The hypothetical constructs of attraction and barrier forces, as well as contrasting alternative attractions are used to organize the research literature on the determinants of marital stability and dissolution. (Author/AM)

Examined United States national survey data from 1972 through 1986 General Social Surveys conducted by the National Opinion Research Center. Found rather steady decline from 1972 through 1986 in positive relationship between being married and reported happiness. Change occurred primarily through increase in reported happiness of never-married…

Conducted telephone interviews with 320 pet owners and 116 nonowners. Found sociodemographic differences between groups. Remarried people, families with children, and families in middle stages of life cycle were most likely to have pets. Widows, empty-nesters, families with infants, and those with annual incomes of $8,000 or less were least likely…

Examined data from nationally representative survey of Blacks. Found that both marital and parental status had important impact on levels of satisfaction. Blacks who were divorced or separated had lower levels of satisfaction than did married respondents. Important interactions were also found. (Author/NB)

Examined economic consequences of widowhood for both men and women over time and compared their financial well-being to that of a matched group of continuously married couples. The findings of this longitudinal study indicated that the loss of a spouse had negative economic consequences for both widows and widowers relative to continuously married…

The new data on home-based work are analyzed by the author, who observes that most of the persons reporting such work are full-time workers who, apparently, do only a small part of their work at home. Only one-tenth of these workers were engaged in manufacturing activities. (CT)

Studied recent changes in the organization of men's lives using census (1960,1970) and Current Population Survey (1980) data. Found considerable changes, with men spending less time in families with children and more time outside of marriage. Changes were pervasive across educational levels, racial categories, and geographic areas. (NRB)

Investigated the interaction between older adults and their adult children, focusing on the impact of social structure and subjective factors on family interaction and on the influence of family exchanges on self-feelings among the elderly. Found that older adults with families have a higher sense of well-being than others. (CMG)

Uses data from a national survey of 6,373 families to compare Black and White families' kin network participation. Results showed White families are more likely to receive money from outside relatives; Black families are more likely to live with others in an extended family household. (JAC)

A study of homeless people seeking lodging in public shelters found women more likely than men to be previously or currently married, to have histories of psychiatric treatment, and to have grown up in difficult circumstances. Unlike homeless men, many women maintained some ongoing parental relationship with their children. (GC)

The objective of this paper is to investigate the consequences of early, on time, and late marriage in the lives of white women who are members of an historically significant cohort (birthdates 1925-29) in the 1970 National Fertility Study. (Author)

This study investigated how marriage, cohabitation, single parenthood, and the presence of biological parents affected the incomes and material hardships of children. Data from the 1997 and 1999 National Survey of America's Families were used to examine recent changes in the marital status and household structure of families with children, how…

Investigates the influence on ego's attitudes toward his familial roles of husband and father and his nonfamilial role of student by the validation of those roles by his significant others. (Author)