Patrick C. McKenry

The Impact of Parental Support, Behavioral Control, and Psychological Control on the Academic Achievement and Self-Esteem of African American and European American Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adolescent functioning (i.e., self-esteem and academic achievement) and parental support, behavioral control, and psychological control in European American and African American adolescents. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that supportive behaviors of African American mothers toward their adolescent children positively predicted both self-esteem and academic achievement. Psychological control was significantly related to adolescent self-esteem in both the models of paternal parenting (African American and European American) and maternal parenting (African American). In addition, among European American adolescents, behavioral control was a significant predictor of academic achievement and self-esteem. This study provides support for the methodological value of examining the parenting dimensions independently as opposed to combining them to form parenting styles.

The Relationship Between Marriage and Psychological Well-being A Longitudinal Analysis

This study examined the relationship between marriage and psychological well-being using a sample from the National Survey of Families and Households panel data. Eight different marital status groups were identified and used to test two competing perspectives explaining the relationship between marriage and individual psychological well-being (protection vs. selection). Findings confirmed the strong effects of marital status on psychological well-being, supporting the protection perspective. The effect of the quality of marital (cohabiting) relationship on psychological well-being was significant, but the strong effect of marital status remained unchanged after controlling for relationship quality. Findings also indicated that the transition to cohabiting did not have the same beneficial effects as marriage for psychological well-being, suggesting that the protective effects of marriage are greater than those of cohabiting relationships. The selection effects of psychological well-being were found to be weak and inconsistent. The findings generally did not vary by gender.

Toward a Biopsychosocial Model of Domestic Violence.

This study aimed to develop a biopsychosocial model of male domestic violence through an examination of 102 married men. The participants were interviewed and their blood serum was analyzed for testosterone and prolactin levels as well as for illicit drug use. There were 34 subjects identified as violent males with a mean age of 34.76 and married for an average of 8.15 years. A Tobit analysis of male violence toward a female intimate using the biological variables resulted in a significant equation with alcohol use and testosterone as significant individual predictors in the equation. Overall the Tobit model indicated that only alcohol use family income and relationship quality were significantly related to domestic violence. Furthermore the physiological set of variables and the social domain had a significant effect on violence while the psychological variables as a group did not have a statistically significant effect on violence probability.

Redefining Families: Implications for Children's Development

Introduction: Demography and Changing Families (A.E. Gottfried, A.W. Gottfried). Alternative Families and Childrens Development: Primary Caregiving Fathers in Intact Familes (N. Radin). Role of Maternal and Dual-Earner Employment in Childrens Development (A.E. Gottfried et al.). Revolution and Reassessment (C.E. Depner). The Gap between Psychosocial Assumptions and Empirical Research in Lesbian Mother Child Custody Cases (P.J. Falk). Gay Dads (R.L. Barret, B.E. Robinson). Custodial Grandparenting (R.J. Shore, B. Hayslip, Jr.). Overview: Impact of Redefined Families on Childrens Development (A.E. Gottfried, A.W. Gottfried). Index.

Mediators of male violence toward female intimates

The purpose of this study was to compare perceived life stressors, alcohol usage, and perceived quality of the intimate relationship of a group of males who have abused their female intimate with a group who have no history of abuse toward their partner. Interviews were conducted with 42 men who were defined as violent and 50 men who were defined as nonviolent. Interviews consisted of various demographic and health questions as well as standardized instrumentation (Michigan Alcoholism Screen Test, Autonomy/Relatedness Scale, Life Experiences Survey, and Conflict-Tactics Scale). Students t tests indicated that the two groups differed as a function of perceived life Stressors, perceived quality of the intimate relationship, race, and depression. Stepwise logistic regression indicated that higher perceived quality of the intimate relationship, black race, and greater depression were significant predictors of male violence toward female intimates.

Athlete Aggression on the Rink and off the Ice Athlete Violence and Aggression in Hockey and Interpersonal Relationships

Because male athletes have exhibited aggressive tendencies in a variety of settings, they may be at risk for using violence both within and beyond their sports involvement. Five former college/professional hockey players were interviewed to determine their perspectives on the nature of aggression and violence in sports competition as well as in social relationships.The informants were asked aboutathletes’violence and aggression toward teammates, acquaintances, and female intimates. This analysis includes participants’ experiences, observations, and explanations of the instances of violence in hockey culture. The study findings yield (1) a greater understanding of the ways in which hockey socialization and athletes’notions of masculinity combine to create a culture of aggression and violence and (2) two major factors—consumption of alcohol and the objectification of women—that contribute to exporting violence outside the athletic arena.

The Role of Childhood Attachment Factors in Predicting Male Violence Toward Female Intimates

The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of Bowlbys attachment theory in predicting male-to-female relationship violence. One-hundred-forty-nine heterosexual couples were interviewed regarding their childhood attachment experiences, current adult attachment status, stress level and current relationship history (including past violence). Results indicated that attachment factors were unique predictors of male violence toward a female intimate. Additionally, female partners of violent males were significantly more likely to have insecure adult attachment styles. The data provide some evidence for the role of attachment processes in explaining domestic violence. The findings underscore the importance of early determinants of intimate aggression, focusing on the basic attachment relationship.

Application of Attachment Theory to Male Violence Toward Female Intimates

Ninety one men were interviewed regarding their intimate relationships and childhood experiences. A secondary analysis of an extant data set was conducted to explore the applicability of Bowlbys attachment theory in explaining the etiology of male intimate violence. Various attachment-related variables were hypothesized to be related to male intimate violence. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the attachment cluster of variables served as unique predictors of male intimate violence. The males perceived relationship support and recollection of maternal relationship were the two significant predictors of male intimate violence within the attachment cluster. Race and education were also found to be significant predictors of male violence toward a female intimate.

Adolescent Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s illegitimacy among adolescents became recognized as a serious national, medical and social problem (Osofsky, 1968). It was discovered that the incidence of adolescent out-of-wedlock pregnancies was increasing rapidly. The illegitimacy rate of unmarried girls aged 15-19 years of age was 8 per 1,000 in 1940; 16 per 1,000 in 1960; and 24 per 1,000 in 1971. There was concern that this increase represented a trend toward sexual permisiveness and the abandonment of a sexual code of ethics, thereby threatening the institutions of marriage and the family (Plionis, 1975). At the same time, the morbidity and mortality rates among adolescent females and their offspring began to run high enough that adolescents were classified as a high risk group. The apparent lack of medical, social, and educational services for this group resulted in investigations of the psychosocial causes and consequences of adolescent pregnancy with a view toward treatment and prevention (Plionis, 1975). Today, the need to effect strategies to deal with the multifaceted problems of adolescence is even more acute. Premarital intercourse is beginning at younger ages, and the actual incidence of premarital intercourse is increasing for adolescents (Vener & Stewart, 1974; Zelnik & Kantner, 1977). U.S. adolescent

Adolescent Suicide A Comparison of Attempters and Nonattempters in an Emergency Room Population

Forty-six adolescent suicide attempters and their parents were compared with 46 adolescent nonattempters and their parents using various measures of family conflict, family cohesion, and parental maladaptive behavior. Data analysis in dicated several significant differences between these two family groups in these dependent measures of family functioning, suggesting that the family milieu plays an important role in the etiology of adolescent suicidal behavior.