» Journal Articles

Munton, A.G., Reynolds, S., (1995). Family Functioning and Coping with Change: A Longitudinal Test of the Circumplex Model. Human Relations, Vol. 48, pp. 1055 - 1072.

Abstract:
The Circumplex Model of family functioning suggests that families differ according to their ability to adapt to change. The aim of this study was to test two hypotheses from the model in the context of a longitudinal study of families experiencing geographical relocation. Questionnaires were completed on three occasions by employees and their partners during the process of relocation. Results indicated that there was no relationship between family functioning at Time 1 and subsequent psychological well-being of either employees or their partners. There was some evidence that families who made minor changes in response to their move adapted more successfully than those who did not change or made major changes. The results highlight possible limitations of the Circumplex Model and the need for further longitudinal studies of family adaptation.

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Birenbaum, L.,K., (1991). Measurement of Family Coping, Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 8, pp. 39 - 42.

» Journal Articles

Hill, E., J., (2005). Work-Family Facilitation and Conflict, Working Fathers and Mothers, Work-Family Stressors and Support, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 26, pp. 793 - 819.

Abstract:
Work-family research frequently focuses on the conflict experienced by working mothers. Using data from the National Study of the Changing Workforce (N = 1,314), this study also examined work-family facilitation and working fathers. Ecological systems, family stress, family resilience, and sex role theories were used to organize the data and create hypotheses. Work-to-family facilitation was positively related to job satisfaction and life satisfaction, and negatively related to individual stress. Family-to-work facilitation was positively related to marital satisfaction, family satisfaction, and life satisfaction, and negatively related to organizational commitment. Working fathers reported long work hours (49 hours/week), major involvement in household responsibilities (46 hours/week), and a work culture less supportive of their family life than working mothers reported. However, working fathers reported less work-family conflict, less individual stress, and greater family satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and life satisfaction than working mothers. The results support including facilitation and gender in future work-family research.

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Betz, G., Thorngren, J., M., (2006). Ambiguous Loss and the Family Grieving Process, The Family Journal, Vol. 14, pp. 359 - 365.

Abstract:
Ambiguous losses are physical or psychological experiences of families that are not as concrete or identifiable as traditional losses such as death. Ambiguous loss could include anything from miscarriage to losing one's spouse to Alzheimer's disease while he or she is still living. Ambiguous loss may include not knowing whether or not a loved one is living or dead, such as cases of child abduction or military personnel who are missing in action. Ambiguous loss is inherently characterized by lack of closure or clear understanding. This article defines types of ambiguous losses and details some of their characteristics. A model for counseling families who are experiencing ambiguous loss is described. Specifically, the model combines family stress theory with narrative therapy techniques to help families define their losses, assess their resources, and develop meaningful narratives about the loss.

» Journal Articles

Hilton, J., M., Kopera-Frye, K., Krave, A., (2009). Successful Aging From the Perspective of Family Caregivers, The Family Journal, Vol. 17, pp. 39 - 50.

Abstract:
Most models of successful aging have been limited to what researchers perceived to be its domains of rather than what elderly individuals and their caregivers have to say about their experiences. Sixty-five family caregivers recruited through geriatric care management agencies and support groups were interviewed to determine whether successful aging models accurately reflected their perspectives on aging. An open-ended question about successful aging was used along with a list of its 20 common characteristics, as identified in the literature, to compare the relevance of domains associated with different successful aging models. Caregivers identified domains in all major models, but new domains also emerged (e.g., quality of life, positive attitude, financial well-being). It was concluded that current models of successful aging may need to be expanded to include these additional domains and that quality of life may be a more inclusive and useful indicator of well-being than the concept of successful aging.

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Silverstein, M., Gans, D., Yang, F., M., (2006). Intergenerational Support to Aging Parents: The Role of Norms and Needs, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 27, pp. 1068 - 1084.

Abstract:
This investigation examines how norms of filial responsibility influence adult children to provide social support to their aging parents. Relying on intergenerational solidarity and social capital theories, the authors hypothesize that filial responsibility as a latent resource is more strongly converted into support when (a) the parent experiences increased need and (b) the child in question is a daughter. Using data from 488 adult children in the Longitudinal Study of Generations, the authors examine change in support provided between 1997 and 2000. Declining health of either parent increases the strength with which filial norms predisposed children to provide support. The conversion of filial norms into support is stronger among daughters than among sons but only toward mothers. Results are discussed in terms of the contingent linkage between latent and manifest functions and the persistence of gender role differentiation in the modern family.

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Kendig, H., Dykstra, P., A., van Gaalen, R., I., Melkas, T., (2007). Health of Aging Parents and Childless Individuals, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 28, pp. 1457 - 1486.

Abstract:
This article reviews and presents research findings on the relationships between parenthood and health over the life span. Existing research shows lacunae. The links between reproductive behavior and longevity generally focus on family size rather than contrasting parents and nonparents. Studies of marital status differentials in survival generally confound the effects of parenthood and marital status. Studies of the effects of multiple roles (combining parenthood, marriage, and employment) have the drawback that parenthood is equated with currently having children in the home. The authors provide new evidence on the health of people who have reached old age, contrasting those with and without children, in an attempt to tease out the effects of parenthood, marital status, and gender. Data from Australia, Finland, and the Netherlands are used. Insofar as parenthood effects are found, they pertain to health behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical exercise), providing evidence for the social control influences of parenthood.

» Journal Articles

Rotter, J.C., (2000). Family Grief and Mourning, The Family Journal, vol. 8: pp. 275 - 277.
 
Abstract:
Loss of any type is difficult. Death of a loved one is particularly disturbing. The process of mourning this loss is uniquely handled by individuals and families. Family counselors must be aware of the symptoms of grief expressed by their clients and help them through the necessary mourning process. This article provides a snapshot of a very complex process and offers current references for further reading.

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Esposito , L., Buckalew, P., Chukunta, T., (1996). Cultural Diversity in Grief, Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 8, pp. 23 - 29.

Abstract:
Culture in its broadest sense, is what makes you a stranger when you are away from home. It includes all those beliefs and expectations about how people should speak and act which have become a kind of second nature to you as a result of social learning. However, direct exposure to an alien society usually produces a disturbing feeling of disorientation and helplessness that is called 'culture shock.'"1 This article explores various cultures and beliefs and attitudes concerning death and grief. By reexamining attitudes toward patients of different cultures and gaining understanding of their cultures and psychosocial environment, the caregiver begins to develop cultural competence in dealing with cross- cultural issues.

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Baker, M., Tonkes, M., (1990) A death in the family, Palliative Medicine, Vol. 4, pp. 211 - 213.

Abstract:
The ability to work through the grieving process by the open expression of grief makes for a healthy bereavement. For the spouse it reduces morbidity and mortality in this period; for the children it diminishes the risk of emotional disorder that may occur later in life when grieving over the death of a parent has not been satisfactorily completed. We describe a death which exemplifies an acceptance of dying and an open expression of grief which we believe was facilitated by the hospice philosophy and team approach to care.

» Journal Articles

Salewski, C., (2003). Illness Representations in Families with a Chronically Ill Adolescent: Differences between Family Members and Impact on Patient’ Outcome Variables, Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 8, pp. 587 - 598.

Abstract:
The impact of parents’ illness representations on well-being and illness-related strain of adolescents suffering from a chronic skin disease was examined. Because family characteristics have proved to be important for coping, adolescents’ perceived family cohesion was also assessed. Five categories of illness representations (causes, control, timeline, curability, and effective treatments) were assessed from 30 adolescents and their parents. Comparisons revealed differences between family members’ illness representations. Perceived family cohesion was a good predictor of adolescents’ wellbeing and strain, whereas parents’ illness representations had only little impact. In families with high similarity between the parents’ illness representations, the adolescents reported more well-being. Results are discussed with regard to developmental characteristics of adolescence, nature of outcome variables and methodological problems.

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Knafl, K., A., Gilliss, C., L., (2002). Families and Chronic Illness: A Synthesis of Current Research, Journal of Family Nursing, Vol. 8, pp. 178 - 198.

Abstract:
The purpose of this review of 73 articles reporting family research was to identify major areas of inquiry and to draw conclusions about what is known about families in which a member has a chronic illness. The review identified two distinct clusters of research in which knowledge is being generated. The first cluster included descriptive studies of family response to illness. The second cluster included explanatory studies of variables contributing to response to chronic illness. Within each of these two broad clusters, focused areas of inquiry were identified and the results of these studies were synthesized. The findings of the review are discussed in terms of their implications for developing nursing interventions and future research.

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Hendricks-Ferguson, V., L., (2000). Crisis Intervention Strategies When Caring for Families of Children With Cancer, Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 17, pp. 3 - 11.

Abstract:
A diagnosis of childhood cancer is an unexpected life event that often precipitates a situational crisis for all family members. Required cancer treatments and other ongoing stressors for both child and family will significantly disrupt the family's equilibrium and well-being. An increasingly important role of the pediatric oncology nurse is to facilitate crisis intervention strategies that help families adjust to the psychosocial stresses associated with childhood cancer, yet many nurses have little or no training in crisis theory and/or crisis intervention strategies. This article reviews family crisis theories and outlines crisis intervention strategies that are appropriate for the family of a child with cancer.

» Journal Articles

Hartley, C., C., (2002). The Co-occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence: Examining Both Neglect and Child Physical Abuse, Child Maltreatment, Vol. 7, pp. 349 - 358.

Abstract:
Research supports a substantial overlap between domestic violence and child maltreatment. However, few studies examine the characteristics of families in which both domestic violence and child maltreatment are present, with most studies exploring only child physical abuse. This study examined differences in demographic characteristics, parental problems, and maltreatment characteristics for families involving physical abuse or neglect and woman battering compared to families with the same type of maltreatment but no known woman battering present. Descriptive analyses found more differences between families with domestic violence and neglect and neglect-only than between co-occurring physical abuse and physical abuse-only families. Analyses looking at the association or interaction between the type of maltreatment and presence of domestic violence found a significant association between marital status, father's biological relationship to the child, mother-as-perpetrator, and age of the children with co-occurrence of domestic violence for neglect but not for physical abuse

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Magen, R., H., Conroy, K., Hess, P., M., Panciera, A., Simon, B., L., (2001). Identifying Domestic Violence in Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 16, pp. 580 - 601.

Abstract:
This study's primary objective was to evaluate the implementation of a domestic violence questionnaire introduced as a component of child maltreatment investigations. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 15 caseworkers. Case record data provided additional data. The questionnaire resulted in a 100% increase in the number of battered women identified during investigations. The interview data revealed that although there was resistance to the implementation of the questionnaire, there was a willingness to comply and complete the questionnaire. Workers conveyed a sense of responsibility to provide services to combat domestic violence. Most respondents believed their mandate was to protect the child and questioned the role of identifying domestic violence in protecting children. The questions of how child protective workers should assess and intervene with domestic violence are complex and lead to an examination of the mission of child protective service agencies.

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Kantor, G., K., Little, L., (2003). Defining the Boundaries of Child Neglect: When Does Domestic Violence Equate With Parental Failure to Protect?, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 18, pp. 338 - 355.

Abstract:
Child maltreatment does not exist in isolation from other forms of family violence. Notably, research supports the connection between wife abuse and child maltreatment, and research on the possible consequences to children exposed to domestic violence has influenced a redefinition of child maltreatment legislation and policy. Recently, some states have considered and passed legislation making witnessing of domestic violence, per se, a form of criminal child abuse. This article explores conceptual discontinuities in official definitions of child maltreatment in relation to domestic violence failure to protect matters by drawing on data from legislative reviews, child protective services, and individual-level definitions. Implications for policy, practice, and research are addressed.

» Journal Articles

Invisible Children? Parental Substance Abuse And Child Protection: Dilemmas for Practice, Probation Journal, Jun 2000; vol. 47: pp. 91 - 100.

Abstract:
Brynna Kroll and Andy Taylor draw on relevant literature to explore the impact of substance abuse on parenting and child welfare. They also make use of a preliminary survey of professionals to consider the implications for practitioners working with drug or alcohol using parents. They conclude that a more holistic model of intervention needs to be developed if the needs of both vulnerable children and adult clients are to be met.

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Chan, J., G., (2003). An Examination of Family-Involved Approaches to Alcoholism Treatment, The Family Journal, Vol. 11, pp. 129 - 138.

Abstract:
This article introduces the development and theoretical underpinnings of family-involved treatment for alcoholism against a backdrop of major theories of addiction. It describes several interventions from the family therapy literature in relation to Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross’s model of change, with an emphasis on behavioral techniques. It also outlines efficacy research and considers some problems with the family approach. Although the lack of agreement regarding theory and practice may be the most salient difficulty for the field, the discussion further reveals an inconsistency between the tenets of the family systems paradigm and behaviorally-based family interventions. It suggests that the family approach should expand its scope of analysis and challenges researchers to incorporate additional techniques from diverse perspectives.

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Mylant, M.,L., Ide, B., Cuevas, E., Meehan, M., (2002).Adolescent Children of Alcoholics: Vulnerable or Resilient?, Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 8: pp. 57 - 64.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Children of alcoholics (COAs) have been described as both vulnerable and resilient. Although identified as at-risk for mental and physical health problems, chemical dependency, and child abuse and neglect, many go on to lead successful lives.
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between COA status and various adolescent risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse and sexual precocity, was assessed by addressing the following research question: Could parental alcoholism be a risk factor for teens engaging in problem behaviors?
STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of a Wyoming high-risk youth data set was conducted (N = 1632). Werner’s (1992) core resiliency factors provided the conceptual frame for the study.
RESULTS: Adolescent COAs scored significantly (p < .000) lower on all psychosocial factors of family/personal strengths and school bonding and significantly higher on all factors of at-risk temperament, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors than non-COAs.
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent COAs are at risk for depression, suicide, eating disorders, chemical dependency, and teen pregnancy. It has been proposed that mental health professionals teach core resiliency factors to promote healthy behaviors for this vulnerable population.

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Rogers, B., McGee, G., Vann, A., Thompson, N., Williams, O., J., (2003). Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence: Stories of Practitioners that Address the Co-Occurrence among Battered Women, Violence Against Women, Vol. 9, pp. 590 - 598.

Abstract:
In the literature on domestic violence, it is indicated that substance abuse has been present around the domestic violence episode. We know that substance abuse does not cause violence, although it is closely associated with the incident. Much of what has been written focuses on the batterer and substance abuse. Little information is available about battered women. Of the literatures that exists, there is some discussion about how battered women may medicate themselves due to the violence they experience. Other literature describes that neither domestic violence nor substance abuse programs are prepared to address the needs of women who experience the co-occurrence of violence and substance abuse. This article will describe how two different service programs were developed to address the needs of battered women who use. The article will describe a philosophy for this work, how assessments are conducted, how women were identified for the program, and how services were designed.

» Journal Articles

Muhlbauer, S.,A., (2002). Navigating the Storm of Mental Illness: Phases in the Family’s Journey, Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 12, pp. 1076 - 1092.   

Abstract:
About 1.25 million American families live with persistently mentally ill members. Costs, personal and public, are substantial. Research providing holistic understanding of the processes these families experience is needed. This qualitative study’s objectives were to (a) examine the process holistically and (b) search for patterns in families’ experiences. The author used a framework of symbolic interaction and dramaturgical interviewing. Twenty-six respondents participated in a semistructured interview. Results indicated that families typically experienced six phases: development of awareness, crisis, instability and recurrent crises, movement toward stability, continuum of stability, and growth and advocacy. Needs characteristic of each phase were evident. Additional research is needed to determine if phases are consistent in other groups and to develop interventions appropriate for each phase.

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Solomon, P.,L., Cavanaugh, M., M., Gelles, R., J., (2005). Family Violence among Adults with Severe Mental Illness: A Neglected Area of Research, Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Vol. 6, pp. 40 - 54.

Abstract:
Violence against family caregivers by their adult relatives with severe mental illness is a taboo area of public discourse and scientific research because of fears of further stigmatizing this population. Yet, these families experience violence at a rate estimated to be between 10% and 40%, which is considerably higher than the general population. This article reviews the limited research on violence of adults with severe mental illness against their family caregivers and proposes a conceptual framework that can further stimulate study in an area that has been neglected too long by both mental health and family violence investigators. Research on this topic is essential in developing effective policy and practice interventions.

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Rungreangkulkij, S., Gilliss, C., L., (2000).Conceptual Approaches to Studying Family Caregiving for Persons With Severe Mental Illness, Journal of Family Nursing, Vol. 6, pp. 341 - 366.

Abstract:
This article critically analyzes the conceptual frameworks commonly used to study family caregivers who have a family member with a severe mental illness. Those frameworks that are commonly in use present significant limitations to the study of the family as a whole. In contrast, the Family Resiliency Model permits family level analysis. The authors present this model and argue for its use in studying families with members who have a severe mental illness.

» Journal Articles

McLanahan, S., (2009). Fragile Families and the Reproduction of Poverty, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 621, pp. 111 - 131.

Abstract:
In 1965, Daniel Patrick Moynihan warned that nonmarital childbearing and marital dissolution were undermining the progress of African Americans. The author argues that what Moynihan identified as a race-specific problem in the 1960s has now become a class-based phenomena as well. Using data from a new birth cohort study, the author shows that unmarried parents come from much more disadvantaged populations than married parents. The author further argues that nonmarital childbearing reproduces class and racial disparities through its association with partnership instability and multipartnered fertility. These processes increase maternal stress and mental health problems, reduce the quality of mothers' parenting, reduce paternal investments, and ultimately lead to poor outcomes in children. Finally, by spreading fathers' contributions across multiple households, partnership instability and multipartnered fertility undermine the importance of individual fathers' contributions of time and money, which is likely to affect the future marriage expectations of both sons and daughters.

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Leinonen, J., A., Solantaus, T., S., Punamäki, R., L., (2002). The specific mediating paths between economic hardship and the quality of parenting, International Journal of Behavioral Development, Vol. 26, pp. 423 - 435.

Abstract:
Finland, one of the welfare states of northern Europe, faced an exceptionally deep economic recession at the beginning of the 1990s. Based on the Family Stress Model (Conger & Elder, 1994) we studied specific mediating paths between economic hardship and the different domains of parenting in 527 mother-father-child triads. The results show that economic hardship created economic pressures for both parents. For fathers, both the general and specific pressures were further associated with symptoms of anxiety and social dysfunction, whereas for mothers, only the specific economic pressures were negatively reflected in mental health by increasing depressing mood and anxiety symptoms. Paternal anxiety was then associated with hostile marital interaction, perceived by the wife, and maternal anxiety with low marital support, perceived by the husband. The negative marital interaction finally was associated with poor parenting, especially among the fathers. Fathers’ anxiety was also directly related to their punitive and noninvolved fathering, and social dysfunction to noninvolved fathering. Depressive symptoms in mothers were negatively reflected in authoritative mothering. Finally, the results revealed that supportive and nonhostile marital interaction was able to moderate the negative impact of economic hardship on parenting. The findings suggest that mothers and fathers fulfil gendered roles in dealing with the family economy and relationships.

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Gold, J., M., (2009). Negotiating the Financial Concerns of Stepfamilies: Directions for Family Counselors, The Family Journal, Vol. 17, pp. 185 - 188.

Abstract:
This article integrates developmental schema and the tenets of positive psychology toward addressing "money issues" for stepfamilies. As stepfamilies represent the fastest growing demographic in family configurations, family counselors must be knowledgeable regarding normative stepfamily issues and familiar with techniques to support family development and enhancement. This article offers attention to the initial three areas of family demographics, positive psychology, and stepfamily developmental schema as foundations for the suggested practices.

» Journal Articles

Bodenmann , G., Charvoz, L., Bradbury, T.N., Bertoni, A., Iafrate, R., Giuliani, C., Banse, R., Behling, J., (2007) The role of stress in divorce: A three-nation retrospective study, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 24, pp. 707 - 728.

Abstract:
Drawing upon earlier models of stress and divorce, this retrospective study investigates how divorced individuals appraise the role of stress in their divorce. Data from divorced individuals (N = 662) from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland suggest that low commitment and deficits in interpersonal competencies (communication, problem solving, coping) are more likely than stress to be perceived as reasons for divorce. However, when considering everyday stresses, participants reported trivial daily events to be one of the main reasons contributing to their decision to divorce. Although general stress level did not influence individuals' decision to divorce, most participants considered the accumulation of everyday stresses as a central trigger for divorce. Future research should investigate the process of divorce, particularly in relation to commitment and interpersonal competencies.

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Johnson, P., Thorngren, J.M., Smith, A.J., (2001). Parental Divorce and Family Functioning: Effects on Differentiation Levels of Young Adults, The Family Journal, Vol. 9, pp. 265 - 272.

Abstract:
This study examined the effect of parental divorce and various dimensions of functioning in the family of origin on young adult development. A total of 813 participants completed the Self-Report Family Inventory, the Differentiation of Self Inventory, and demographic questions. Results indicate that parental divorce and family functioning significantly affect differentiation levels of young adults. Implications of the results for counselors and future researchers are provided.

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Hughes, K., (2005).The adult children of divorce: Pure relationships and family values? Journal of Sociology, Vol. 41, pp. 69 - 86.           

Abstract:
Giddens and Beck-Gernsheim argue that there has been a shift from stable family formations to relationships that are inherently fragile and temporary. Both propose that intimate relationships in late modernity have been marked by reflexivity and contingency. Although these are not new propositions, little empirical work has been done on the contours of such relationships and the meanings that they have for individuals. This article explores Giddens’ and Beck-Gernsheim’s contentions through looking at the perceptions of relationships, and the family values, of members of Generation X whose parents divorced and who subsequently grew up in a single-parent, step-, or blended family. In particular it discusses the suggestion that we are moving into an era in which ‘the normalisation of fragility’ will become central to people’s intimate relationships.

» Journal Articles

Schrodt, P., (2006). Development and validation of the Stepfamily Life Index, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 23, pp. 427 - 444.

Abstract:
Using schema theory, this study explored the knowledge structures that stepchildren hold about their stepfamilies. Two studies developed a reliable measure of six themes of stepfamily functioning. In Study 1, 251 adult and adolescent stepchildren completed a pilot inventory. Factor-analytic results reduced the pilot inventory from 192 items to 65 items and demonstrated that each dimension could be measured empirically. In Study 2, 586 adult and adolescent stepchildren completed the revised inventory and produced a new, multidimensional measure: The Stepfamily Life Index (SLI). Evidence of internal reliability and discriminant validity for the SLI is offered, and implications are discussed.

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Stewart, S., D., (2005). Boundary Ambiguity in Stepfamilies, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 26, pp. 1002 - 1029.

Abstract:
Family boundary ambiguity refers to a lack of clarity as to who is in and who is out of the family system. Few studies have examined this concept in the stepfamily context, which is problematic because such definitional problems hinder our understanding of close relationships in stepfamilies. Based on a nationally representative sample of first-married, remarried, and cohabiting couples with minor children, this study investigates the prevalence and nature of boundary ambiguity in stepfamilies (families that include children from previous unions) and the relationship between boundary ambiguity and couples’ relationship quality and stability. Results suggest that boundary ambiguity is much more prevalent in stepfamilies than original two-parent families and that boundary ambiguity is associated with the structure of the stepfamily. Boundary ambiguity is negatively associated with the quality of the couple’s relationship and stability of the union, but only from the perspective of wives and female partners.

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Afifi, T., D., (2003). ‘Feeling Caught’ in Stepfamilies: Managing Boundary Turbulence through Appropriate Communication Privacy Rules, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 20, pp. 729 - 755.

Abstract:
This study used a Communication Privacy Management perspective to examine the communication patterns that foster and ameliorate triangulation in stepfamilies. The qualitative analysis of 90 in-depth interviews with stepchildren, stepparents, and parents from 30 stepfamilies revealed that enmeshed communication boundaries contributed to children feeling caught between their custodial and noncustodial parents and parents and/or stepparents feeling caught between the children in the stepfamily. The dialectical tensions of loyalty–disloyalty and revealment–concealment that comprised stepfamily members’ feelings of being caught produced turbulence in their previously established communication rules. The stepfamilies responded to these tensions with boundary coordination or boundary separation. The ways the boundaries became enmeshed and the management attempts used to coordinate new boundary rules are outlined.

» Journal Articles

Goldberg , A., E., (2007). Talking About Family: Disclosure Practices of Adults Raised by Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Parents, Journal of Family Issues, Jan Vol. 28, pp. 100 - 131.           

Abstract:
Although a growing literature exists on children of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) parents, little is known about these children's experiences as adults. Of interest is how these individuals negotiate disclosure of their parents' sexual orientation. This qualitative study of 42 adults raised by LGB parents explores this issue. Participants grew up in a diverse range of contexts: Some were always aware of their family's nontraditional status, some were told in childhood, and others were never explicitly told. As adults, participants described a number of reasons for coming out about their family, including a desire to educate, a desire to "screen out" homophobic individuals, and a need for openness in their relationships. Several participants did not disclose about their families at all, and several told only when necessary. Findings are discussed in terms of the diversity inherent among adult children of LGB parents and implications for practice, policy, and research.

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Hicks, S., (2005). Is Gay Parenting Bad for Kids? Responding to the ‘Very Idea of Difference’ in Research on Lesbian and Gay Parents, Sexualities, Vol. 8, pp. 153 - 168.

Abstract:
This article examines the claim that children of lesbians and gay men are different to those of heterosexuals, particularly in their gender and sexual identity. The author considers two examples, a UK Christian discourse opposed to all forms of lesbian and gay parenting and a US liberal equality approach, represented by the work of Stacey and Biblarz (2001). Both, the author argues, treat difference as a thing acquired by children. This article examines and disputes the ways in which this idea of difference is achieved, and proposes that treating gender and sexuality as measurable outcomes is highly problematic. The author argues for research that asks how contemporary discourses of sexuality actually maintain the very idea that lesbian and gay families are different.

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Lambert, S., (2005). Gay and Lesbian Families: What We Know and Where to Go From Here, The Family Journal, Vol. 13, pp. 43 - 51.

Abstract:
The author reviewed the research on gay and lesbian parents and their children. The current body of research has been clear and consistent in establishing that children of gay and lesbian parents are as psychologically healthy as their peers from heterosexual homes. However, this comparison approach to research design appears to have limited the scope of research on gay and lesbian families, leaving much of the experience of these families yet to be investigated.

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James, S., E., (2002). Clinical Themes in Gay- and Lesbian-Parented Adoptive Families, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol. 7, pp. 475 - 486.

Abstract:
When gay and lesbian people choose to create families by adoption, there is a complex intersection of issues relevant to the work of clinicians treating such families, especially their children. This article identifies identity and responsibility as two clinical themes emergent in the confluence of these issues and gives special attention to those themes’ importance to clinical work with children and adolescents in families, as they form and continue through their post-adoption years. The changing face of gay and lesbian parenting demands that researchers, educators, clinicians, and policy makers explore the issues of gay and lesbian adoptive parents and their children in their own right, not assuming that they are necessarily the same as those faced by other lesbian and gay families.

» Journal Articles

Nesteruk, O., Marks, L., Garrison, M.E. Besty (2009). Special Feature: Immigrant Parents' Concerns Regarding Their Children's Education in the United States, Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 37, pp. 422 - 441.

Abstract:
A growing body of research suggests that as immigrant families assimilate into U.S. culture, their children's academic achievements and aspirations decline. This article explores possible reasons for this finding from the perspective of immigrant parents from Eastern European countries whose children attend U.S. schools. In-depth, qualitative interviews are conducted with 50 married mothers and fathers who hold professional-status employment. The data are analyzed using open and axial coding approach and three central, recurring themes emerge: (a) Parental Influences: "Education is a must. . . . The sky is the limit"; (b) The Educational System: "Parental guidance and resources are required"; and (c) Sociocultural Influences: "Everything here is about making money. . . . But what about our children?" Supporting, illustrative narratives are presented in connection with each theme to explain the perspectives of these immigrant parents on their children's schooling in the United States, and to add other tentative factors for further research into the decline of the children's academic achievement and aspirations with longer residence in the United States. Implications for family and consumer scientists are presented.

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Perreira, K., M., Chapman, M., V., Stein, G., L., (2006). Becoming an American Parent: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Strength in a New Immigrant Latino Community, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 27, pp. 1383 - 1414.

Abstract:
One in five children living in the United States is an immigrant or a child of an immigrant, and 62% of these children are Latino. Through qualitative methods, this study identifies ways that Latino immigrant parents with adolescent children cope with their new environment and how that environment shapes their parenting practices. Two primary themes emerge: overcoming new challenges and finding new strengths. Immigrant parents discuss the challenges of overcoming fears of the unknown; navigating unfamiliar work, school, and neighborhood environments; encountering and confronting racism; and losing family connections and other forms of social capital. In response to these challenges, immigrant parents discuss developing bicultural coping skills, increasing parent-child communication, empathizing with and respecting their adolescent children, and fostering social supports. The results fit well with a risk and protective factor framework and provide a basis for improving policies and programs to support effective parenting in Latino immigrant families.

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Kagitcibasi, C., (2005). Autonomy and Relatedness in Cultural Context: Implications for Self and Family, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. 36, pp. 403 - 422.

Abstract:
Autonomy and agency are used extensively and often interchangeably; there is a debate regarding their intersections with relatedness and separateness. This scholarship occurs within mainly a Euro-American cultural context that provides an ideological background of individualism, shedding light on psychological thinking. The article attempts to provide a broad overview of the issues involved. Two distinct dimensions, agency and interpersonal distance, are seen to underlie the self constructs involving autonomy and relatedness that are developed in different spheres of psychological inquiry. Autonomy and relatedness are viewed as basic human needs, and though apparently conflicting, are proposed to be compatible. Problems of conceptualization and operationalization are noted that have prevented the recognition of this compatibility. A model is put forward that involves a fourfold combination of the two dimensions, leading to different types of self and the societal and familial contexts in which they develop. Recent research provides credibility to the model proposed.

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Choudhry, U., K., (2001). Uprooting and Resettlement Experiences of South Asian Immigrant Women, Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 23, pp. 376 - 393.

Abstract:
The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to examine and understand the challenges faced by elderly women from India who immigrated to Canada. Ten women were interviewed about their experiences with immigration and resettlement. The analysis of interview data involved iterative process, through which four themes were identified. These themes were isolation and loneliness, family conflict, economic dependence, and settling in and coping. The participants experienced loss because of changes in traditional values and lack of social support. Because the participants could not manage resettlement on their own, personal independence was not very important. Interdependence for the attainment of emotional security and social rewards was more desirable. Health care professionals must take into account the nature of stress and impact of these experiences on health of older immigrant women.

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Aroian, K., J., Spitzer, A., Bell, M., (1996). Family Stress and Support among Former Soviet Immigrants, Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 18, pp. 655 - 674.

Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate types of family support and stress among former Soviet immigrants. Forty-two immigrants (14 males and 28 females) were interviewed about their immigration experiences, including description of current relationships with family in the resettlement country. Content analysis of interview data documented that immigrant families can be a valuable source of emotional and/or instrumental support. Immigrant families, however, can also be too overwhelmed by their own immigration demands to provide support or can generate additional stress for its members. Types of family stress included conflict from differing values and opinions, increased responsibility for family members who could not manage resettlement on their own, family members 'emotional distress over immigration experiences, unmet expectationsfor family members'adjustment, and changes in household composition and living arrangements upon arrival in the United States.

» Journal Articles

Ross, M., E., T., Aday, L., A., (2006). Stress and Coping in African American Grandparents Who Are Raising Their Grandchildren, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 27, pp. 912 - 932.

Abstract:
This study investigated the degree of stress in 50 African American grandparents (M = 63.12 years) who are raising their grandchildren and identified the importance of caregiver characteristics, the caregiving situation, and specific coping strategies that influence stress. Data were collected via interview at senior centers and churches in Harris County, Texas. The instruments used to measure stress and coping were the Parenting Stress Index and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Of grandparents, 94% reported a clinically significant level of stress. Use of professional counseling, special school programs, and length of caregiving longer than 5 years were associated with less stress. Coping strategies significantly correlated with less stress included accepting responsibility, confrontive coping, self-control, positive reappraisal, planful problem solving, and distancing. This study adds to the limited information about custodial grandparents and suggests counseling, support groups, and education to help them manage stress associated with their caregiving situation more effectively.

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Constantine, M., G., Donnelly, P.,C., Myers, L., J., (2002). Collective Self-Esteem and Africultural Coping Styles in African American Adolescents, Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 32, pp. 698 - 710.

Abstract:
The authors examine the relationships between dimensions of collective self-esteem and Africultural coping styles in a sample of African American adolescents. They found that African American adolescents with higher public collective self-esteem (i.e., the belief that others feel positively about their cultural group) reported greater use of spiritual-centered Africultural coping styles to deal with stressful situations. Results also revealed that higher importance to identity collective self-esteem (i.e., the belief that their cultural group is an important part of their self-concept) was related to greater use of collective coping strategies among African American adolescents.

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Williams, J., H., Auslander, W.F., Houston, C., A., Krebill, H., Haire-Joshu, D.b (2000). African American Family Structure: Are There Differences in Social, Psychological, and Economic Well-Being? Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 21, pp. 838 - 857.

Abstract:
This study addresses the following research questions: (a) What are the various types of family structures that exist in urban African American households? and (b) to what extent do differences in family structure influence social, psychological, and economic well-being as reported by urban African American women? The authors present findings from 301 African American women who participated in a community-based nutrition prevention program in a large Midwestern urban center. This study's results indicate that family structure has more influence on African American women's economic well-being than do social and psycho-logical factors. Implications of these findings for intervention are presented.

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Broman, C., L., (2001). Work Stress in the Family Life of African Americans, Journal of Black Studies, Jul 2001; vol. 31: pp. 835 - 846.

» Journal Articles

Torquati, J., C., (2002). Personal and Social Resources as Predictors of Parenting in Homeless Families, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 23, pp. 463 - 485.

Abstract:
This research examined predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviors in homeless families. Personal and social resources were tested as predictors of parenting in an ethnically heterogeneous sample of 38 homeless children between the ages of 6 and 12 and their parents. Parents' social support networks included few familiar intimates. Social support did not predict positive or negative parenting. Stressors predicted negative but not positive parenting. Parental physical health and self-esteem mediated the relationship between stressors and negative parenting. Stressors significantly predicted parents' mental health, but mental health was not a significant mediator of negative parenting.

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Hunt, R., J., Swiggum, P., (2007). Being in Another World: Transcultural Student Experiences Using Service Learning With Families Who Are Homeless, Journal of Transcultural Nursing, Vol. 18, pp. 167 - 174.

Abstract:
Developing skills in cultural competence is a recognized theoretical strategy in schools of nursing. Nursing faculty know that students need to be sensitized to the concept of diversity; however, many are struggling with the best way to teach cultural competence. This article describes transcultural experiences from service learning clinical rotations at a family homeless shelter, described by students as being in another world. Student narratives provide valuable information about structuring clinical learning activities to promote understanding of cultural differences and similarities. Clinical experiences using a traditional model versus those using service learning, the role of reflection, and teaching strategies promoting transcultural learning through service learning are explored.

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Morris, R., I., Butt, R., A., (2003). Parents’ Perspectives on Homelessness And Its Effects on The Educational Development of Their Children, The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 19, pp. 43 - 50.

Abstract:
This qualitative study explored parents’ perceptions of how their homelessness affected the development and academic achievement of their children. Grounded theory with symbolic interactionism was the framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 34 homeless families in a variety of settings. Multiple factors were found, including unstable relationships, abuse and violence, abdication of parental responsibility, poor parenting models, and resilient children. The findings present a case for supportive educational services for homeless school-age children. School nurses play a dual role. They can ensure that school personnel and resource providers understand the culture of homelessness, and they can develop and implement innovative programs for parents and school personnel to help homeless children.

» Journal Articles

Kremer-Sadlik, T., Paugh, A., L., (2007). Everyday Moments: Finding `quality time' in American working families, Time & Society, Vol. 16, pp. 287 - 308.

Abstract:
American popular and academic discourses suggest that `quality time' — conceived as unstressed, uninterrupted special time with children — is important for family well-being. However, such discourses often engender stress and guilt among working parents, who have difficulty finding time for `quality time'. This article explores the concept of `quality time' in academic and popular literature (such as websites) and then draws on interviews and ethnographic video recordings of 32 dual-earner, two-parent American families to explore both perceived and lived experiences of family time. It proposes that everyday activities (like household chores or running errands) may afford families quality moments, unplanned, unstructured instances of social interaction that serve the important relationship-building functions that parents seek from `quality time'.

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Nesteruk, O., Garrison, M., E., B., (2005). An Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Family Daily Hassles and Family Coping and Managing Strategies, Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 34, pp. 140 - 152.

Abstract:
Despite many years of stress and coping research, little is known about how ordinary families cope with daily microstressors and manage their lives. The present study examined the relationship between three dimensions of family daily hassles: time and energy involvement, positive and negative influences, and family resources, coping, and managing strategies. The authors studied families with elementary-school-aged children from a midsized, Southern city in the United States. The sample consisted of 255 mothers (51% African American) and 128 fathers (62% White). The findings of the study indicated that the dimensions of family daily hassles are distinct and are associated with both family coping and managing strategies; however, more research is needed in this area.

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Tomanovic, S., (2004). Family Habitus as the Cultural Context for Childhood, Childhood, Vol. 11, pp. 339 - 360.

Abstract:
The article is based on a longitudinal qualitative study carried out by the author on children and their families in two areas of Belgrade (Serbia) in 1993-4 and 2000. Its goal is to provide an insight into how everyday life is structured and constructed for children by their family habitus. There are significant distinctions in how families from different social strata use their resources and thereby provide different cultural contexts for children. The main conclusion is that family habitus has a strong influence on allocation, distribution and the use of family resources and thereby structures the everyday life of children. At the same time, it activates different kinds of capital for (and by) children and thereby constructs different childhood practices.

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Rollins, S., Z., Garrison, M., E., B., Pierce, S., H., (2002). The Family Daily Hassles Inventory: A Preliminary Investigation of Reliability and Validity, Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 31, pp. 135 - 154.

Abstract:
This study investigated the preliminary reliability and validity of a new family daily hassles assessment using two well-established instruments that measure daily hassles and health status. Participants (140 mothers) completed a self-administered survey. The results indicated adequate reliability of the new assessment and supported the concurrent and construct validity of the scores obtained with the new assessment as a measure of daily hassles.

» Journal Articles

Burrell, L.M., Adams, G.,A., Durand, D., B., Castro, C.,A., (2006). The Impact of Military Lifestyle Demands on Well-Being, Army, and Family Outcomes, Armed Forces & Society, Vol. 33, pp. 43 - 58.

Abstract:
Adopting M. Segal’s framework, we focused on examining four military lifestyle demands—(1) risk of service member injury or death, (2) frequent relocations, (3) periodic separations, and (4) foreign residence—and their relationships to psychological and physical well-being, satisfaction with the Army, and marital satisfaction. Questionnaire results from 346 spouses living overseas indicated that the impact of separations was negatively related to all four outcomes, while foreign residence was negatively related to physical and psychological well-being, fear for soldier safety was negatively related to physical well-being, and the impact of moving was negatively related to satisfaction with the Army. The results further indicated that perceptions of moving and separations were more important in determining outcomes than were the actual number of moves or separations.

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Bray, R., M., Camlin, C., S., Fairbank, J., A., Duntema, G., H., Wheeless, S., C., (2001). The Effects of Stress on Job Functioning of Military Men and Women, Armed Forces & Society, Vol. 27, pp. 397 - 417.

Abstract:
This study examined the relationships between domains of stress (work-related, familyrelated, finances-related, health-related), coping style, substance use, and symptoms of depression with level of job functioning among women and men in the U.S. armed forces. Multivariate cumulative logistic regression analyses were conducted with data from the 1995 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Military Personnel. Results showed that both military men and women were nearly twice as likely to report higher levels of stress at work (39%) than in their family or personal lives (22%). In contrast, women (29%) were more likely than men (22%) to experience high levels of family stress. Additionally, 33% of women experienced high stress due to being a woman in the military. The effects of stress and depression on job functioning were quite similar for women and men. For both genders, higher levels of work-related stress, health-related stress, and number of depressive symptoms increased the odds of a lower level of job functioning. In addition, for men only, higher levels of family-related stress, use of a negative coping style, illicit drug use, and being a heavy drinker increased the likelihood of lower job functioning. Findings suggest that it may be useful for military health providers to focus on interventions to identify, prevent, and provide care for stress-related problems and depressive symptoms for military personnel.

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Punamäki, R., L., (2002). The Uninvited Guest of War Enters Childhood: Developmental and Personality Aspects of War and Military Violence, Traumatology, Vol. 8, pp. 181 - 204.

Abstract:
Children show great differences in their ways of appraising threat, seeking help, and expressing emotions when facing traumatic events. This chapter focuses on developmental and personality aspects of trauma responses. It is hypothesized that each developmental age provides children unique protecting resources, on one hand, and makes them vulnerable, on the other. These protecting and risk dynamics are analysed among infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents. Concerning the link between personality and trauma, attachment theory and temperament research are viewed. The argument is that insecure-avoidant children are vulnerable due to their tendency to deny dangers, distrust others’ help and cope by distraction and withdrawal. Insecure-ambivalent children are at risk due to their exaggeration of danger and overactivation of negative emotions. Secure children in their part, accurately perceive the trauma, trust in their own resources and others’ ability to help, and show balanced emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses. The implications for helping children cope with war and military violence are discussed.

» Journal Articles

Cowen, P., S., (2001). Crisis Child Care: Implications for Family Interventions, Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 7, pp. 196 - 204.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Crisis child care programs provide caregiving respite on an emergency basis and counseling and referral services to stressed parents who are at risk for maltreating their children.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to describe the sociodemographic and stress characteristics of rural parents who accessed crisis child care services and to determine if the utilization of these services would reduce the reported incidence of child maltreatment.
STUDY DESIGN: Parents completed a basic sociodemographic questionnaire and the Parenting Stress Inventory (PSI). Child maltreatment reporting statistics were used to determine if there was a significant decrease in the reported incidence of child maltreatment.
RESULTS: The demographic data painted a portrait of economic disadvantage. The data indicated that parents perceived external stressors, those outside of the parent-child relationship, as the major contributor to their current life crisis. Comparison of child maltreatment rates between rural communities that did and did not receive crisis child care preventive interventions indicated that the programs were effective in preventing child maltreatment.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide support for the ecological model of child maltreatment which posits that availability of social support for families who experience high stress or crisis can decrease the incidence of child maltreatment.

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Alderfer, M., A., (2006). Use of Family Management Styles in Family Intervention Research, Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 23, pp. 32 - 35.

Abstract:
Family management styles (FMSs) explain some of the complexities embedded in a family with a child who has chronic illness. The FMS typologies provide descriptions of family adjustment and management of care. These 5 distinct patterns may be valuable in tailoring and evaluating family interventions in research.

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Starble, A., Hutchins, T., Favro, M.,A., Prelock, P., Bitner, B., (2005). Family-Centered Intervention and Satisfaction With AAC Device Training, Communication Disorders Quarterly, Vol. 27, pp. 47 - 54.

Abstract:
The purpose of this article is to describe a family-centered collaborative approach for developing and implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device training for one family. Family-centered training emphasized collaboration with the primary investigator and focused on needs assessment, the identification of priority communicative contexts, AAC device implementation, and communication partner training. Responses to a questionnaire to assess satisfaction at posttraining revealed high degrees of satisfaction for most dimensions (e.g., expertise and sensitivity of the trainer, relevance and appropriateness of the training). Other dimensions (e.g., family's comfort when using the AAC device), by comparison, were associated with less satisfaction, which provides important information to guide further intervention efforts. Clinical implications, directions for future research, and the importance of a family-centered approach to practice are discussed.