This article examines how religion shapes family ideologies in young adulthood. Using the 31-year Intergenerational Panel Study of Parents and Children (N = 909), we find relationships between mother's religious characteristics when her child was born and the child's own family ideologies in young adulthood. Further, multiple dimensions of young…

Examined sexuality of 18-year-old adolescents (n=916) within context of life-course developmental model. Found adolescents who began dating early and developed steady relations early were more likely to be sexually experienced, to have had sexual relations with more partners, to have been more sexually active during late teenage years, and to have…

Examined United States survey data from the 1950s through the 1980s for changes in family life norms and values. Found in 1960s and 1970s data a weakening of imperative to marry and remain married, stay monogamous, have children, and maintain gender role separation. Observed flattening of trends during early 1980s. Links family life trends to…

Examined contraceptive use by never married, sexually experienced female adolescents (N=224). Found birth control pills to be the single most popular method of contraception. Subjects who reported regularly attending religious services were less likely to have used an effective, medical method of contraception than those who rarely attended…

Data from a longitudinal study of women and their children indicate that: (1) concepts of women's roles have become more egalitarian; (2) youth, labor force experience, and educational attainment positively influence egalitarian attitudes; (3) church attendance and identification with fundamentalist religions predict traditional outlooks; and (4)…

The 1970 National Fertility Study was used to investigate relationships between sex role attitudes and the childbearing and labor force participation of women. It was found that the most crucial aspect of working and fertility was the extent to which the woman identified the female role as that of housewife and homemaker. (Author)

This paper documents the shift women have made towards more egalitarian sex role attitudes. Younger women, those with more education, those with better educated husbands, and those working at the start of the study, were found to be more likely than others to adopt egalitarian attitudes. (Author/RLV)

The goal of this study was to track and compare the paths along which young adults arrange and time the entries and exits from marital and cohabiting unions. The focus was on the incidence, durations, and outcomes of dimensions that embrace residential separation. Results show that union trajectories are dynamic and involve a heterogeneous and…

Analyzed longitudinal survey data for relationship between adolescent sexuality and adolescents' religious affiliation and participation among Detroit area families (N=916). Confirmed previous findings which showed strong correlation between religious involvement and adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior, i.e., religious adolescents had least…

Examined living arrangements in early adulthood using event history data from people aged 23 in 1985. Results showed great heterogeneity in pathways out of parental home. Young adults fanned out in all directions, with many experiencing marriage, cohabitation, group quarters, living with housemates, and living alone. (Author/NB)

Compares the effects on high school achievement of family socioeconomic factors present during students' early childhood and during students' late adolescence. Results point to the potentially stronger role in cognitive development and school learning of early socioeconomic factors, except in the case of family size. (RDN)

Examines the determinants of the consumption aspirations of adolescents, with a major emphasis on the influence of the family. Finds that the ability of adolescents to purchase substantial consumer durable goods with their own earnings while being supported in the parental household may lead to unrealistic future consumption goals. (FMW)

Introduces the concept of family integration to describe how family social organization affects individuals. Hypothesizes that well-integrated parents benefit children's self-concept formation. Tests three mechanisms of parental family integration, and shows that integration early in life has positive effects on children's self-esteem in early…

These papers from an International Committee on Family Research (CFR) seminar explore seven themes, four of which are presented in Part 1. The first set of papers approach the question of whether the family is worth supporting and the related issue of pressures, conflicts, and expectations of family life (Theme 1). Randall Collins discusses…