Examined availability of children and siblings to a judgement sample of persons 45 and older drawn from a newspaper obituary section. Although 76.6 percent of the total were survived by nearby children or siblings, 24.7 percent of descendants 65 and over had no surviving children or siblings residing nearby. (JAC)

The case study focuses on reluctance of parents of a disabled young adult to allow her to move into her own apartment. Noted are the daughter's need to take risks and the importance of viewing such moves as trial efforts. (CL)

The article reviews the origins and growth of Lekoteks play libraries that serve as resource centers for children with handicaps and their families. The Lekotek program uses toys and play to stimulate developmental progress and promote positive interaction between parent and child. The program at the Evanston (Illinois) Center is described.…

A mother describes how her family reached the decision to place their mentally retarded adolescent in a group home. (CL)

Children from divorced families did not have more household or childcare responsibilities than other children, but they did assume a confidant role with their mothers more often. They also rated themselves lower in social competence. Maternal employment decreased the children's participation in athletic activities and involvement with friends.…

Ninety-nine caregivers who utilized a respite service reported that respite care contributed to improved physical and mental health, better relationships, and increased confidence in their ability to continue in the caregiving role, while not affecting patients' physical or mental functioning. Reported likelihood of institutionalization increased…

Families of disabled children (N=32) using respite care over a four-month period reported positive impact on family relations, social activities, emotional and physical strains, and plans for institutional care. Families caring for younger children viewed the services as more helpful than parents caring for older children or adults. (Author/CL)

Children must face the reality of death and learn to cope with grief. Suggestions for helping children deal with death and grief are given. (DF)

The development of relationships among families of hearing impaired persons is traced through the cycles of the marriage, parent-child relationship, and child and peer interaction. Impact of environment (home vs. residential school), society, economic stability, and social organization and lifestyle is analyzed, and stages in personal development…

Described the use of photographic analyses in measuring physical contact in 48 families who were asked to pose for pictures. Results showed initiation of contact was greater and receipt of contact lower for parents than children. More contact did not occur between children and the preferred parent. (JAC)

Administered three Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) family scales and three criterion family scales to undergraduates (N=110). Findings suggested that the MMPI family scales are reliable and concurrently valid measures of an individual's perception of interpersonal family relationships. (LLL)

Empirical research was reviewed to observe the effects of family factors on leisure behavior, and leisure behavior effects on marital and family outcomes. Research recommendations are made. (DF)

Investigated dimensions of family dynamics via test construction and cross validation, with a developmental sample (N=93) and a validity generalization sample (N=65). Developed two scales that correlated significantly with perceptions of family stability and quality in the developmental and validity generalization samples. (BH)

A 15-year-old with cerebral palsy who has experienced adjustment problems in a regular high school comes to talk with a counselor, as do her mother and father. The counselor notes the normal adolescent challenges and suggests ways the whole family can learn to communicate and support each other. (CL)

The article suggests that results of psychological assessment should be communicated to families of disabled children in a way that would combine understandable information with a family treatment plan. Case examples illustrate the use of feedback to alter cognition as well as family structure. (CL)