H. Wallace Goddard

Predictive Variables of Violent Behavior in Adolescent Males

This study examined the relationship of previously determined predictors of general delinquency to violent behavior of African American and Caucasian males. Independent variables included multiple measures of family and individual variables. With the exception of family structure, results indicated that predictors of violent behavior are similar to predictors of general delinquency. Differences between African American and Caucasians are highlighted. Recommendations for future research and application to prevention and intervention program development are offered.

Character Strengths and Religiosity as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction in a Sample of Highly Religious and Divorce-Prone Couples

Some scholars have found a robust relationship between religiosity and marital satisfaction. Yet the state of Arkansas creates a paradox: both religiosity and marital dissolution are very high. What can explain this anomaly? This study drew a random sample of 829 married Arkansans who were surveyed with respect to various qualities of character, their church attendance, and their marital satisfaction. The analyses clearly demonstrated that empathy, commitment, and church attendance are reliable predictors of marital satisfaction. Some implications for relationship educators are clear: Cultivating empathy and encouraging commitment can strengthen relationships. There may also be positive effects of participating in a faith community, although the elements of participation that contribute to marital stability are uncertain.

Stressors and Enhancers in the Marital/Family Life of Family Professionals and Their Spouses.

This study assesses how work as a family professional is uniquely enhancing and stressful, and whether enhancers and stressors are correlated with marital and family quality. Findings strengthen the idea that there are marital and family life enhancers and stressors uniquely associated with work as a family professional. The reported presence of certain stressors and enhancers was found to be correlated with marital quality and family life satisfaction. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Developing Family Relationship Skills to Prevent Substance Abuse among High-Risk Youth.

Although family factors are increasingly recognized in the problem of adolescent substance abuse, prevention programs continue to neglect the family as an important component of prevention programs. Family Connections, a family skills building program to prevent adolescent substance abuse, is described. The importance of basing family life education prevention programs on an empowerment and family strengths approach which is adapted to the unique situation of each family is discussed.

Parenting: Have We Arrived? Or Do We Continue the Journey?

This article challenges the premise that either the content or process of parenting education is fully developed. The authors argue that important developments in educating children and in educating parents challenge any sense of arrival. It is possible that the new answers discovered in recent years only challenge us to ask better questions about how to improve parent effectiveness.

Relations Among Risk, Religiosity, and Marital Commitment

In this study, the authors examined the degree to which religiosity was related to marital commitment among married couples living in a highly religious but divorce prone area of the United States. They assessed whether church attendance, faith community support, and general religiosity were related to marital commitment and whether these variables buffered against the negative effects of known risks for marital distress. Results indicated that faith community support and general religiosity were significantly related to increased marital commitment among husbands and wives. Among wives, these variables buffered against the deleterious effects of low income on marital commitment. Based on these findings, the authors discuss implications for professionals who work with married couples.

Applying Prevention and Positive Youth Development Theory to Predict Depressive Symptoms Among Young People

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of depressive symptoms among adolescents using concepts drawn from two theoretical models that underlie popular youth-focused programs. Specifically, we assessed the degree to which family-level risk factors increase the likelihood of depressive symptoms, and the degree to which community and/or school-level protective/promotive factors either buffer against risk, or directly lead to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Results indicate that three of the four hypothesized risk factors were associated with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. In addition, the protective/promotive factors had more promotive than protective effects because they were directly related to lower levels of symptoms. Implications for youth-focused programming are discussed.

Effects of Religiosity, Forgiveness, and Spousal Empathy on Marital Adjustment

ABSTRACT This study focused on married couples in a region of the United States that previous research has identified as having high rates of both religiosity and divorce. As a result, this study was designed to examine the effects of religiosity, forgiveness, and spousal empathy on marital adjustment. To investigate these constructs, married couples in this region were recruited (n = 829) to participate in a cross-sectional, self-report telephone survey. Results indicate that religious service attendance and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married men; while religious service attendance, forgiveness, and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married women. Among African-American participants, only spousal empathy had a direct effect on marital adjustment for both men and women. Finally, spousal empathy moderated the association between previous marriage and current marital adjustment among European American married women.