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Path models on random samples of fathers (N = 159) and mothers (N = 275) in Utah examine direct and indirect relations between parenting difficulty and variables reflecting family stressors, social and personal resources, and background characteristics. Parenting difficulty appears to be significantly affected by the stressful characteristics of the parenting environment. Specifically, for both mothers and fathers, the inconvenience of parenting seems to affect parenting difficulty positively. Among fathers, parenting difficulty is also related to financial stress. The availability of privacy in the home appears to affect parenting difficulty indirectly for both parents by reducing the experience of parenting inconvenience. Nonfamily social support variables do not appear to affect aspects of the parenting environment or the level of parenting difficulty. Family size and family life cycle variables are more relevant to mothers than to fathers, since they affect only the mothers' access to privacy.

Interdependence and social exchange theories were used to explore parent–adolescent relationship quality and early adolescents' relationships with close friends and dating partners. Associations among adolescents' perceptions of parental support and psychological control, peer relationship experiences (communication, emotional support, and possessiveness), and peer relationship satisfaction were examined using a test‐replication design. Our largely African American and female samples ranged from age 11 to 15. Results indicated the parenting variables were directly related to peer relationship experiences, which, in turn, predicted relationship satisfaction. The association between parental support and relationship satisfaction was mediated by peer communication and emotional support. Limited moderation by gender and relationship type was found. Parental psychological control mattered more for female and parental support more for male adolescents' close peer relationships. Dating partner possessiveness was most detrimental for females' relationship satisfaction, whereas communication influenced relationship satisfaction most for females reporting on friends and males reporting on dating partners.

This study examined 1,064 Army families reunited after a member's deployment for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Postdeployment outcomes were conceptualized in terms of the "fit" between the family and the demands of Army life, especially the stress of deployment. A structural model was used to test the hypothesized effects of deployment‐period family coping, use of family support services, and perceptions of the unit culture on family outcomes. Especially salient in the findings were the effects of unit culture, which mediated the effects of family support services on outcomes. Moderating effects were noted in the model for service member's rank, as well as spouse's ethnicity and parental status. Implications for policy and practice are addressed.

Where previous research on satisfaction with housework has examined satisfaction with relative allocations, this study examined spouses' satisfaction with their own performance. The authors found that satisfaction was a function of time spent, quality of outcomes, stress originating both at home and away, and approval by spouses for performance. Time spent and quality of outcomes were related in a complex fashion to satisfaction with own performance. The relation between time contributions and satisfaction was partially mediated by quality of outcomes, but the relation between quality of outcomes and satisfaction was also moderated by time spent. Several significant moderating effects suggested that the time contributions and perceived quality of outcomes had different meanings under varying circumstances. Patterns of findings for husbands and wives suggested that both used personal standards to evaluate performance and both valued their contributions to housework, but the greater responsibility for housework among wives was supported.

The effectiveness of relationship education has been supported for youth in correcting faulty relationship beliefs and forming conflict management skills; however, there is very limited research addressing whether relationship education matters for building or modifying relationship standards for romantic partners or relationships. Furthermore, whether and how social climate could add to or moderate curriculum effects has not been considered. Using a sample of 1,808 students nested in 106 high school family and consumer science classes in a southern state, this study examined the impact of a general youth‐focused relationship education curriculum and classroom social climate on one ideal standard for relationship partners, warmth/trustworthiness, and one for romantic relationships, intimacy/loyalty. Findings revealed significant and positive curriculum main effects on both standards, while controlling for classroom context. The model for warmth/trustworthiness also showed classroom effects adding to curriculum effects. The role of classroom factors needs further consideration as curriculum effects are examined.

Aggression is a problem among some combat veterans. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with physical aggression in veterans, and co-occurring depression increases the risk of committing aggressive acts. Few studies have examined the impact of PTSD on various forms of aggression. While using a standardized multidimensional measure of aggression, this study examines the impact of depressive symptoms on the relationship between PTSD and various forms of aggression in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans. Depressive symptoms are hypothesized to mediate the relationship between PTSD and four types of aggression: (1) physical aggression toward others, (2) physical aggression toward objects, (3) physical aggression toward self, and (4) verbal aggression. Seventy-two OEF/OIF veterans completed assessment batteries and clinical interviews upon enrollment into a postdeployment mental health clinic. Study results partially supported the study hypotheses; depressive symptoms indirectly mediated the relationship between PTSD and two forms of aggression: verbal aggression and physical aggression toward self. In contrast to some prior studies of intimate partner violence in veterans with PTSD, no mediation relationship between depression and physical aggression toward others was found. Study results have implications for the development of interventions to treat aggressive behaviors in OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD and depression. © Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved.

The current study examined associations among parenting practices, adolescents' self-esteem and dating identity exploration, and adolescents' sexual behaviors. Participants were 680 African American and European American sexually experienced adolescents attending public high schools in the southeast. Results indicated that risky sexual behavior was associated positively with parental psychological control, and negatively with self-esteem and dating identity exploration. Parental support positively predicted self-esteem and dating identity exploration; psychological control also showed a positive association with dating identity exploration. Contrary to expectation, neither self-esteem nor dating identity exploration mediated associations between parenting and risky sexual behavior; moderation tests showed few differences. However, dating identity exploration showed potential to serve as a protective factor for higher risk groups (i.e., males, African Americans), and psychological control appeared particularly detrimental for older adolescents. Finally, youth from stepfamilies showed associations among the variables that differed from youth living in single-parent and two-parent biological/adoptive families.

© Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved. Veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) have been found to be at increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders, leading to negative mental health–related quality of life (MHRQoL). The current study examined the unique impact of alcohol consumption levels versus alcohol-related consequences on the relationship between PTSD symptoms and MHRQoL in a sample of OEF/OIF combat veterans (N = 205, median age 29, 95% men). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of PTSD symptoms on MHRQoL was explained only by alcohol-related consequences and not by alcohol consumption. Findings highlight the importance of including alcohol-related consequences in clinical assessment and intervention programs for OEF/OIF veterans. Additionally, this study enhances knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms of functional impairment related to PTSD and alcohol use disorders.

The association between depression and marital satisfaction has been clearly documented. Theoretical approaches describe the direction of effects as depression leading to marital dissatisfaction (stress generation model) and, alternately, marital dissatisfaction leading to depression (marital discord model). Clinical research indicates that treating the relationship of unstable couples can result in improvements in relationship satisfaction and depression. However, many unstable couples may not attend therapy and choose rather to attend Couple and Relationship Education (CRE). Using 250 ethnically diverse couples in communityCREclasses, the authors found that relationally unstable participants ofCREreport improvements in depressed affect and relationship quality after program participation. Additionally, decreased depressed affect predicted increased relationship quality, not vice versa, and there were no differences by sex. The authors note the potential value ofCREfor unstable couples and recommend that interventionists utilize an inclusive approach, devoting attention to the couple relationship as well as individual distress variables.