Journal of Family Psychology (J FAM PSYCHOL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Cultural values, neighborhood danger, and Mexican American parents’ parenting

  R. M. B. White, K. H. Zeiders, N. G. Gonzales, J-Y. Tein, M. W. Roosa
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: To begin accounting for cultural and contextual factors related to child rearing among Mexican American parents we examined whether parents’ Mexican American cultural values and perceptions of neighborhood danger influenced patterns of parenting behavior in two-parent Mexican-origin families living in the U.S. To avoid forcing Mexican American parents into a predefined model of parenting styles, we used latent profile analysis to identify unique patterns of responsiveness and demandingness among mothers and fathers. Analyses were conducted using parent self-reports on parenting and replicated with youth reports on mothers’ and fathers’ parenting. Across reporters most mothers and fathers exhibited a pattern of responsiveness and demandingness consistent with authoritative parenting. A small portion of parents exhibited a pattern of less-involved parenting. None of the patterns were indicative of authoritarianism. There was a modicum of evidence for no nonsense parenting among fathers. Both neighborhood danger and parents’ cultural values were associated with the likelihood of employing one style of parenting over another. The value of using person-centered analytical techniques to examine parenting among Mexican Americans is discussed.
  Journal of Family Psychology 01/2013; in press.
• Article: Monitoring challenges: A closer look at parental monitoring, maternal psychopathology, and adolescent sexual risk.

  Wendy Hadley, Heather L. Hunter, Marina Tolou-Shams, Celia Lescano, Ariel Thompson, Geri Donenberg, Ralph DiClemente, Larry K. Project STYLE Study Group US Brown
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The present study sought to examine associations between maternal psychopathology, parental monitoring, and adolescent sexual activity among adolescents in mental health treatment. Seven hundred ninety mother-adolescent dyads recruited from adolescent mental health treatment settings completed audio computer-assisted structured interview assessments examining parent psychiatric symptoms, parental monitoring, and adolescent sexual risk behavior. Path analysis was used to examine the associations between variables of interest. Maternal caregivers who reported more mental health symptoms were more likely to have adolescents who reported recent sex and this relationship was mediated by less parental monitoring. These findings suggest that maternal caregivers with mental health symptoms may need specific interventions that provide assistance and support in monitoring their teens in order to reduce sexual risk taking among adolescents in mental health treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
  Journal of Family Psychology 03/2011; 25(2):319-323.
• Article: Issues in defining and assessing features of attachment figures: Reply to Kobak (2009).

  Lawrence A Kurdek
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This reply to Kobak's comments on my article on dogs as attachment figures addresses three issues in defining and assessing features of attachment figures. These include whether some features are more critical than other features, different ways of assessing safe haven as a critical feature of an attachment figure, and whether attachment hierarchies are necessary to identify figures who fulfill the feature of safe haven. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):450-1.
• Article: Defining and measuring of attachment bonds: comment on Kurdek (2009).

  Roger Kobak
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Kurdek's study of dog owners raises a series of provocative questions about the nature of attachment bonds and whether dogs can serve as attachment figures for their owners. This commentary suggests that it is important to distinguish attachment from other types of affectional bonds that are motivated by caregiving, reproductive or affiliative concerns. It is suggested that preferences for attachment figures are best tested in situations involving danger and in situations in which preferences are not confounded with immediate physical proximity. Using these distinctions as a guide, this commentary concludes that although dog owners undoubtedly form affectional bonds with their pets, these bonds are more likely to meet criteria for caregiving rather than attachment bonds.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):447-9; discussion 450-1.
• Article: Pet dogs as attachment figures for adult owners.

  Lawrence A Kurdek
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This study assessed the extent to which, and under what conditions, owners turn to their pet dogs in times of emotional distress. This feature of an attachment figure-safe haven-is a key characteristic of an attachment bond. Participants (N = 975, mean age = 47.95 years, 789 women and 186 men) were relatively dedicated dog owners who completed an online survey. Relative to other features of an attachment figure, safe haven was the least salient. Nonetheless, participants were more likely to turn to their dogs than they were to turn to their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, best friends, and children but less likely to turn to their dogs than to their romantic partners. Characteristics of both owners (being male, widowed, highly involved in the care of the dog, and uncomfortable with self-disclosure) and dogs (strongly meeting owner's needs regarding relatedness) heightened the likelihood that dogs were turned to rather than some humans. It is concluded that some owners develop attachment bonds with their pet dogs.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):439-46.
• Article: Mind your own business! Longitudinal relations between perceived privacy invasion and adolescent-parent conflict.

  Skyler T Hawk, Loes Keijsers, William W Hale, Wim Meeus
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Privacy coordination between adolescents and their parents is difficult, as adolescents' changing roles require adjustments to expectations about family boundaries. Adolescents' perceptions of privacy invasion likely provoke conflicts with parents, but higher levels of conflict may also foster invasion perceptions. This longitudinal study assessed relations between privacy invasion and conflict frequency among adolescents, mothers, and fathers (N = 309). Bidirectional relations were present; all reports showed that invasion provoked conflict in later adolescence, but the timing and direction of conflict-to-invasion relations differed between respondents and measurement waves. The findings suggest a functional role for conflict in adolescent-parent privacy negotiations, in that it both draws attention to discrepant expectations and provides youths with a means of directly managing perceived boundary violations.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):511-20.
• Article: Sibling relationship, family, and genetic factors in sibling similarity in sexual risk.

  Susan M McHale, Joanna Bissell, Ji-Yeon Kim
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Siblings' risky attitudes toward sex and pregnancy and risky sexual behavior were studied in 1583 dyads from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. We tested moderators of the links between 2 siblings' reports of sexual risk as well as mediators of the links between siblings' genetic similarity and similarity in their sexual risk. Siblings' sexual risk reports were correlated, and consistent with social learning predictions, associations were stronger between siblings with close relationships and in same-gender dyads and, to a lesser extent, between more genetically similar siblings and those closer in age. Consistent with behavior genetics' hypotheses about gene-environment correlations, similarity in family warmth and sibling relationship closeness mediated associations between siblings' genetic similarity and similarity in their sexual risk.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):562-72.
• Article: Are some children harder to coparent than others? Children's negative emotionality and coparenting relationship quality.

  J Claire Cook, Sarah J Schoppe-Sullivan, Catherine K Buckley, Evan F Davis
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The current study examined relations between child temperament--specifically, negative emotionality--and parents' supportive and undermining coparenting behavior, and further tested whether marital adjustment moderated relations between child negative affect and coparenting. One-hundred eleven two-parent families with a 4-year old child participated in this study. Parents completed questionnaires to provide information on children's negative affectivity, marital adjustment, and the quality of their coparenting relationships. Furthermore, parents and children participated together in two 10-minute task-oriented interactions that were coded to assess coparenting behavior. As hypothesized, parents of children higher on levels of negative affect demonstrated greater undermining coparenting behavior. In addition, marital adjustment moderated relations between children's negative affect and parents' supportive coparenting behavior. However, contrary to expectations, couples with higher levels of marital adjustment were most vulnerable to effects of child negativity on supportive coparenting. Results suggest that high-quality marital relationships may not buffer the coparenting relationship from the effects of temperamentally difficult preschoolers.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):606-10.
• Article: Depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction in the context of chronic disease: a longitudinal dyadic analysis.

  Rachel Pruchno, Maureen Wilson-Genderson, Francine P Cartwright
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: These analyses examined the longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction over a 2-year period as experienced by 315 patients with end-stage renal disease and their spouses. Using multilevel modeling, the authors examined both individual and cross-partner effects of depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction on patients and spouses, testing bidirectional causality. Results indicate that mean and time-varying depressive symptoms of both patients and spouses were associated with their own marital satisfaction. Although mean marital satisfaction was associated with own depressive symptoms for both patients and spouses, time-varying marital satisfaction did not affect depressive symptoms for either patients or spouses. Significant cross-partner effects reveal that both mean enduring and time-varying depressive symptoms of the spouse affected marital satisfaction of the patient. Findings highlight the complex nature of the relationship between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction in late-life couples.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):573-84.
• Article: Parental negative affect and adolescent efficacy for diabetes management.

  Jorie M Butler, Cynthia A Berg, Pamela King, Donna Gelfand, Katherine Fortenberry, Carol Foster, Deborah Wiebe
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The authors investigated whether parental perceptions of adolescent efficacy are colored by parental negative affect and are associated with adolescents' self-perceptions of efficacy for diabetes management. Adolescents (n = 183, M age = 12.53) with Type 1 diabetes and their mothers and fathers separately reported perceptions of adolescents' efficacy for diabetes management and parents reported their own negative affect (depressed mood and trait anxiety). glycosolated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were obtained from medical records. The results indicated that parental negative affect was associated with parental perceptions of poorer adolescent efficacy beyond the association of HbA1c scores. The relationship between fathers' negative affect and adolescents' self-efficacy was mediated by fathers' perceptions of adolescent efficacy. The results suggest that parental negative affect may negatively color their views of adolescents' efficacy and, in the case of fathers' beliefs, may relate to adolescent self-efficacy. Parental negative affect should be considered when evaluating perceptions of adolescents' efficacy.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):611-4.
• Article: Longitudinal effects of conflict behaviors on depressive symptoms in young couples.

  Heidemarie K Laurent, Hyoun K Kim, Deborah M Capaldi
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This study investigated relationship dynamics contributing to gender differences in depression by testing longitudinal associations between observed conflict behaviors and depressive symptoms in young couples. Direct effects of psychological aggression, positive engagement, and withdrawal, as well as indirect effects via relationship satisfaction were considered. Participants were 68 heterosexual couples involving men from the Oregon Youth Study who remained in a stable relationship across at least 2 and up to 10 years from their early 20s to early 30s. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test both between-couples differences in symptom trajectories predicted by partner behaviors and within-couple covariation between behaviors and depressive symptoms across 5 time points. Higher levels of women's positive engagement predicted lower symptom levels for both partners, and higher women's withdrawal predicted higher own symptom levels. Relative increases in couples' psychological aggression and decreases in positive engagement were additionally associated with increases in women's symptoms over time. Whereas between-couples behavior effects on women's symptoms were mediated by relationship satisfaction, within-couple effects proved independent of satisfaction. Implications for mechanisms of depression risk and maintenance in couples are discussed.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):596-605.
• Article: Emotion dysregulation in the intergenerational transmission of romantic relationship conflict.

  Hyoun K Kim, Katherine C Pears, Deborah M Capaldi, Lee D Owen
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The role of emotion dysregulation in the intergenerational transmission of romantic relationship conflict was examined using multimethod and multiagent prospective longitudinal data across 21 years for 190 men and their mothers and fathers. As predicted, an individual's emotion dysregulation was a key mediator in the transmission of relationship conflict, along with poor parenting skills. Parents' emotion dysregulation was directly related to their son's emotion dysregulation, which was in turn associated with the son's later relationship conflict. Additionally, parents' emotion dysregulation was significantly related to their poor discipline skills, which were linked to the son's emotion dysregulation and eventual relationship conflict. Findings highlight emotion dysregulation as a significant mechanism explaining the continuity of romantic relationship conflict across generations.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):585-95.
• Source

  Available from: uoregon.edu

  Article: Linking marital conflict and children's adjustment: the role of young children's perceptions.

  Jennifer C Ablow, Jeffrey R Measelle, Philip A Cowan, Carolyn P Cowan
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Young children's (n = 96) perceptions and appraisals of their parents' marital conflict were evaluated at age 5 and again at age 6. Concurrent reports of marital conflict by each parent and teachers' reports of children's classroom adjustment served as criteria against which to evaluate the validity of young children's perceptions. Children's perceptions of their parents' marital relationship were significantly correlated with spouses' reports at ages 5 and 6, as well as correlated with teacher reports of internalizing and externalizing problems. Consistent with the cognitive-contextual theory, children's tendency to blame themselves for their parents' conflict partially mediated the link between marital conflict and children's internalizing symptoms. In contrast, children's reports that they become involved in their parents' conflict partially mediated the effect of marital conflict on externalizing problems.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):485-99.
• Article: Moderators of the link between marital hostility and change in spouses' depressive symptoms.

  Christine M Proulx, Cheryl Buehler, Heather Helms
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This study examined the moderating roles of marital warmth and recent life events in the association between observed marital hostility and changes in spouses' depressive symptoms over 3 years. Using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), structural equation models (N = 416 couples) suggested that husbands' marital hostility was significantly related to increases in wives' depressive symptoms. Moderator analyses showed that husbands' warmth and wives' warmth moderate the association between marital hostility and change in wives' depressive symptoms. The association between husbands' hostility and increases in wives' depressive symptoms was stronger under conditions of lower levels of husbands' warmth than under conditions of higher levels of husbands' warmth. This same pattern was found for wives' warmth. Regarding life events, the association between wives' hostility and increases in husbands' depressive symptoms was stronger for couples with more recent life events than for couples with fewer recent life events. Practical and empirical implications are discussed.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):540-50.
• Article: Family functioning predicts outcomes for veterans in treatment for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

  Lynette Evans, Sean Cowlishaw, Malcolm Hopwood
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: A longitudinal framework was used to examine the competing hypotheses of (a) whether family functioning predicts changes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms or (b) whether PTSD symptoms predict changes in family functioning. Veterans (N = 311) admitted to a treatment program completed a series of questionnaires at 3 time points: at intake, from intake to completion of a treatment program, and at the 6-month follow-up. Alcohol use and general mental health symptoms were also measured at intake. A cross-lagged panel model using structural equation modeling analyses indicated that family functioning was a moderate predictor of PTSD symptoms at posttreatment and at the 6-month follow-up. PTSD was not a significant predictor of family functioning across time and alcohol use, and general mental health symptoms did not affect the overall findings. Further analyses of PTSD symptom clusters indicated that the avoidance symptom cluster was most strongly related to family functioning. Targeting family relationships for treatment may be important in the future for veterans with PTSD.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):531-9.
• Article: Autonomic functioning moderates the relations between contextual factors and externalizing behaviors among inner-city children.

  Jennifer L Bubier, Deborah A G Drabick, Tyler Breiner
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Although previous research has identified various child-specific and contextual risk factors associated with externalizing behaviors, there is a dearth of literature examining child x context interactions in the prospective prediction of externalizing behaviors. To address this gap, we examined autonomic functioning as a moderator of the relation between contextual factors (i.e., neighborhood cohesion and harsh parental behaviors) and externalizing behaviors. Participants were an ethnic minority, inner-city sample of first through fourth grade children (N = 57, 50% male) and their primary caregivers who participated in two assessments approximately 1 year apart. Results indicated that baseline sympathetic functioning moderated the relation between (a) neighborhood cohesion and externalizing behaviors and (b) harsh parental behaviors and externalizing behaviors. Post-hoc probing of these interactions revealed that higher levels of neighborhood cohesion prospectively predicted (a) higher levels of externalizing behaviors among children with heightened baseline sympathetic functioning, and (b) lower levels of externalizing behaviors among children with attenuated baseline sympathetic functioning. In addition, among children with heightened baseline sympathetic functioning, higher levels of harsh parental behaviors prospectively predicted higher levels of externalizing behaviors.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):500-10.
• Article: Sibling relationship quality moderates the associations between parental interventions and siblings' independent conflict strategies and outcomes.

  Holly E Recchia, Nina Howe
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This study extends research on sibling conflict strategies and outcomes by examining unique and interactive associations with age, relative birth order, sibling relationship quality, and caregivers' interventions into conflict. Each of 62 sibling dyads (older sibling mean age = 8.39 years; younger sibling mean age = 6.06 years) discussed 1 recurring conflict alone (dyadic negotiation) and a 2nd conflict with their primary parental caregiver (triadic negotiation). Negotiations were coded for children's conflict strategies, outcomes, and caregiver interventions; each family member provided ratings of sibling relationship quality. Results revealed that age was associated with siblings' constructive strategies, particularly in the dyadic negotiation. With age controlled, younger siblings referred more frequently to their own perspective. Caregivers' future orientation in the triadic negotiation was associated with children's future orientation in the dyadic negotiation; however, this association was most evident when sibling relationship quality was high. Similarly, caregivers' past orientation was positively associated with dyadic compromise, especially when relationship quality was high. Results reveal the value of simultaneously considering associations among parental, affective, and developmental correlates of sibling conflict strategies.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):551-61.
• Article: The differential association between change request qualities and resistance, problem resolution, and relationship satisfaction.

  Danielle M Mitnick, Richard E Heyman, Jill Malik, Amy M Smith Slep
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Although research supports the negative sequelae of the "demand/withdrawal" pattern, research is scant on the impact of "nondemanding" change requests (e.g., specific, increasing, "we" requests). We hypothesize that such change requests will be associated with less partner withdrawal/resistance, better problem resolution, and greater relationship satisfaction. Seventy-two conversations between couples who were recruited through random digit dialing were coded for change request qualities. Results indicate that wife specific and "we" requests led to less husband resistance, and husband increasing and "we" requests led to less wife resistance. Greater percentages of wife and husband specific and "we" requests were related to better problem resolution in the conversation, and greater percentages of wife specific and "we" requests were related to greater wife satisfaction. Research and clinical implications are detailed.
  Journal of Family Psychology 09/2009; 23(4):464-73.