The primary purpose of this investigation was to measure and compare the perceptions college students have regarding cohesion, adaptability and stress in their varied family forms. Secondary purposes were to provide demographic descriptions of family forms from which students come, determine variables of blended and single-parent families which may carry predictive value for cohesion and adaptability and to examine relationships between the cohesion, adaptability, and family stress measuring scales. / The sample consisted of 631 college students aged 18-22 years attending Central Missouri State University. Of the sample, 502 students were from intact families, 79 from single-parent and 50 from blended families. / Responses on a 68-item questionnaire formed the units of analysis. The instrument used for measuring perceptions of family dynamics were the Cohesion and Adaptability Scales of FACES II and the Index of Family Relations Scale. Thirteen demographic items were included. / Major conclusions to be drawn from the study include (1) students from blended and single-parent families viewed their families as less closely bonded and much more stressful than did intact family students; (2) demographic variables of blended and single-parent families (including size, composition, gender, ages at transition points and tenures in phases of change) may vary widely but are not useful in indicating how members feel about their families (with the possible exception of natural parent gender); (3) measures of cohesion, adaptability and intrafamilial stress were strongly related for the entire sample with high stress locked to distant and non-flexible family types. / This study provides initial data regarding how college students view transactional processes in their families, specifically comparing groups from different family forms. The implication is that the dramatic systemic alterations which are inherent in family dissolutions and reformations leave members vulnerable to stress and distancing as perceived by young adult children. Family life educators, researchers, and clinicians aware of the potential susceptibilities of a rapidly growing proportion of American families may wish to develop programs, materials and further information designed to strengthen these families. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-09, Section: A, page: 2899. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75167 |
| Contributors | KENNEDY, GREGORY EARL., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 139 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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