Family Science

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2239

Formerly known as the Department of Family Studies.

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End date: 2009Subject: search.filters.subject.Psychology, General

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    THE RELATIONS AMONG DIFFERING FORMS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS, COUPLE COMMUNICATION, AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION
    (2007-05-07) Resnick, Elise M; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study investigated the degree to which forms of psychopathology symptoms -- psychotic, mood/anxiety-based and trauma-based -- are associated with relationship satisfaction, the degrees to which positive and negative communication are related to satisfaction, and whether communication mediates the relation between psychopathology and satisfaction. The sample was 83 couples who sought therapy at a university-based clinic. The findings indicated no relation between psychopathology symptoms and relationship satisfaction. There was an association between females' psychoticism symptoms and males' negative communication, as well as between females' psychoticism and mood/anxiety symptoms and males' positive communication. More positive communication was associated with greater relationship satisfaction for both partners, and males' negative communication was associated with lower satisfaction for female partners. Communication was not tested as a mediator between symptoms and satisfaction because no association between psychopathology symptoms and relationship satisfaction was found.
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    Partner Positive Behavior and Recipient Satisfaction in Mild to Moderately Abusive Couples as Moderated by Attachment Style
    (2007-05-07) Evans, Laura; Epstein, Norman B.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study examined the degree to which individuals' secure, insecure/preoccupied, insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment styles moderated the relation between positive partner behaviors and the recipient's experienced pleasure and overall relationship satisfaction. Males with high insecure/preoccupied attachment styles experienced high levels of affection behavior as more pleasurable than low levels; those with low insecure/preoccupied attachment experienced little pleasure difference from high or low levels. Males and females with insecure/fearful or dismissive styles showed opposite patterns, in that males with low levels of insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment experienced high levels of positive instrumental behavior as more pleasurable than those with high levels of insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment, whereas females with high levels of insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment experienced more pleasure from high levels of instrumental behaviors than those with low insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment. Further, females with high insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment experienced higher levels of nurturing behavior as more pleasurable that those with low insecure/fearful or dismissive attachment.
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    The Moderating Effect of an Individual's Romantic Attachment Style on Intent to Leave a Heterosexual Clinical Couple Relationship in Which He or She is the Victim of Emotional Abuse
    (2006-12-08) Treimel, Mark J; Hofferth, Sandra; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study examined the impact of emotional abuse on an individual's steps taken toward leaving a relationship and how individuals with different styles of attachment to a romantic partner differed with regard to taking such steps. Analyses of participant responses on the Multi-dimensional Emotional Abuse Scale (MDEAS), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), and the Marital Status Inventory-Revised (MSI-R) were conducted using analysis of variance. It was determined that abuse and being female were significantly associated with taking greater steps toward relationship dissolution. Finally, the interaction between abuse and attachment in steps taken toward leaving was significant among women, but not among men. Although attachment was associated with steps taken toward leaving an abusive relationship was significant for women, differences between attachment styles were not consistent with the hypotheses.
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    Personal Resource Differences Between Partners, Conflict-Resolution Communication Behaviors, and Dyadic Satisfaction
    (2006-07-24) Frey, Rebecca Ismart; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study investigated the relationship between partners' relative resources, their communication behaviors, and dyadic satisfaction. The impact of gender on partner resource discrepancy and communication was examined as was communication as a mediator between partners' relative resources and dyadic satisfaction. Secondary analyses were conducted on data collected from 88 couples who sought therapy at a university-based clinic. No significant differences across relative income groups were identified for communication behaviors. Females with relatively equal educational attainment as their partners used more constructive communication than females whose partner had greater educational attainment. No other differences were identified across relative educational attainment groups. Correlations between communication behaviors and dyadic satisfaction were found. Communication behavior did not mediate partners' relative resources and relationship satisfaction. The study underscores the importance of communication behaviors in couple relationships and contributes to knowledge on impacts of resource disparities between partners on relationship functioning.
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    Fostering Resilience Among Early Adolescents Exposed to Community Violence: Challenges, Strategies, and Support Needs of Middle School Teachers in Predominantly African American Urban Communities
    (2006-04-27) Maring, Elisabeth Fost; Koblinsky, Sally A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Community violence places youth at risk for adverse developmental consequences such as poor school achievement, aggression, and self-destructive behaviors. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated the strategies that parents use to protect their children from negative effects of violence exposure, there is a dearth of research that focuses on the challenges faced by teachers in violent communities. Recognizing the potential for teachers to have a major influence on early adolescents' development, this study addressed a major gap in the literature by examining: 1) the challenges that teachers face in low-income neighborhoods with high community violence; 2) the strategies that teachers use to foster resilience in their students; and 3) the supports that teachers need to more effectively teach and guide youth within violent communities. This qualitative study adopted an ecological/risk and resilience framework. Teachers' voices provided important information about the challenges of teaching in violent neighborhoods and the protective factors within various ecological contexts that help teachers foster youth resilience and maintain their own teaching effectiveness. The investigator recruited 20 teachers from three middle schools with predominantly African American students located in neighborhoods with high violence levels in Maryland. A modified grounded theory approach was used for data analysis. Results revealed that community violence was the central phenomenon affecting teachers in the three schools. Three emergent concepts framed teachers' depiction of their challenges, strategies, and support needs: 1) guidance; 2) structure; and 3) self preservation. Specifically, teachers in violent communities confronted challenges providing youth with guidance and structure, while preserving their own mental health. They employed guidance-related strategies to foster youth resilience; addressed structure in their classrooms, school, and community; and engaged in behaviors to preserve their personal mental health. Finally, teachers expressed needs for support to effectively guide youth; improve school and community structure; and access mental health-related services. The study concludes by discussing implications of the findings for programs and policies, including the need to improve teacher training, school leadership, school security, peer mediation and counseling services, parent education, and community involvement in anti-violence initiatives. Suggestions for future research are also discussed.
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    What happens if I say no: Attitudes and prevalence of emotional coercion in sexual dating relationships
    (2005-12-13) Sterner-Djangali, Amy Lynn; Mokhtari, Manouchehr; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Emotional coercion is a gray area for many dating couples. This study asked approximately 150 young men and women about their attitudes and experiences with emotional coercion in dating relationships and utilized both a Self-Report Measure and a Scenario Measure containing vignettes about coercion. The findings indicated that, overall, respondents failed to find the use of coercion inappropriate. Respondents found coercion by women to be less appropriate than coercion by men. According to the results, most respondents could not tell the difference between acquiescence and true consent, which may help explain why and how coercion occurs. This study shows that education on this topic is needed for all individuals in order to promote healthier sexual relationships.
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    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.
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    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.