Family Science

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Formerly known as the Department of Family Studies.

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STANDARDS OF LIVING OF MARYLAND FARM FAMILIES
(1938) Teeter, Viola; Metzger, J.E.; Welsh, Claribel; DeVault, S.H.; Family Science; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)
This thesis represents the results of a standard of living study of seventy-two farm families in Carroll County, Maryland, for the year beginning in the summer of 1936 and ending in the summer of 1937. The data were collected in the summer of 1937. Carroll County is located in the northern part of the state and borders on Frederick County on the west, Howard County to the south, Baltimore County on the east and borders on Pennsylvania to the north. See Figure 1. The county is very irregular and comprises an area of 447 square miles of 286,080 acres. Topographically, the land is gently rolling to hilly with many streams. There is an excellent drainage system in the county. The area is adapted to the production of field corn, sugar corn, and other general crops, being a fertile agricultural region. Oil of Chenopodium or "worm seed oil" has been produced on many of the farms in Carroll County for the past 100 years, and is a very lucrative crop. Dairying is the principle type of farming in the county. Even though the county is definitely agricultural, several clothing, shoe, and canning factories, and a distillery flourish, thus supplying a ready market for farm produce. The county has an excellent system of public records and is served by three railways-- the Baltimore and Ohio, Western Maryland, and the Pennsylvania. No part of the county is over ten miles from a railroad. It has a splendid home market and is ideally located in relation to two of the principle markets of the East, Baltimore, and Washington. There are two local colleges to serve the youth of the county-- Blue Ridge College, located at New Windsor, and Western Maryland College, located at Westminster. The average acreage per farm was 106 acres, of which 83 acres were under cultivation. The number of tenant farms surveyed was so few that no breakdown of farms was made on an owner-operated and tenant-operated basis. The analysis was based on averages for all farms. The length of tenure on the same farm varied from 1 year to 54 years, the average tenure being 20 years. Distribution of families by length of tenure on the same farm is shown in Table 1. The purpose of the study was to determine as accurately as possible the amount of cash available for family living; now the farm families use their incomes; to judge their standards of living; and determine the adequacy of their diets according to accepted standards. The information was obtained by means of a questionnaire and a personal interview with each family. The questionnaire, or schedule, was explained and was left with the homemaker and farm operator, so that an accurate record of food consumed by the family during the week, and number of meals served to individual members of the household could be recorded. At the end of the week the worker returned for the schedule and recorded the data as given by the homemaker and farm operator.
Physical and Psychological Adjustments Associated with Home and Family Management Problems of Selected Normal and Handicapped Homemakers
(1963) Lacy, Julia Carter; Lippeatt, Selma F.; Family Science; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)
The purpose of this study was to determine some physical and psychological adjustments associated with home and family management problems of homemakers. The hypotheses formulated were: (1) There is no significant difference between the experimental and control groups either in the number of responses made or the intensity of attitude expressed toward physical disability, homemaker's role, family life, or life in general; (2) there is no significant difference between paired subjects with respect to their attitude toward these aforementioned factors; and (3) there is no correlation between the duration of the disability and attitudes expressed toward these identical factors. The experimental group consisted of ten physically-disabled homemakers, while the control group was comprised of ten normal ones, all between the ages of twenty and fifty. Personal interviews and case studies were utilized to collect data concerning physical and psychological adjustments of test subjects. Two somewhat structured interviews were conducted in the home of each subject. Data were tabulated and treated statistically. Major findings indicate that: (1) The two groups did not differ in intensity of attitude toward selected aspects of personal and family life; (2) paired test subjects were not significantly different in their attitudes toward selected aspects of personal and family life; and (3) disabled homemakers related the duration of disability to attitudes toward their disability and selected aspects of personal and family living. Two conclusions were drawn, namely: (1) Those homemakers who reflected the greatest insight into educational opportunities for the handicapped tended to reflect better understanding of inherent problems and to have more wholesome attitudes toward life in general, and (2) disabled homemakers were approachable in terms of assistance needed to strengthen management practices, and sought resources available to them. In light of the findings and conclusions, the following implications for further study are identified: (1) Experimental use of specifically trained management aides to implement multiple-purpose programs to assist disabled homemakers; (2) experimentation to provide maximum help to families confronted with temporary disability; and (3) investigation to test for specific changes in attitudes in light of given conditions. This study points up the nature and extent of problems faced by disabled homemakers and their interest and concern for specific professional help in their day-to-day living experiences.
The Sharing of Family Tasks and Role Strain in the Commuter Marriage
(1984) Spruill, Jane Woodley; Anderson, Elaine A.; Family Science; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)
The purpose of this study was to examine the husband - wife sharing of family tasks and the presence of role strain in a selected sample of commuter marriages. Thirty-nine commuter couples located geographically throughout the United States participated in the study. The mean score of the sharing of family tasks was 2.99 which indicated that family tasks in commuter couples were shared equally. However in examining tasks individually, wives seemed to have more responsibility. The correlation between the length of marriage when the commute began and role strain was significant. The distance of the commute and role strain did not correlate. No significant difference was found among groups based upon how often a couple reunites and how they shared travel time. There was also no significant difference between those individuals with dependent children and those without dependent children, although there was some indication that role strain was higher for individuals with preschool children. It was concluded that commuter couples may be nontraditional in choosing their lifestyle but they still seem somewhat traditional in the sharing of family tasks. An established relationship between spouses is important if a couple is contemplating commuting. The distance of the commute and how often a couple reunites did not seem to affect the level of role strain. Although t he sharing of travel time and the stage of the family life cycle indicated no significant effect on role strain, differences in means indicate t ha t couples may want to consider these factors in making the decision t o commute.
Strategies Used by African American Fathers to Protect their Children from Community Violence
(1999) Letiecq, Bethany L.; Koblinsky, Sally A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)
The purposes of this study were to identify the strategies used by African American fathers to protect their Head Start children from community violence and to examine individual, familial, and community-level predictors of those strategies. There were two phases to the study. In Phase I, three focus groups were conducted with a total of 18 fathers and father-figures residing in targeted Washington, D.C. and Prince George's County, MD neighborhoods to qualitatively identify the protective strategies used by fathers. Content analysis of focus group data revealed twelve general strategies: 1) supervising children; 2) teaching neighborhood/ household safety skills; 3) teaching about real-life violence and its consequences; 4) teaching how to fight back; 5) teaching alternatives to violence; 6) reducing exposure to media violence; 7) confronting troublemakers; 8) keeping to oneself; 9) using prayer and positive thinking; 10) arming family for protection; 11) moving away from bad residential areas; and 12) engaging in community activism. During Phase I, this study also collaborated with an U.S. Department of Education study to develop a new measure, the "Parenting in Violent Neighborhoods Scale." During Phase II, 61 biological and social African American fathers of Head Start children were interviewed by trained African American male interviewers. Using the new quantitative measure developed in Phase I, fathers reported on their frequency of using various strategies to protect children from neighborhood dangers. Correlation matrices and factor analysis were used to refine the measure, producing five subscales of protective strategies. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the best predictors (e.g., psychological well-being, history of violence exposure, parenting practices, social support, and child's sex) of paternal strategies. Fathers were found to employ five major protective strategies: supervise children and teach personal safety; teach home and neighborhood safety; reduce exposure to violent media; arm and protect family; and engage in community activism. Authoritative and permissive parenting practices, depression, and social support predicted use of supervision and teaching personal safety. Authoritative parenting, permissiveness, and depression also predicted father's likelihood of teaching children home and neighborhood safety. Child's sex was the only predictor of "reduce exposure to violent media," with fathers of sons more likely to reduce exposure. Depression and social support were the best predictors of father's likelihood of arming and protecting his family. Lastly, authoritative parenting practices and social support predicted father's engagement in community activism. Implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are discussed.
The Relationship Between Parental Warmth and Parental Pressure to Achieve with Adolescent Depression and Anxiety in China
(2003-12-02) Riley, Pamela Joy; Epstein, Norman; Anderson, Elaine; Rubin, Roger; Family Studies
Adolescents in mainland China are under strong family pressure to excel academically, and they experience psychological symptoms at higher rates than those found in Western countries, but little attention has been paid to the association between the two. This study investigated the relationship between parental warmth and parental pressure to achieve academically, and two forms of adolescent psychological maladjustment (depression and anxiety). A sample of 997 students were surveyed in four high schools in Beijing, China. Results indicated that perceived parental warmth correlated negatively with adolescents' levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived parental pressure to acheive correlated positively with anxiety and depression symptoms, and parental warmth moderated the relationship between perceived parental pressure and adolescents depression symptoms but not adolescents' anxiety symptoms. Gender differences were explored, with significantly stronger correlations found for boys than for girls between pressure and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Development and Initial Validation of the Dyadic Religious Assessment Questionnaire: A Measure of Couples' Religious Activities, Their Importance, and Their Meanings
(2003-12-12) Cooper, Karen A; Epstein, Norman B.; Anderson, Elaine A.; Rubin, Roger H.; Family Studies
This research involved development of a research instrument, the Dyadic Religious Assessment Questionnaire (DRAQ), and an initial evaluation of its reliability and validity in the examination of the nature, subjective meaning, and importance of couples' joint religious activities. The study examined the frequencies of occurrence of various religious activities in couples' lives, how couples experience religious activities in a dyadic context, which facets of shared religious activities couples consider important and beneficial, and the degree to which these aspects of religious involvement are associated with relationship satisfaction and relationship stability. Data were obtained from 175 individuals in couple relationships who completed the DRAQ, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Marital Status Inventory-Revised. Results indicated that reliability and validity of the DRAQ were acceptable, and that frequency of joint religious activities, positive individual affect, and importance of joint religious activity benefits were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction.
Marital Relationship Status, Social Support, and Psychological Well-Being Among Rural, Low-Income Mothers
(2004-04-29) Islam, Jokena Charisse Smith; Braun, Bonnie; Family Studies
This study examined the relationship between marriage, social support, and psychological health among impoverished, rural mothers. While research suggests marital status and social support are negatively correlated with depression, research investigating such relationships and effects on poor, rural mothers over time is scant. To examine the roles of marital status, social support, and time on depression, mean comparison and analysis of variance were run for depression levels across time, categories of partnership, categories of social support, and categories of change in marital status over time. While findings revealed that marital status had little effect on depression levels, social support appeared to be negatively correlated with depression. Furthermore, mothers who maintained marital status and reported high social support reported the lowest depression levels. Findings contribute to the limited body of research focusing on health in rural areas and yield valuable knowledge about the experience of psychological health among impoverished, rural mothers.
The Relationship of Children's Household Work to Measures of Children's Prosocial Behaviors and Positive Self-perceptions
(2004-04-30) Baldwin, Emory Luce; Hofferth, Sandra L.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics regarding 648 racially and ethnically diverse children was used to examine the relationship between the amount of time 10-12 year old children were expected to spend in household work that benefits the family and its relationship with children's prosocial behaviors, as well as children's self-reported positive self-perceptions. Children who were expected to almost always do household work that benefits the family were found to behave more prosocially, compared to children who rarely were expected to do such work. Boys who were almost always expected to do household work that benefits the family were reported to have more responsibility behaviors, although this pattern did not hold for girls. Research results showed no significant effect for positive self-perceptions of children who were expected to almost always do household work benefiting the family compared to children who were rarely expected to do such household work.
Partners' Attributions and Level of Commitment as Predictors of Constructive and Destructive Behavior in Discussions of Relationship Conflicts
(2004-05-06) Larsen, Ashley Nicole; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies
This study investigated whether clinical couples' levels of commitment to their relationship and their tendencies to make negative attributions about their partner are related to their use of constructive and destructive behavior during couple conflict. Secondary analyses were conducted on assessment data from 52 couples who sought couple therapy at a university-based clinic. Based on self-report data and coded observations from a 10-minute communication sample completed by the couple, the results support the hypotheses that greater use of negative attributions is correlated with greater use of destructive behaviors, and increased levels of commitment are related to greater use of constructive behaviors. Contrary to expectations, commitment was not a significant moderator of the relationship between negative attributions and destructive behavior during conflict. The results, including specific gender differences, have important implications for effective couple therapy and future research on couple conflict.
INFLUENCE OF FOOD-RELATED LIFE SKILLS ON FOOD SECURITY OF RURAL, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
(2004-05-12) Grutzmacher, Stephanie Kristen; Braun, Bonnie; Family Studies
This study examined the effects of food-related life skills on food security in a sample of rural, low-income mothers. While research suggests that income and food assistance benefits do not protect low-income families from food insecurity, the potential of food resource management to optimize limited income and food assistance is unknown. Linear regression was employed to determine the extent to which food-related life skills affect food security status within the sample. Findings indicate that mothers in food secure households are significantly more likely to possess food-related life skills than mothers in food insecure households. The ability to make a family budget was a significant predictor of food security, while income relative to household size and poverty level, food stamps, and participation in WIC and the School Lunch Program were not significant predictors. Findings emphasize the importance of helping low-income families obtain skills and resources that protect them from food insecurity.
PARENTAL COPING METHODS FOR MANAGING STRESSES EXPERIENCED FOLLOWING OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
(2004-05-17) Jackson, Jeffrey B.; Epstein, Norman B.; Family Studies
A model describing the process of parental adaptation to life after voluntarily placing a child with developmental disabilities in out-of-home care was generated by utilizing grounded theory to analyze 20 qualitative interviews. The resulting model provides an organized understanding of how parents adapt to post-placement stressors. The cognitive appraisals of parents were categorized by their associated emotions: guilt, sadness, fear and worry, anger and frustration, and uncertainty (emotional stresses); and relief (an emotional advantage). Problematic and desirable adaptive responses to placement of both the child with developmental disabilities and his or her siblings, and the critical or supportive messages from others were determined as contextual factors affecting the emotional stresses of the parents. The primary coping methods employed by the parents to manage the emotional stresses consist of reappraisals regarding the necessity of placement, involvement in the child's life, therapy, and the passage of time.
Chronic illness and behavior problems in children: Mediating and moderating influences
(2004-06-03) Hoard, Laura Ruth; Hofferth, Sandra; Family Studies
Research indicates that children living with a chronic illness have a higher level of behavior problems than children not living with an illness. However, mediating factors must be examined in order to create a clearer picture of the influence of a chronic health condition on children. Therefore, this research examined the mediating influence of economic strain, child's health stress, parental psychological distress, and parenting behaviors on child behavior, as well as the moderating impact of social support on all previously mentioned variables. Structural equation modeling was used to model each of these relationships. Data came from responses to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement that included both children not living with an illness (n=806) and children living with a chronic illness (n=693) who were between the ages of 6 and 13 and their primary caregivers. The chronic illnesses included in the sample are anemia (n=120), asthma (n=157), diabetes (n=3), and chronic otitis media (n=522). Comorbidity was present with 102 children living with two illnesses and four children living with three illnesses. The findings indicate that the presence of a chronic illness has a relationship with higher levels of child behavior problems, but health stress and parental psychological distress contribute more to child behavior problems than the presence of illness. Social support was found to buffer the relationships between the presence of illness and economic strain and the presence of illness and health stress. Findings suggest that researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should focus on the alleviation of economic strain, health stress, and parental psychological distress because of their relationship with poorer parenting and higher levels of child behavior problems. Possible directions for future research were also discussed.
Social Skills and Behavior Problems of African American Head Start Preschoolers: Role of Parenting, Informal Social Support and Children's Exposure to Family Conflict and Community Violence
(2004-06-15) Oravecz, Linda Marie; Koblinsky, Sally A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
In recent decades, urban African American families have faced an increasing number of environmental and familial stressors, including exposure to family conflict and community violence. African American children are disproportionately likely to encounter such violence, especially at the community level, because they are more likely to reside in poor families within the inner-city than children from other racial/ethnic groups. While many children who experience such stressors display harmful effects, many others exhibit socially competent behavior. Both family and community level variables may help to protect children from the negative effects of violence, such as the presence of nurturant, consistent parenting and the availability of social support from family and friends. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that might increase the resilience of African American preschoolers in urban neighborhoods by examining the role of two potential protective factors, positive parenting and informal social support, and two potential risk factors, direct exposure to family conflict and community violence, in predicting the children's social skills and behavior problems. Study participants were 223 African American mothers and other female caregivers who had a three- to five-year old preschool child enrolled in a Head Start center in the Washington DC area. Descriptive statistics were computed for maternal, familial, and child measures, and a correlation matrix examined the relationships between all variables. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the relative strength of the independent variables (parenting, social support, family conflict, community violence) in predicting preschoolers' social skills, internalizing behavior problems (e.g., fear, anxiety), and externalizing behavior problems (e.g., anger, aggression). The regression analyses revealed that positive parenting significantly predicted greater child self-control and cooperation, and fewer internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Greater informal social support significantly predicted higher levels of children's self-control, cooperation, responsibility, and assertion. Community violence exposure was a significant predictor of greater internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and greater family conflict predicted internalizing problems. Implications of the findings for fostering resilience among young African American children in urban communities are discussed.
Foster Parenting Stress, Length of Child Time in Foster Care, and Presence of Other Children as Predictors of the Attachment and Behavior Problems of Children in Foster Care
(2004-07-21) Phillips, Sara Moorhead; Koblinsky, Sally A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study examined three factors that may predict attachment patterns and behavior problems of children in foster care: length of time in a single foster home, presence of biological and/or adopted children in the foster home, and parenting stress. Participants included 50 primarily African American 8 to 12 year old foster children and their foster caregivers. Data were obtained using the Parenting Stress Index, Beech Brook Attachment Disorder Questionnaire, and Child Behavior Checklist. Correlations revealed that high negative attachment and low positive attachment were significantly related to greater behavior problems. Regression analyses revealed that time in a single foster home was a significant predictor of positive attachment, with more time in the current placement related to less positive attachment. Trends further indicated that presence of other children and extended time in a single foster home predicted high negative attachment. Implications of the findings for practitioners and policy makers are discussed.
Typologies of Juvenile Female Offenders: Consistencies With a Feminist Developmental Model
(2004-07-26) Morton, Goldie; Leslie, Leigh A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
In recognition of the growing concern over juvenile female offending, federal, state, and local juvenile justice systems are increasingly called upon to address the needs of this population of females through theory, research, and programming. In the last decade, creation of programming for this population has been based on the feminist developmental model. The major weakness of this approach to programming for juvenile female offenders, however, is that the model is based solely on typically developed females when, in fact, research suggests that juvenile female offenders likely deviate from typical development in significant ways. The aim of this study was to move forward in assessing the adequacy of the feminist developmental model for use with juvenile female offenders by identifying typologies of juvenile female offenders based on their response patterns to various open-ended questions about their lives and offending history. The typologies were then assessed for consistency with the Traditional Feminist Developmental Model. Further, the risk factors established in "pathways to offending" research, as well as demographic characteristics of race/ethnicity and class, were examined for association with the resulting typologies. Using secondary data of juvenile female offenders in California published by National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), cluster analysis was used to identify offender typologies. Results provided evidence for a 2-cluster solution with weaker evidence for a 5-cluster solution. Both solutions were examined for their association with risk factors. Because the 5-cluster was the weaker of the cluster solutions and showed no statistically significant relations with risk factors, it was used solely as a means to further inform the 2-cluster solution. Results from the 2-cluster solution provided evidence for two distinct typologies of females - those females consistent with the Traditional Feminist Developmental Model and those females for whom the model did not apply. Analyses of the association between risk factor variables and cluster membership indicated differences between the two clusters with regard to substance use, family structure, and the incarceration status of family members. Neither race/ethnicity nor class was statistically significantly different between the two typologies of females. Implications for gender-specific programming are discussed.
The Role of Parenting Social Support, Religious Coping, and Religious Practices in Moderating the Effects of Financial Poverty on Symptoms of Depression Among Rural, Low-Income Mothers
(2004-07-30) Marghi, Jamie Rose; Braun, Bonnie; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study explored relationships between financial poverty, social support, religious coping, religious practices, and symptoms of depression among rural, low-income mothers. Given the higher incidence of depression in these impoverished mothers and the limited mental health services in rural areas, this study sought to identify factors that are protective against depression. While research suggests that social support, religious coping and religious practices are protective against depression, there has been little research exploring these relationships among rural, low-income mothers. Correlations, t-tests, and hierarchical multiple regressions were utilized. The findings did not support the hypotheses that social support, religious coping, and religious practices functioned as moderators. However, for all mothers the higher the perception of economic situation and income adequacy, parenting social support, and religious practices, the lower the symptoms of depression. Additionally, for minority mothers the higher the religious coping, the lower the symptoms of depression. Recommendations for future research and psychotherapy are discussed.
Attachment Style as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Level of Perceived Conflict and Constructive and Psychologically Abusive Behavior in Clinic Couples
(2004-08-03) Beyder-Kamjou, Irina; Epstein, Norman; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study examined a potential moderating effect of attachment styles of members of clinical couples on the relationship between their level of perceived conflict and use of forms of psychologically abusive versus constructive conflict management behavior toward each other. Data from one hundred seventy seven couples who had sought therapy at the Family Service Center at the University of Maryland, College Park were used. Each client had completed a set of assessment questionnaires prior to beginning couple therapy at the clinic, and all data previously had been entered into a database. The subset of assessment measures utilized for this study included questionnaires assessing attachment styles, forms of psychological abuse, physical abuse, and relationship adjustment. It was hypothesized that when individuals experience conflict in their intimate relationships and their working models of attachment are activated, they will use degrees of constructive or psychologically abusive conflict management behavior based on the type of attachment style that they exhibit. It was postulated that, in general, if individuals perceive their relationship to be higher in level of conflict, they would use more psychologically abusive conflict resolution behavior than if they perceive their relationship to be lower in conflict. Results supported this hypothesis. It was also proposed that individuals perceiving their relationship to be lower in level of conflict would utilize more constructive conflict resolution behavior than individuals perceiving a higher level of conflict in their intimate relationships. Results did not support this hypothesis. In addition, individuals with secure attachment styles who perceive their relationship to be higher in conflict were expected to use more constructive conflict management skills than insecure individuals, whereas insecure individuals were expected to use more psychologically abusive behavior. The results indicated an interaction between the level of perceived conflict and the level of attachment insecurity for individuals' use of psychologically abusive conflict resolution behaviors, but not for individuals' use of constructive conflict resolution behaviors. Contrary to the hypothesis, it was found that securely attached individuals in higher conflict relationships utilized more psychologically abusive conflict resolution behavior than their insecure counterparts. However, consistent with the prediction, no significant differences were found in secure and insecure individuals' use of psychologically abusive conflict resolution behaviors in lower conflict relationships. Moreover, regarding specific types of insecure attachment, it was expected that if perceived level of conflict between the partners is relatively high: (a) individuals reporting a dismissive-avoidant attachment style would use more of the hostile withdrawal types of psychological abuse as compared with individuals reporting other forms of insecure attachment, (b) individuals with the fearful-avoidant attachment style would use more of the denigration type of psychological abuse as compared to individuals reporting other forms of insecure attachment, and (c) individuals with the preoccupied attachment style would use more of the restrictive engulfment and domination-intimidation types of psychological abuse as compared to individuals with other forms of insecure attachment. The results did not support these hypotheses. As predicted, there were no differences in the use of psychologically abusive or constructive behavior among individuals with secure attachment and the various types of insecure attachment who perceived their relationship to have a lower level of conflict. Furthermore, gender and racial (Caucasians versus African-Americans) differences in the distribution of attachment styles in members of these clinical couples were examined, and no significant results were observed. In addition, gender differences in the relationship between attachment styles and use of constructive and psychologically abusive conflict resolution behaviors in high versus low-conflict relationships were examined in an exploratory fashion. The results indicated no significant gender differences in individuals' use of constructive or psychologically abusive conflict resolution behaviors based on the level of conflict that they perceived in their relationship. Finally, the distribution of couple pairings by partners' attachment styles was explored, and the most common pairings were found to be both partners secure, both partners fearful-avoidant, and a secure male matched with a fearful female. Overall, the findings indicate that attachment styles are a variable that those who study and treat abuse within couple relationships should take into account. Implications of the study's findings for therapeutic interventions with psychologically abusive partners with various attachment patterns and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The Relationship Between Provider-Role Consistency and Marital Outcomes
(2004-08-12) Newman, Ginger Leigh; Leslie, Leigh A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study explored the effect of provider-role consistency on marital outcomes and the extent to which perceived fairness moderates the relationship between provider-role consistency and the outcome of depression and marital satisfaction. Secondary analyses were conducted on assessment materials for 64 couples presenting for therapy at a university-based clinic. For males, the results indicated that perceptions of fairness in the division of household labor were associated with lower levels of depression and greater marital satisfaction, and perceived unfairness was associated with lower marital satisfaction, although the relationship was much stronger for provider-role consistent men than provider-role inconsistent men. In the female sample, higher perceptions of fairness were associated with greater marital satisfaction but not depression. Contrary to predictions, no relationship was found between provider-role consistency and perceived fairness, depression, and marital satisfaction for males and females. The results have important implications for future research on provider-roles and effective couples therapy.
Role of Maternal Social Support and Church Attendance in Moderating the Relationship Between Maternal Depression and African American Preschoolers' Behavior Problems
(2004-11-30) Tyler, Crystal Michelle; Koblinsky, Sally A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
Policymakers, educators, researchers and practitioners are devoting increasing attention to the challenges faced by low-income families in urban communities. Research indicates that poor women with young children are particularly susceptible to experiencing depression. Maternal depression has been associated with numerous negative outcomes for both mothers and their children. In view of the high prevalence of maternal depression and the myriad stressors faced by poor families in high crime neighborhoods, there is an urgent need to identify factors that may attenuate the negative impact of mother's depression on preschoolers' socioemotional development. Thus, the major purpose of this study was to examine the potential of social support and church attendance to moderate the relationship between maternal depression and children's behavior problems. The present study utilized secondary data from a larger, three-year study funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The sample for this study consisted of low-income African American mothers in violent neighborhoods in Washington, DC and Prince George's County, Maryland. All mothers had a three-to-five year old child enrolled in Head Start. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews utilizing culturally-sensitive measures. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the main and interaction effects for predictor (maternal depressive symptoms), moderator (social support, church attendance), and criterion variables (child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems). Results revealed that maternal depressive symptomology significantly predicted children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Findings further revealed that social support moderated the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and children's externalizing behavior problems. When the level of social support increased for mothers who did not exhibit extreme depressive symptomology, children had fewer externalizing behavior problems. In contrast, when social support increased for mothers with very severe depressive symptoms, children had greater externalizing problems. Maternal social support did not buffer preschoolers' internalizing problems. Maternal church attendance likewise failed to buffer the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and internalizing or externalizing problems. Findings suggest a need for culturally-sensitive strategies to increase the support networks of low-income, urban, African American mothers of preschoolers. Such efforts may help educators and family practitioners to reduce the impact of maternal depression on preschoolers' externalizing behavior problems.
Economic Strain, Friends' Support, and Relationship Satisfaction in Argentinean Couples: Paths of Influence and Gender Differences
(2005-01-20) Falconier, Mariana Karin; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
Since their worst economic crisis in December 2001, Argentineans have lived in an atmosphere of great economic stress. However, the effects of this crisis on the Argentinean couples' relationships are still unknown. Based on Conger and his colleagues' family stress model, the present study examined the indirect link between economic strain and relationship satisfaction found in previous studies. It expanded on previous research in the field by (a) focusing on a culturally different population, (b) identifying each partner's level of economic strain and measuring it as a subjective experience of stress rather than an objective economic difficulty, (c) including both males' and females' variables in the same conceptual and statistical model, (d) proposing both psychological aggression and positive behaviors toward the partner as mediators between economic strain and relationship satisfaction, and (e) including perceived support from friends as a factor potentially buffering the effect of each partner's economic strain on their own relational behavior. This study used self-report data provided by 144 heterosexual couples recruited from an outpatient mental health clinic in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2003 and 2004. After controlling for partners' levels of education, relationship status, time living together, and presence of children, path analysis and post hoc analyses suggested different gender patterns. Males experienced higher economic strain than females, and only their economic strain was associated with the relational behaviors of both partners (greater psychological aggression by both partners and less positive behavior by females). However, females' relationship satisfaction seemed to be more affected by these relational behaviors than males' did. No positive buffering effects of perceived friends' support were found for either gender. Males' perceived support from friends had a negative influence on the couple as it directly increased each partner's psychological aggression and directly and indirectly decreased each partner's relationship satisfaction. By contrast, females' support from friends directly increased the males' positive behaviors toward their partners. This study demonstrates the importance of including both partners' economic strain, psychological aggression, positive behaviors, and relationship satisfaction in a model of couple response to economic strain. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.