Christine Johnson

Premarital education, marital quality, and marital stability: findings from a large, random household survey.

One of the limitations of experimental studies on the effectiveness of premarital education is the reliance on samples of mostly White, middle-class couples. In contrast, although survey methods allow only weak inferences about causal relations, representative surveys can yield important information about use and estimated effects across a diverse population. Using a large random survey of 4 middle American states, the authors found that participation in premarital education was associated with higher levels of satisfaction and commitment in marriage and lower levels of conflict-and also reduced odds of divorce. These estimated effects were robust across race, income (including among the poor), and education levels, which suggests that participation in premarital education is generally beneficial for a wide range of couples.

Married and recently divorced mothers' stressful events and distress: Tracing change across time.

FREDERICK O. LORENZ, RONALD L. SIMONS, AND RAND D. CONGER Iowa State University GLEN H. ELDER, JR. University of North Carolins* CHRISTINE JOHNSON AND WEI CHAO Iowa State University** We examined the relationship between divorce and psychological distress in adult women by combining data from two studies, one of divorced mothers with adolescent children (n = 188) and another of married mothers (n = 306). The data were modeled using latent growth curves to chart change over time. Change in depressive symptoms paralleled changes in stressful events. For divorced mothers, stressful events and depressive symptoms increased significantly soon after the divorce and then diminished over the next 3 years, although not to the same levels reported by married women, The data were consistent with a proposed model that incorporated aspects of both the social causation and the selection perspectives. Key Words: depressive symptoms, divorce, latent growth curves, panel studies, stressful events. The dramatic increase in divorce rates in the United States is well documented. Current estimates project that at least half of recent first marriages will end in divorce (Bumpass, 1990). Despite its frequency and growing acceptance, divorce is still a traumatic life change; single parents have higher rates of both emotional and physical health problems than their married counterparts (Amato & Keith, 1991; Bachrach, 1975; Kitson, 1992; Tschann, Johnston, & Wallerstein, 1989). In this article, we examine the relationship between divorce and psychological distress by introducing stressful life events as a mediating link between family structure and depressive symptoms in women. This study is conducted by combining data from two three-wave panel studies, one of recently divorced mothers with adolescent children and another of a parallel sample of married mothers. Although several earlier studies have used panel data (see Kitson, 1992, pp. 24-25), this combined data set permits us to extend previous research in specific methodological and substantive ways. Methodologically, we extend previous panel studies on divorce and distress by using latent growth curves to explicitly model intra-individual change in psychological distress and stressful life events in recently divorced mothers, and we then compare their trajectories of change with those of the parallel sample of married mothers. Substantively, we draw on traditional research of family stress (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) and the stress-distress process (Coyne & Downey, 1991; Kessler, Price, & Wortman, 1985; Mirowsky & Ross, 1989; Pearlin, 1989) to conceive of divorce as a primary stressor that makes women susceptible to an array of stressful life events. These events accumulate quickly following divorce and then subside over time. Changes in depressive symptoms parallel changes in stressful events. To accommodate the competing argument that some people experience more stressful events and higher levels of depressive symptoms because of past behavior problems and that these people are more likely to be among the divorced, we also incorporate measures of antisocial behavior into our model. Taken together, the mothers family structure and past antisocial behavior capture aspects of two competing perspectives: Social causation asserts that divorce creates conditions that make women susceptible to more stressful life events (e.g., Turner, Wheaton, & Lloyd, 1995) and, therefore, higher levels of distress; selection claims that women with a history of antisocial behavior are likely to experience more stressful events, become depressed, and are more likely to be among the divorced (e.g., Patterson & Dishion, 1988). THEORETICAL MODEL The connection between family structure and psychological distress is based on the empirical observation that both divorced men and women are more depressed than their married counterparts. …

The Impact of Marital and Social Network Support on Quality of Parenting

Several decades of research have demonstrated a link between quality of parenting and child development (Baumrind, 1993; Maccoby, 1992; Maccoby & Martin, 1983). These studies suggest that a parenting style characterized by warmth, inductive reasoning, appropriate monitoring, and clear communication fosters a child’s cognitive functioning, social skills, moral development, and psychological adjustment. In contrast, parenting practices involving hostility, rejection, and coercion have been shown to increase the probability of negative developmental outcomes such as delinquency, psychopathology, academic failure, and substance abuse. These findings point to the importance of studies concerned with identifying the determinants of parental behavior. This chapter presents our model for integrating theory and research on this topic. The model identifies social support as an important cause of variations in quality of parenting.

Differential use of premarital education in first and second marriages.

Although second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages, and thus represent an important target for intervention, there have been no detailed examinations of the use of premarital education in second marriages. Using random-digit dialing methods, 398 individuals currently in a second marriage and 1,342 individuals currently in a first marriage participated. Compared with those in first marriages, individuals in second marriages were significantly less likely to receive premarital education for their current marriage. This difference was fully mediated by differences between individuals in first and second marriages in pre-engagement cohabitation, education level, having children from a previous relationship, and being married by a religious leader. In both first and second marriages, those couples at most risk for subsequent marital distress and divorce were less likely to receive premarital education. Results suggest that more needs to be done to understand the barriers to the use of premarital education for second marriages.

An Examination of Competing Explanations for the Intergenerational Transmission of Domestic Violence

Although domestic violence has been a feature of most societies throughout human history (Levinson, 1989), only within the last 25 years have we come to view it as a serious social problem. North America and Western Europe have been the location for much of the research on this topic, but in recent years, researchers from other parts of the world have also begun to investigate this issue. Studies of domestic violence consistently find that childhood exposure to family violence significantly increases the chances that an individual will be violent toward his or her spouse or children during adulthood. This intergenerational pattern is often referred to as a “cycle of violence” (Gelles & Cornell, 1990; Steinmetz, 1987).

Dietetics Professionals have a Positive Perception of Professional Development

This study summarizes the perceptions towards the Professional Development Portfolio method of recertification and attitude towards professional development of dietetic professionals as measured in the national pilot study of the Portfolio. Portfolio compared to control respondents had greater awareness, and better understanding and knowledge of the Portfolio process after using the Portfolio guide. The perception that the Portfolio process will aid in maintaining competence did not differ between groups. The perception that self-reflection aided in determining career goals and confidence to conduct a learning needs assessment differed slightly between groups. Both groups had a positive attitude towards professional development and that continuing professional education (CPE) improved competence. All perceptions and attitudes were positive. The focus of CPE in foods, business, management, education, and research did affect the ability of dietetics professionals to find appropriate CPE. Rural and unemployed respondents had more difficulty finding appropriate CPE. The findings indicate that the Portfolio guide aides the dietetics professional using the Portfolio process and that the perception towards the Portfolio process is positive. Some dietetics professionals with different CPE focus had difficulty finding appropriate CPE, and this did not differ by control and Portfolio group. More innovative methods of CPE delivery may need to be considered for these practitioners.

Older adults and financial bequests

Using data from Aging and Health Dynamics (AHEAD), this research investigated a model predicting an older adults assessment regarding the chances (from 0 to 100) of leaving a financial bequest. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed three significant predictors of a high assessment (i.e., older age, high sense of control, and high socioeconomic status) and three predictors of a low assessment (i.e., race, physical health problems, and assessment of the chances of medical expenses depleting savings). Whites had higher financial bequests assessments than non-Whites. Physical health problems and the depleting savings assessment exerted negative effects on the financial bequest assessment. Marital status and negative psychological functioning exerted indirect effects through sense of control and through the depleting savings assessment.