Spouses' emotional ties to family early in marriage are linked to marital outcomes, but little is known about how these ties affect marital stability and whether these effects vary by race and gender. The present study examines the links between emotional ties to family of origin and in-laws in the first year of marriage and marital stability over the first 16 years of marriage. Data were collected as part of a longitudinal study following Black American (n = 199) and White American (n = 174) married couples. Analyses revealed that perceptions of closeness to in-laws early in marriage were associated with odds of divorce over time, but the results varied by race and gender. Findings are discussed in terms of couples' ties to family early in marriage and the role that in-law bonds play for marital stability. We also offer insights for practitioners who provide premarital and marital education and counseling services to couples.

The main goal of this study was to examine from a systemic-transactional stress perspective (Bodenmann, 1997) whether a more traditional gender role orientation may affect psychological aggression and relationship satisfaction directly and indirectly by decreasing supportive (partner's efforts to help the other partner cope with stress) and common dyadic coping (partners' conjoint efforts to cope with stress) among first-generation immigrant Latino couples. Structural equation modeling results from 104 couples indicate that the extent to which Latino men hold traditional gender role views and the extent to which those views differ from their female partners' may increase the risk for psychological aggression and relationship dissatisfaction directly, but also indirectly by reducing the couple's common dyadic coping and to some extent the male supportive coping. Latinas' traditional gender role views do not relate to either partner's psychological aggression or relationship satisfaction. The article discusses gender differences and research and clinical implications.

The current study represents a novel test of parenting outcomes among participants in couple and relationship education (CRE). Utilizing a systems theory framework and empirical linkages between couple functioning and parenting, this study examined the extent to which several parenting dimensions (coparenting conflict, parental involvement, and positive discipline practices) change after CRE participation and, importantly, whether and how these changes are related to changes in dimensions of couple functioning. In a sample of 623 adult parents, diverse in gender, race, and marital status, positive changes were found in the parenting dimensions over time. In addition, levels of change in the couple domain were associated with levels of changes in the parenting domain over the same period of time, with a pattern of stronger links between conceptually similar dimensions of couple functioning and parenting.

Utilizing a sample of 80 married couples, the current study employed a dyadic approach to examine links between remembered parental rejection during childhood and change in marital satisfaction across the transition to parenthood. Partner remembered parental rejection, parenting efficacy, and infant temperamental reactivity (frustration and fear reactivity) were examined as moderator variables. Spouses' own remembered parental rejection was linked with declines in marital satisfaction among spouses whose partners recalled more rejection from their parents in childhood, among spouses who felt less efficacious in the parenting role, and among spouses who reported high infant frustration. Partner remembered parental rejection was linked with declines in marital satisfaction among spouses who reported that they were less efficacious in the parenting role. Results support the perspective that family-of-origin experiences are best understood in conjunction with other domains of family life. Applied implications are discussed.

This qualitative investigation examined parental attitudes and goals about cross-ethnic peers in an ethnically diverse sample of 78 caregivers of 7th graders. Four attitudes about cross-ethnic peer relationships emerged from the analyses: Ethnicity is not important, ethnicity is not important with conditions attached, ethnicity is important, and child is given complete autonomy in friendship choice. Egalitarianism, pluralism, cultural socialization, acculturation, and preventing racism emerged as goals regarding cross-ethnic relationships. Parents who reported that cross-ethnic peer relationships were not important to them did not report goals of pluralism or preventing racism. Parents who reported that ethnicity was not important in peer relationships, with specific conditions attached, only reported that preventing racism was an important goal. Parents who reported that cross-ethnic peer relationships were important reported having goals of pluralism, cultural socialization, and preventing racism. When granting autonomy in regard to peer relationships was important, parents reported goals of egalitarianism.

Profiles of maternal well-being and family emotional climate were identified and examined in relation to toddler boys' and girls' social-emotional outcomes in a low-income sample (n = 136). Four distinct profiles, reflecting variations in maternal well-being and family emotional climate, were confirmed using K-Means clustering, following initial hierarchical clustering methods: Competent, Distressed, Emotionally Expressive, and Emotionally Controlled Parenting. Results suggested that multiple patterns of maternal well-being and emotional climate were related to children's positive behavioral outcomes. Significant relations were found between maternal cluster differences and toddlers' internalizing, externalizing, and dysregulatory behaviors as rated by their mothers and for toddlers' behavioral competencies as rated by their mothers and by early intervention staff. In gender-specific analyses, profile differences were related to boys' and girls' mother-reported dysregulation and competencies, to girls' mother-reported externalizing behaviors, and to girls' competencies rated by early intervention staff.

Sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect African Americans, particularly young women. The influence of a set of interrelated protective parenting processes—instrumental and emotional support, sexual risk communication, and encouragement of goals for employment or education—on emerging adult women was examined. Parenting was hypothesized to affect consistent condom use through its association with women's reports of power equity in their intimate relationships. Hypotheses were tested with 135 sexually active women 18 to 21 years of age living in rural southern communities. Structural equation modeling indicated that (a) parenting processes predicted women's self-reported relationship power equity and consistent condom use and (b) relationship power equity predicted consistent condom use. Limited support emerged for a mediational role of relationship power equity in explaining the influence of parenting on consistent condom use. Parental involvement and young women's establishment of personal control in their intimate relationships are important goals for sexual risk reduction programs.

Extant measures of well-being, guided by western European values and beliefs, reveal a scientific commitment to develop and test indices to monitor the social, psychological, familial, and economic status of populations. The limitations of these measures to ethnic populations are addressed in this study. Relational Well-being (RWB II), an indigenous, culture-based 14-item measure rooted in beliefs and values emphasizing family, ancestors, culture, and harmony with nature, was developed and tested with a sample (N = 810) of indigenous Hawaiians in Hawaii. Exploratory factor analysis (n = 408), confirmatory factor analysis (n  = 402), test of invariance, and tests of reliability and validity confirmed the psychometric quality of RWB II. The applicability of the composite index of Relational Well-being II as well as its six underlying factors (Resilience, Community Involvement, Financial Stability, Cultural Practice, Family Commitment, and Health Care) to family theory of resilience, research, and education are discussed.

For older adults who have experienced early life trauma, the aging process can be particularly challenging as resources, abilities, and environments change. Although researchers have documented these challenges well, few studies have examined the experiences of family caregivers to older adults who have endured early life trauma. In this qualitative study, the researchers interviewed 17 family caregivers to Holocaust survivors. Content analysis revealed themes typical of caregiving, including stress, filial piety, and guilt; however, these themes appeared to be amplified by the early life trauma endured by the older adults. Caregivers were also reluctant to seek assistance, as they compared their own stress with the incomparable stress endured by the Holocaust survivors. The findings provide an understanding of the specific challenges faced by family caregivers to older adults who have experienced early life trauma and hold important implications for health care professionals who work with these groups.