications of technologies may bring dramatic social changes in the family. Outlines symbolically representational…

Argues that results of combining helping and policing roles within context of public child welfare agency have been unsatisfactory, and encourages examination of how each role might be hindering successful execution of the other. Proposes transformation of current public child welfare agencies into family preservation agencies by divesting them of…

Contends that clinicians can most effectively help today's couples and families when they understand and appreciate work-family conflicts, issues, and treatment implications. Reviews relevant information about the history of work-family relations; various types of work-centered families; typical patterns of work-family conflicts; and issues in…

Examined factor structure of Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS). Used confirmatory factor analysis to examine similarities of factor structure obtained in study of 162 gay and bisexual men with those proposed theoretically by test authors. Concluded that findings do not support theoretically proposed factor structure of FOS and that value of FOS is…

Assessed how work as family professional is uniquely enhancing and stressful and whether enhancers and stressors are correlated with marital and family quality. Findings from 59 family professionals and their spouses strengthen idea that there are marital and family life enhancers and stressors uniquely associated with work as family professional.…

Examined distance regulation styles through use of differentiation construct. Defined differentiation as family system's tolerance for individuality and for intimacy. Findings indicated that family differentiation levels served as significant predictors of all presenting problem categories examined among sample of 60 adolescents and their families…

Synthesizes and elaborates current thinking on gender perspective. Presents basic concepts, questions, and connections at each level of analysis. Uses care in marriage to illustrate perspective. Notes that, rather than ask whether women or men are more caring, gender perspective asks what conditions are necessary for women and men to care.…

Studied organization of family system among 54 couples whose oldest child was 12 months and 61 couples whose oldest child was between 24 and 66 months. Couples completed interviews, Family Ritual Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Preschool family group reported more family rituals than did infant group. Preschool families who reported…