Caring for a demented relative at home: Effects on parent–adolescent relationships and family dynamics

Informed by a family systems perspective, the main purpose of this study was to identify changes in parent–adolescent relationships and in family dynamics when a family member with Alzheimer's or similar dementia moves into the household. The data, based on in-depth interviews with 17 adolescents, revealed that the care situation induces both positive and negative changes in family relationships. On the one hand, adolescents showed considerable empathy and respect for the parent who is the primary caregiver and reported that joint involvement in caregiving enhances adolescent–parent bonds. On the other hand, the adolescents lamented restrictions on their own and the family unit's activities due to the care situation. They also complained about spillover of caregiver stress on other family relationships and about parent-caregivers' focus of attention on the care recipient. These negative features strongly influenced adolescents' adaptation to the care situation. Overall, the results confirm the importance of a family systems perspective for understanding of and intervention in family caregiving for demented relatives. Family life educators should convey the importance of family dynamics in caregiving situations to their audiences, and family practitioners should be aware that an exclusive focus on the primary caregiver's problems may hamper adaptation of other family members (and especially adolescents) who are involved in the care situation.     

The Impact of Socio-economic Status and Mobility on Perceived Family Functioning

Perceptions of current family functioning in relation to current household income level, educational status, social-class at birth and social mobility over the lifecourse were investigated in a group of 483 individuals at age 50. Subjective report of family functioning was assessed using the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) with socio-economic information obtained from a self-report Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire. Results indicated significant relationships between household income, social mobility and FAD scores for men but not for women in this sample. For men, lower current income and downward social mobility over the lifecourse were associated with a more negative perception of family functioning. Further research is required to understand the gender differences observed and delineate cause versus effect mechanisms.     

黎川陈氏与寿阳祁氏之交往——读《陈甘簃诗文集》札记

清代科举家族之中,江西黎川陈氏和山西寿阳祁氏是南北颇为著名的两大文化世家。家族成员们通过科举入仕,在嘉道咸同光各朝,名人辈出。而两个家族又通过联姻这种方式,得以密切往来,直至民国以降,后代们仍互相唱和,力图维系这种文化上的传承。     

试论儒家文化对我国人口与计划生育的影响

本文本着批判继承祖国文化遗产的宗旨 ,以《四书五经》及儒家其他书籍为研究对象 ,重点探讨和分析了儒家文化对我国人口与计划生育产生的正负面影响 ,并提出了消除其负面影响的相应对策     

Adaptive familial strategies among merchant seamen

The study reported here examines those familial strategies that develop among merchant seamen families: replacement husband/father, conflict, contingent authority, and periodic guest. Data were gathered from interviews with 141 families over a 7-year period. Results indicate that merchant seamen families use a replacement husband/father strategy if male kin are available. When kin are not available these families eventually arrive at and remain in a periodic guest strategy. A discussion of family power as it relates to the development of specific strategies is also included.Craig J. Forsyth is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, P.O. Box 40198, Lafayette, LA 70504. His current research interests include deviant life-styles, maritime sociology, and the interrelationship between family and work. He received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.Robert Gramling is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, P.O. Box 40198, Lafayette, LA 70504. His research interests are in the areas of social impacts of economic activity, particularly on the family, and microscopic social theory. His Ph.D. is from Florida State University.     

从社会文化层面解读布什在清华大学的演讲

不同国家和民族的文化既有特殊性又有普遍性,是个性和共性的统一。文化的个性、特殊性决定着文化交流的必要性;文化的共性、普遍性提供了文化交流的可能性。美国前总统小布什在清华大学的演讲可谓是一次文化传播的盛筵。布什的演讲主旨在于向中国学生、中国人民宣讲美国社会文化的价值观。任何国家和民族的文化都是一定社会实践的产物,有其长处,也有其局限性,只有从其他国家和民族文化中汲取营养,才能不断发展,更具活力。因此我们必须正确理解中美文化的异同,积极借鉴和吸取美国文化的精华,同时也要识别和摈弃其文化的糟粕。     

城乡人口流动的影响因素分析

由巨大的城乡收入差距引起的中国新时期大规模人口流动,正在影响中国传统城乡关系的改变。利用1996²011年数据,构建中国城乡人口流动、城乡收入差距、家庭现金负担、城乡人均固定资产投资比值等4个变量的协整方程,结果表明,城乡居民收入差异是城乡间巨大流动人口的主要影响因素,农户现金支出负担是次要影响因素,近年来对农村地区增加的固定资产投资所期望的减缓城乡间人口流动的效果尚未显现。并通过脉冲响应分析了短期波动对人口流动的影响,最后提出了改善城乡关系的对策。     

从家书活套透视明代后期家庭伦理危机——以万历间刊《万用正宗不求人》的“书启门”为考察中心

中国古代家书不仅是亲属之间传情达意的私秘性文字,还真实记录了时代的变迁。由于家书浸透了浓重的伦理文化内涵,因此,家书又是窥视特定时代伦理文化风貌的独特窗口。明代万历年间余象斗刊《万用正宗不求人》的"书启门"辑录了许多家书活套,供人写作家书时临摹之用。通过对这些家书活套的多维透视发现:其内容表现出人伦亲情的疏离与淡化,其格式则有意轻视传统的伦理礼仪。这些标征表明,明代后期商品经济的发展,导致家庭伦理基石发生了转移,"重利轻义"思想对家庭伦理造成了强烈冲击,使之陷入了严重危机。同时,同性恋情书也被纳入家书,更意味着对传统家庭伦理的颠覆。     

从《尔雅·释亲》看当时女性的家庭角色和地位

《尔雅·释亲》作为我国最早研究亲属关系的专著和"总表",收集了反映古代家族关系的亲属称谓100个,为我们了解当时的亲属文化提供了宝贵资料。笔者不揣谫陋,拟从亲属关系分类及所释词范围特点、亲属称谓词的释义体例、特殊词的细论三个方面探讨《尔雅·释亲》凸显出的当时妇女地位:以"男性本位"为主导,为人母者地位最高,为人妻(妾)者地位最低,为人女者介于两者之间。     

女性家庭地位越高就越幸福吗?

人们普遍认为,女性家庭地位越高就会越幸福。然而,本文使用中国家庭追踪调查数据,基于有序响应模型和条件混合过程法,研究发现女性拥有更多家庭事务决策权未必能改善其幸福感。分样本回归显示,对于受教育少以及受强外部传统文化规范约束的女性群体,家庭决策权对其幸福感的负向影响尤为显著。这一发现,对将来关于个体幸福感的研究具有重要启示,即只有把外部文化规范等社会背景考虑进来,家庭决策者身份的幸福效应方向才能最终确认。此外,本文关于传统文化规范力量 仍然主导着女性幸福感的发现,也为政府部门制定致力于赋权女性的政策提供了论证基点。