Reviews work from 1980s on causes of divorce, focusing on findings under the headings of macrostructure, demographics and the life course, and family process. Also reviews trends in methods, samples, and theory. Notes growing body of conclusive empirical findings in areas of demographics and life course factors; need for more work in areas of…

Notes that nearly all existing empirical work on stepfamilies has been published in 1980s. Describes demographic context for this work and surveys research on stepchildren, remarriage, and stepfamily functioning. Identifies problems in extant research and suggests areas for future research. Emphasizes explicit and implicit theories that guided…

A parent with a handicapped child discusses issues in maintaining successful relations between home visitors and client families. The usual goal is to move families out of the at-risk category into a normal lifestyle, or to help parents deal with a child's handicap. (DM)

Proposes extension of Janet Helms' African-American and white interaction model to be used as starting point for organizing and understanding cultural-identity data in making initial family assessment. Reviews Helms model and other pertinent constructs from literature, extends theory to multicultural family counseling, and concludes with some…

Notes that family life educators share same ethical concerns with other regulated mental health professionals, but practice of family life education is not guided by code of ethics. Discusses reasons for this absence. Considers unique practice issues created by educational model and group context in which services are delivered. Proposes…

A conceptual model for home economics is composed of four components: (1) the goal of home economics (optimum family and individual life); (2) the intervention process; (3) the disciplines working to achieve the goal; and (4) environmental influences (natural, human behavioral, and human-constructed environment). (JOW)

Administered Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) to 88 high school students on 2 occasions, with 2-week interval between testings. Global FOS index and 10 subscale scores demonstrated high test-retest reliability. Internal consistency reliability was also high. Findings suggest that FOS for adolescents is psychometrically sound. (Author/NB)

Based on qualitative study of families of children with disabilities, examined role of gender in caring for disabled child. Found caring to be complex phenomenon with at least three meanings (caring for, caring about, extended caring role). Findings suggest that responsibilities for caring are still ascribed on basis of gender. (Author/NB)

Examined effects of incarceration on family life among 63 inmates and 38 inmate wives. Contrasted those who participated in Family Reunion (conjugal visits) Program with nonparticipants. Found that coping was in normal range for both groups of inmates and wives and, except for measures of wives' passive appraisal, did not differ according to…

Presents personal disclosure revealing how author and her family adapted an invitational approach, the 5-P Relay, to restructure their family time. Describes goals and procedures of the plan, obstacles encountered, an evaluation of the process, and a conclusion that the family began experiencing greater enjoyment as a family unit as soon as they…

The Cooperative Extension Program Evaluation Survey tests seven variables: behavioral change, tax dollars, support, family coping, quality of life, self-esteem, and stress and depression. Tests in family life programs in two states with 244 participants demonstrated its usefulness. (SK)

Draws from U.S. Census data to review family trends of past 30 years. Appraises evidence for family decline in three areas: demographic, institutional, and cultural. Argues that families have lost functions, power, and authority; that familism as cultural value has diminished; and that people have become less willing to invest time, money, and…

Expanded concept of family work to include emotion work as well as housework and child care. Survey data from 205 married women revealed that husbands' performance of emotion work, as compared to performance of both housework and child-care tasks, had strongest positive effect on wives' marital well-being. Emotion work was negatively related to…

The relationship between attachment style and family dynamics was examined among undergraduate students (N=238). Three dimensions of family structure studied were cohesion, adaptability, and satisfaction. Securely attached participants reported significantly higher levels of adaptability, cohesion, and satisfaction in their family of origin than…

A review of marriage-and-family therapy-outcome studies from the past 10 years is discussed. Results indicate success over a broad scope of practices, including problems traditionally treated with individual psychotherapy, and when used in collaboration with other treatment modalities. Implications for the field are presented. (Author/EMK)