Family Sciences

15 pages, 444 KB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Stress and Coparenting Among Lower-Income Couples: A Dyadic Exploration

by Heidi E. Stolz, Rebecca G. Renegar, Shailey Curtis and Jessica L. McCaig

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010007 - 5 Sep 2025

Viewed by 925

Economic challenges place lower-income, economically marginalized families at heightened risk for experiencing financial stress, which is associated with a host of adverse family outcomes. Among lower-income families raising young children, existing economic challenges are often exacerbated by the added needs of children, including [...] Read more.

Economic challenges place lower-income, economically marginalized families at heightened risk for experiencing financial stress, which is associated with a host of adverse family outcomes. Among lower-income families raising young children, existing economic challenges are often exacerbated by the added needs of children, including child-specific expenses (e.g., childcare) and decreased parental earning capacity. In these families, financial stress may strain the coparenting alliance; however, scant research has explored the association, particularly in families with young infants. Informed by family systems theory and the family stress model, the present study utilized an actor–partner interdependence model to explore the relationship between financial stress and the quality of the coparenting alliance within a sample of 214 lower-income opposite-sex couples with or expecting a new baby. This study further examined potential differences between (a) mothers and fathers, (b) cohabiting and married parents, and (c) those in different parenting contexts (i.e., new vs. established parents, recent vs. anticipated births). Results indicated that mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of financial stress were negatively associated with their own report of coparenting alliance but not their partner’s coparenting alliance. This association was consistent across couple relationship structures and parenting contexts. Implications for policy and practices are provided. Full article

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24 pages, 495 KB

Open AccessArticle

I Do, and I Will: Effectual Religiosity May Strengthen the Triad Chord of Commitment for Women of Faith

by Tamara M. Chamberlain, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Ashley LeBaron-Black, Eliza M. Lyman and Christina N. Cooper

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010006 - 31 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Although religiosity is commonly linked to marital satisfaction in sociological research, few studies have examined how it strengthens marital commitment among women of faith. This study explored the perspectives of religious, heterosexual married women using interviews in the United States from 196 highly [...] Read more.

Although religiosity is commonly linked to marital satisfaction in sociological research, few studies have examined how it strengthens marital commitment among women of faith. This study explored the perspectives of religious, heterosexual married women using interviews in the United States from 196 highly religious couples with successful marriages. Three core themes emerged: (1) personal commitment—including the decision to marry, religious beliefs and practices, and the need for effort and sacrifice; (2) moral commitment—highlighting sexual relations before marriage, promises made before God, family, and friends, and views on fidelity and divorce; and (3) structural commitment—emphasizing the role of a religious institution and faith community, belief that God is part of the union, and the importance of the family unit. Participants consistently described their religious beliefs as central to strengthening their personal commitment, their vows before others as reinforcing moral commitment, and their religious community and family as sustaining structural commitment. When combined, these three forms of commitment, deeply informed by lived religiosity, interact to foster marital resilience and flourishing. Full article

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16 pages, 529 KB

Open AccessArticle

Declining Aspirations for Marriage and Parenthood Among Young Women and Men in China

by Sampson Lee Blair, Timothy J. Madigan and Sha Luo

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010005 - 13 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1918

Abstract

Over recent decades, China has experienced considerable economic and cultural change, as economic growth has led to increased materialism and individualism. Among young women and men, the traditional obligations of filial piety include becoming married, having children, and continuing the family lineage. Using [...] Read more.

Over recent decades, China has experienced considerable economic and cultural change, as economic growth has led to increased materialism and individualism. Among young women and men, the traditional obligations of filial piety include becoming married, having children, and continuing the family lineage. Using recent survey data (2015 through 2024) drawn from young Chinese adults, this study examines the changes in marriage and childbearing aspirations. The results show a clear decline in marriage aspirations among both sexes, and a strong decline in the childbearing aspirations of young women. Multivariate analyses reveal that more individualistic desires (e.g., wishing to cohabit, having sex) yield substantial associations with marriage and childbearing aspirations. There also appears to be a strong tendency for both young women and men to draw a clear separation between becoming married and having children, which is quite contrary to traditional cultural norms. The findings and implications thereof are discussed within the developmental paradigm. Full article

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12 pages, 289 KB

Open AccessArticle

Family Functioning and Prosocial Behavior in School-Aged Children: A Quantitative Analysis of Relational Dynamics

by Marina-Nikoletta Gkoulemani and Georgios Giannakopoulos

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010004 - 8 Aug 2025

Viewed by 951

Abstract

Prosocial behavior—children’s capacity to empathize, share, and cooperate—is essential for healthy emotional and social development. While family context plays a critical role in fostering these behaviors, the influence of overall family functioning remains underexplored. This study examines the association between perceived family functioning [...] Read more.

Prosocial behavior—children’s capacity to empathize, share, and cooperate—is essential for healthy emotional and social development. While family context plays a critical role in fostering these behaviors, the influence of overall family functioning remains underexplored. This study examines the association between perceived family functioning and prosocial behavior in school-aged children. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 127 parents of children aged 6 to 12 years. Family functioning was assessed using the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), and child prosocial behavior was measured via the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Analyses included Pearson correlations, linear regression, and group comparisons by gender, education, employment status, and subjective socioeconomic status. Higher family functioning (i.e., lower FAD scores) significantly predicted higher prosocial behavior scores (β = −1.48, R² = 0.12, p < 0.001). A significant difference in prosocial behavior was found between socioeconomic groups, with children from high-income families scoring significantly higher than those from middle-income families. However, family functioning accounted for a greater proportion of the variance than socioeconomic status. These findings underscore the role of family relational quality in shaping children’s social development and highlight its importance in early interventions. Full article

12 pages, 262 KB

Open AccessArticle

Engaging Fathers in Home-Based Parenting Education: Home Visitor Attitudes and Strategies

by Heidi E. Stolz and Melissa Rector LaGraff

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010003 - 22 Jul 2025

Viewed by 677

Abstract

Much U.S. research supports the effectiveness of parenting education delivered via the home visiting method. Home visitors are essential to reaching fathers in this context, but not all have favorable attitudes toward father engagement or feel confident working with fathers. Given that father [...] Read more.

Much U.S. research supports the effectiveness of parenting education delivered via the home visiting method. Home visitors are essential to reaching fathers in this context, but not all have favorable attitudes toward father engagement or feel confident working with fathers. Given that father involvement is important for a wide range of child and adolescent outcomes and that fathers benefit from parenting education, it is important to better understand the forces that shape home visitors’ attitudes toward fathers, and thus their subsequent efforts to include them in publicly funded programming. Using survey data from 95 home visitors in Tennessee, this study explores whether home visitors’ beliefs about fathers and attitudes toward father engagement vary as a function of home visitor or agency characteristics. Results suggest training in social work, reporting father-friendly organizational attitudes and behaviors at one’s agency, and reporting supervisor support specifically for father engagement relate to various favorable fathering attitudes. Home visitors’ strategies to engage fathers in home visiting are presented, including strategies for before, during, and after the home visit. Overall, family service agency administrators are in key positions to make decisions that can improve agency father-friendliness, home visitor attitudes toward fathers, and subsequent outcomes for fathers, mothers, and children. Full article

17 pages, 280 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Is Ring by Spring Still a Thing, or Was It Just a Fling?

by Brandon Kevin Burr, Emma Christensen, Brian Camp, Clint Broadbent, Rachel Arocho, Rachel Ann Augustus, Bobby Kern, Daniel Hubler and Josi Woodhouse

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010002 - 10 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1160

Abstract

The ‘ring by spring’ (RBS) phenomenon entails pressures for college seniors on Christian campuses to become engaged by the spring semester of their senior year. These marital pressures often run counter to national trends in the USA as the median age at first [...] Read more.

The ‘ring by spring’ (RBS) phenomenon entails pressures for college seniors on Christian campuses to become engaged by the spring semester of their senior year. These marital pressures often run counter to national trends in the USA as the median age at first marriage continues to climb. The social clock theory suggests that society places a normative timetable on major events such as marriage. But the social clock may not happen the same way for all people, and influences on Christian campus may represent deviations from most normative social clocks. This study investigated RBS awareness, experiences, pressures, and perceptions, along with assessing for differences in gender and religiosity across multiple universities, both Christian and not, across two different states. Results show wide awareness and experience with RBS at many universities along with some notable differences by gender and religiosity. Implications are provided for researchers and practitioners based on study findings. Full article

1 pages, 140 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Family Sciences: A New Open Access Journal

by Joseph G. Grzywacz

Fam. Sci. 2025, 1(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/famsci1010001 - 3 Jul 2025

Viewed by 569

Abstract

Family Sciences is founded on the conviction that the study of families must reflect the full richness, complexity, and cultural variability of family life around the world [...] Full article

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Fam. Sci., Volume 1, Issue 1 (September 2025) – 7 articles

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