No description available.

The critical lack of research in the area of in - law relationships leaves interested persons wondering about the nature of such relationships. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how the independent variables of sex, number of children , education and age of the sons or daughters-in-law effected the relationship with the mothers and fathers-in-law. The four directional hypotheses tested were: (1) as the age of the son or daughter - in-law increases , the chances for a more positive relationship with mothers and fathers-in-law and their sons and daughters, increases significantly; (2) females feel significantly closer to their parents-in-law than males; (3) as the number of children in the homes of the sons and daughters-in-law increases, the quality of their relationship increases significantly with their parents-in-law; and (4) the higher the educational l eve l of the sons or daughter s-in- law the greater the quality of their relationship with their mother or fatherin law. A total of 238 persons living in the married student housing responded to the questionnaire. The questions were answered accordi. ng to their current or most recent marriage. The questionnaire asked r espondent s to answer how they f elt towards their parent s -inlaw-- fee lings of closeness towards them; titles used to address them; how troublesome they were perceived to be; the type of help received from them; and how their parents-in-l aw compared to other parents-inlaw. The fo llowing findings were derived from the data using the chi square test, mean scores and F ratios: 1. Respondents 30 year s of age and older felt significantly closer emotionally to their parents-in-law than did those 25-29 years of age . 2. Those 30 years of age and older felt their fathers-inlaw were less troublesome than those 25-29. 3. Those 30 years of age and older felt emotionally closer to their mothers-in-l aw than those 25-29. 4. Females did feel emot ionally c l oser to their mothersin- law than males. They also addressed their fathers-in-law in a more positive and personal manner, but when their mean scores and F ratios were analyzed for the problematic and closeness index there were no significant differences. 5. Those with one child fe lt significantly closer to their mothers-in-law than those with two or more or no children. 6. Those with a high schoo l or less education felt significantl y c loser to their mothers-in-law than those with some college. The sample was drawn from a university related population, and from a heavily weighted religious group. Both of which could bias the above finding.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Ten female survivors of physically assaultive domestic violence were interviewed three times each in a feminist, qualitative study designed to access their perceptions about their children's experiences in domestic violence. All participants had children living with them at the time of the abuse and were one to five years out of the abuse. All women stated their children had been exposed to domestic violence. Women described their children's involvement in the following areas: legal (visitation, custody, child support); indirect involvement (witnessing effects of abuse) and direct involvement (feeling responsible, protecting parents); and direct child maltreatment. Child maltreatment rates measured by homes were: physical (50%); sexual (20%); emotional (90%); and neglect (70%). No patterns were present regarding child involvement. That is, children's involvement did not progress in a clear pattern from indirect to direct. While all women protected their children in the relationship, four turning points were identified in a continuum of women's protective actions: child witnessed abuse to mom; mom saw signs in child; emotional abuse to the child; and physical or sexual abuse to the child. Turning points were the points at which the women recognized they could no longer protect their children within the context of the violent relationship. Unmarried women reached their turning point earlier while women whose church involvement dictated strict obedience to spouse and those who experienced the most severe physical abuse reached their turning points later. Turning points often corresponded with leaving the relationship and were related to both social context and individual variables. Perceptions of motherhood in domestic violence were also studied. Women cited their children as important influences in staying with, returning to, and leaving abusive partners. Women stayed in relationships because of socially conditioned beliefs about children needing fathers, beliefs about marriage and family, and perceptions of children's bonds with their fathers. Finally, women's perceptions of motherhood fell into four categories: protection of their children; conflict between roles as wife and mother; concern about meeting their children's needs; and guilt about mothering. The two women who prioritized the needs of their children over their abusive partners were spared some guilt. / Graduation date: 1999

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-91). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-91). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-271). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.