The purpose of this study was to examine how welfare status, gender, and the interaction between welfare status and gender relate to the utilization of counseling services related to marriage (i.e., "marital help-seeking"). This study was a secondary analysis of the Utah Marriage Survey data set from 2003. Two samples were utilized in this study, and generated a total sample of I ,316 participants. The first sample was made up of I, 173 randomly selected Utah households, identified through a random-digit dialing sampling technique. The second sample was obtained from a random selection of current Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. This sample of 143 TANF recipients provided an over-sample of low-income households, thus permitting comparisons with the first sample. Participants were identified through the sampling techniques described and contacted by telephone to complete the survey. The data pertaining to participants' welfare status, gender, and attitudes and behavior related to marital help-seeking were analyzed using chi-square analyses and I tests. The results indicated that welfare status is not significantly associated with marital help-seeking attitudes and behavior. In addition, no significant relationship was found between gender and marital help-seeking behavior. However, results indicated that males have less favorable attitudes than women toward marital help-seeking. Finally, welfare status and gender were not found to have a combined relationship effect on marital help-seeking attitudes and behavior.

This study examined the responses to a sexuality education questionnaire completed by 30 single mothers and 43 married mothers with preschool-aged children. Chi-square analyses were used to examine differences between married mothers and single mothers; mothers of males and mothers of females; and married mothers of males, married mothers of females, single mothers of males and single mothers of females. Age at which their preschool children first exhibited behaviors, frequency of that behavior, and comfort level of mothers' responses to those behaviors were addressed for each topic: male-female differences, reproduction and birth, privacy or modesty, taboo or obscene words, genital play, and sexual exploration play. Very few statistically significant differences were apparent in the comparisons that were made. Married mothers were more comfortable than single mother in responding to their child's questions about male-female differences and their child's use of taboo or obscene words. In addition, some interesting trends emerged. For instance, mothers tended to ex press more comfort when responding to hypothetical situations than when responding to actual situations. Questions about male-female differences, reproduction and birth, and privacy or modesty were responded to more frequently than questions about taboo or obscene words, genital play, or sexual exploration play. Moreover, maternal observation of behaviors that appeared to be more sensitive (and less comfortable, such as taboo or obscene words, genital play, and sexual exploration play) was lower than observation of less sensitive behaviors (male-female differences, privacy or modesty, and reproduction and birth). The implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

This is a systematic representative sample study of newlyweds designed to investigate aspects of participation in marriage preparation activities as well as determine what effect participation in activities had on marital satisfaction. A retrospective survey instrument was utilized which included the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. Statistical analysis revealed that the majority of individuals in Utah prepare for marriage by visiting with parents or relatives, visiting with other married couples, and talking with religious leaders, and considered these activities to be helpful in their preparation. The small er percentage of individuals who participated in more formal preparation activities also considered these activities to be very helpful. Wives and husbands who attended a class and talked with religious leaders showed significant increases in marital satisfaction within a year after marriage. In addition, marital sati sfaction was increased for wives who read a book on marriage and for husbands who visited with their parents, relatives, or other married couples. Findings show that bringing children into marriage, parents' marital status, and age are factors associated with marital satisfaction.

This thesis answers the following questions: (a) Is the Play Assessment Scale a true measure of development? (b) Does the mother have a significant, positive influence on the child's level of development? (c) Does the mother's interactional style influence the child's development as measured by the Play Assessment Scale and the Battelle Developmental Inventory? The subjects were 13 visually impaired preschoolers. Development was measured with the Play Assessment Scale and the Battelle Developmental Inventory. Maternal interactional style was assessed with the Parent / Caregiver Involvement Scale. The study indicated that the Play Assessment Scale is a valid, reliable measure of development in the preschool child. Mother was able to significantly raise the child's developmental level through play. And, maternal interaction style appeared to be sensitive to the child's level of development . To highlight the developmental importance of interaction in the context of play, an interactive paradigm was used to answer the three questions posed by the study.

The acquisition of normal sex-role behavior is one of the fundamental tasks which goes into developing a healthy personality. More needs to be understood about the processes involved in adopting proper sex-role behavior patterns. How does a little girl adopt the feminine role and learn to be a woman? How does a little boy adopt the masculine role and learn to be a man? From the studies in clinical psychology and psychiatry, it is evident that personality maladjustments and certain forms of emotional disorders appear to be related to difficulties in sex-role adjustment. This suggests a close correlation between childhood learning and development in sex-role behavior and adult personality disturbances.

Research on attachment suggests that attachment styles do exist in adulthood and appear to be an evolutionary product of infancy. This research was particularly focused on examining the relationship between attachment styles at various stages of the marital life cycle and the relationship of these styles of attachment to styles of love and marital quality among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

The purpose of this study was to assess the direction and magnitude of the relationship between levels of marital satisfaction and two main housing variables--the housing burden ratio and the amount of home equity. The influence that these variables have on levels of marital satisfaction was mediated and moderated by how satisfied couples were with their homes and their finances, as well as their perceived experience of economic pressure. The results ultimately provide insights that can improve both couple well-being and financial/housing situations by pinpointing factors that account for the variance in marital satisfaction. This study used existing data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH). Although NSFH was collected in three longitudinal waves, this study used the second wave from 1992 as it contained the most complete information pertaining to research hypotheses. Approximately 5,000 participants were included. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used. One moderator and three mediating models were tested. Most of the sample (82%) owned homes. Approximately one third of those homeowners had entirely paid off their mortgage balances. Participants were mostly White, and were 46 years old on average. Only married participants were included in this study. Median annual income per household was $47,400 and the average housing cost burden was .139. Results indicated that the relationship between housing burden and marital satisfaction was partially mediated by economic pressure. A full mediation model existed between percent equity, economic pressure, and marital satisfaction, but no other equity variables. Results came close (p = .053) to indicating a full moderation model between housing burden, housing satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Another partial mediation model was found between percent equity, financial satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. And finally, homeownership status negatively predicted marital satisfaction.

The objective of this study was to determine if a highly structured instructional program, as a supplement to a more traditional pre-school program would have an effect on the concept attainment of pre-school children. Two groups of eighteen pre-school children, enrolled in the Child Development Laboratory at Utah State University comprised the study sample. The eighteen children in the experimental group received the instructional program, in addition to the Child Development Laboratory school experience. Standardized pre and post tests were administered to both the experimental and control groups. A standardized test, The Boehm Test of Basic Concepts, was utilized. An hypothesis of no difference was used to guide this study. The results of the study indicated that a statistically significant difference did exist in comparing the post test scores of the two groups; thus the hypothesis of no difference was rejected. Although the results obtained were of statistical significance, the numerical value of the differences was very small. In examining variables within the experimental group, it was found that age, sex, verbal participation, and laboratory school experiences affected the study results.

This investigation assessed the relationship between adolescents of intact families and adolescents in reconstituted families with regard to the effects of perception of parental acceptance on the variables of self-esteem, academic performance, sex role identity, and use o f substances. Observed differences between adolescents of intact and reconstituted families from a structural perspective, eliminating process variables, were also examined. Participants included two hundred fifty-six high school students in grades 9 through 12 in an overseas Department of Defense Dependent School (DoDDs) . Questionnaires incorporated the measures of Perception of Parental Behavior Index; Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Survey; The Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI); questions on substance use; and self-reported grade point averages (GPA). Major findings include (1) Adolescents living in an intact family (process variables excluded) evidenced significantly higher GPA scores than adolescents residing in a reconstituted (step-family) situation. However, with regard to the use of substances, sex role identification, and self-esteem, no differences emerged. (2) When the effects of parental acceptance were assessed, differences among adolescents of intact families and adolescents of reconstituted families emerged among the variables of femininity, self- esteem, and substance . In contrast, sex role identification, masculinity , self-esteem, substance use , and GPA were not found to be mediated by perception of parental acceptance. The lack of significant differences in self- esteem and substance use contrasted sharply with the findings among adolescents within intact families. (3) When positive perception of parental acceptance was evidenced across eight distinct family compositions of intact and reconstituted families , as opposed to negative perception, self- esteem score s were highest , irrespective of family structure.

Solution-focused therapy is one of the models of brief family therapy that has come into prominence during the 1980s and 90s. Whereas earlier forms of family therapy concentrated on problems and the behaviors that maintained them, solution-focused therapy places its emphasis on "exceptions" to the problem--times when it is not happening--and seeks to elaborate on and amplify these exceptions. A solution-focused therapy model has been used with individuals, couples, and groups of individuals, but a search of the relevant literature revealed no information on its use with couples' groups. The purpose of this study was to develop a solution-focused treatment plan for a couples ' group and to test its effectiveness. A single-case research design was used with a multiple baseline assessment strategy across subjects. Participants' improvement on measures of overall marital satisfaction and specific goal achievement was considered in evaluation of effectiveness. Five couples completed the program. Marital satisfaction was measured using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMS) . On both measures 7 of the 10 participants showed improvement between baseline and intervention scores. Two participants showed little change in scores and 1 subject recorded a decline in score. A self-report goal sheet utilizing a 0-10 scale was used to record progress toward individual and couple goals. Eight participants reported progress, 1 no change, and 1 a decline on both types of goals. The results of this study lend support to the supposition of positive out comes from solution-focused couples ' group work and suggest the need for further study.