Kay Pasley

Developing a Middle-Range Theory of Father Involvement Postdivorce

The problem addressed in the article is why so many fathers remove themselves from their childrens lives after divorce. The authors develop a theory that offers a partial explanation of this phenomena based on the potential for change in the salience of a mans identity as a father postdivorce. Propositions are developed and hypotheses are derived from symbolic interaction and identity theory. The authors define and interrelate the concepts of identity, saliency, commitment, and significant others to explain father presence or absence postdivorce across time. The theory further isolates a number of variables that are expected to moderate (strengthen or weaken) the relationship between father parenting-role identity and father involvement. Identifying modifiers enables the authors to stipulate why some fathers are more involved with their children following separation by explaining the conditions under which father identity becomes translated into a patterned set of behaviors.

Fathers' Parenting Role Identity and Father Involvement: A Comparison of Nondivorced and Divorced, Nonresident Fathers

This study explored a fathers parenting role identity in nondivorced and divorced, nonresidential fathers and the relationship between role identity and involvement in child-related activities. Data were collected from 270 fathers (178 nondivorced and 92 divorced) by mail questionnaires. Differences were found between groups on three dimensions of identity: nonresidential fathers reported feeling less competent and satisfied in the role, and that the role was more salient. No differences were found on role investment. Higher scores on role identity typically were associated with more frequent involvement with children. The dimensions of father parenting role identity except salience and marital status made significant contributions to predicting involvement. Marital status moderated the relationship between competence and involvement, such that the relationship was stronger for divorced, nonresident fathers.

Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Dating Relationships

Prevention of intimate partner violence on college campuses includes programs designed to change attitudes, and hence, a scale that assesses such attitudes is needed. Study 1 (N = 859) cross validates the factor structure of the Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale-Revised using exploratory factor analysis and presents initial validity data on the scale. In Study 2 (N = 687), the obtained three-factor structure (Abuse, Control, Violence) is tested using confirmatory factor analysis, and it is shown to be concurrently related to assault in romantic relationships and to predict psychological aggression 14 weeks later. The findings are discussed in the context of how understanding and modifying attitudes assessed by the Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale-Revised may improve interventions aimed at reducing intimate partner violence.

Bridging the Gap: Clinical Applications of Research Findings on the Spouse and Stepparent Roles in Remarriage

A review of thefindingsfrom selected studies on the spousal and stepparental roles is offered. Most articles on the topic emphasize either reporting findings from research studies or outlining a series of clinical interventions. This article emphasizes both because effective clinical interventions with stepfamilies must stem from the relevant findings from empirical research. The review of literature serves as a necessary foundation for the nine clinical recommendations discussed.

Gendered Conflict, Identity Disruption, and Marital Instability: Expanding Gottman's Model:

We propose a mid-range conceptual model integrating three somewhat disparate areas of research to provide an understanding of key factors that lead to marital instability. These areas are the influence of gender on marital instability, the negativity and distancing behaviors in marriage, and identity theory. We develop and discuss a model that posits that incongruencies between spouses in gender beliefs, expectations, and behaviors affect marital instability through negative marital interactions, causing identity disruption and resulting in distancing, marital instability, and, in some cases, divorce.

Hooking Up and Penetrative Hookups: Correlates that Differentiate College Men

One prominent pathway to sexual intimacy among college student populations is hooking up. Past research has largely compared men and women, with limited attention given to how men differ regarding involvement in hookups and their hookup behaviors. This study used a sample of 412 college men to examine the individual, social, relational, and family background correlates of (1) hooking up during a semester and (2) penetrative hookup encounters (e.g., oral sex, intercourse). Overall, 69% reported a hookup during the semester, with 73% of those who hooked up reporting penetrative hookups. Using logistic regression, men were more likely to hookup if they had an extraverted personality, were consuming more alcohol, and had previous hookup experience. They were less likely to hookup if they were more thoughtful about their relationship decisions and if they were in a stable, committed romantic relationship. Men also were more likely to engage in penetrative hookups only if they held more permissive attitudes towards sex and if they had previous penetrative hookup experience. Implications for intervention and research are discussed.

A Comparison of Internet and Face-to-Face (FTF) Qualitative Methods in Studying the Relationships of Gay Men

ABSTRACT Although the Internet increasingly is part of our daily interactions, it remains largely unexplored as a qualitative research medium. Because most research on the relationships of gay men uses homogeneous samples, which are often difficult to locate, the Internet provides a methodological opportunity to obtain a more diverse set of perspectives of the lived experiences of participants. Our primary interests here are to discuss the processes and ethics of using Internet focus groups and in-depth interviews compared to traditional face-to-face (FTF) methods and to discuss the trustworthiness and quality of data garnered from the use of Internet methods. Using previous literature and our own experiences conducting Internet-based and FTF qualitative research that explored the relationships of gay men as well as data from this study, we suggest that using the Internet as a qualitative research medium can enhance sample recruitment and result in data that is trustworthy. Additionally, we offer suggestions for online moderating.

Family Boundary Ambiguity, Marital Status, and Child Adjustment

The association between children’s perceptions of boundary ambiguity and their personal adjustment was examined in a sample of 262 children who lived with their biological parents and 87 children who lived with their single, divorced mothers or their divorced mothers and stepfathers. Adjustment was assessed by measuring mother and teacher reports of child problem behaviors and academic performance. The specific component of boundaries examined was fathers’ psychological and physical presence in the family. The results did not support the hypothesis that an incongruence between children’s perceptions of fathers’ psychological and physical presence would be associated with greater adjustment problems in preadolescents and early adolescents. In addition to testing hypotheses deduced from the boundary ambiguity literature, the independent roles of children’s perceptions of fathers’ psychological presence and family composition were examined to test competing hypotheses. The family structure perspective received the most support.

Consensus Styles among Happy and Unhappy Remarried Couples

Differences in consensus styles among happy and unhappy remarried couples were examined. On 16 of the 19 topics happy and unhappy remarrieds differed significantly in their perceptions of frequency of agreement or disagreement. Happy remarried couples more often shared the same perceptions regarding the frequency of agreement, whereas unhappy remarried couples either shared similar perceptions regarding the frequency of disagreement or held dissimilar perceptions on the frequency of agreement or disagreement.

Remarriage, a family affair

A family counselor explores the hardships of a new lifestyle which often accompany remarriage and suggests ways of overcoming the conflicts that frequently result from divorce, remarriage, and stepparenting.