This fact sheet defines social and emotional competence in children and offers tips for parents on how to guide development of social and emotional competence for their children.
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Journal Article Using a sample of fathers who are firefighters (N = 473), we first examined the link between work role stressors and fatherhood role salience in predicting work-to-family conflict. Second, we examined how each of those was associated with parenting stress and satisfaction with parenting and children's behavior. Occupational stress, working over 60 hours per week, and lack of sleep were associated with greater work-to-family conflict, as was perceived childcare load. Work-to-family conflict was associated with higher parenting stress and lower parenting satisfaction. Working more than 60 hours…
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Journal Article Contextual, mother-, child-, and father-level variables were examined in association with fathers' emotion talk to infants during a shared picture book activity, in an ethnically diverse, low-income sample (N = 549). Significant main effects included the rate of emotion talk from fathers' romantic partners (i.e., the infant's mother), infant attention and distress, and sensitive parenting. Significant interactions were also found. Higher income African American fathers referred to negative emotions more than non-African American higher income fathers. In addition, African American fathers who…
This fact sheet lists inappropriate and appropriate responses to children who are behaving badly. Caregivers are urged to provide children with choices, validate the feelings of the child while stating the inappropriate nature of the behavior, communicate how the behavior is making the caregiver feel, and reaffirm their commitment to the child even when the child is making bad choices.
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Journal Article The aim of the Baby Elmo Program is to establish a low-cost, sustainable parenting and structured visitation program for non-custodial incarcerated teen parents. The program is taught and supervised by probation staff in juvenile detention facilities and unlike traditional programs, this intervention is not based on increasing the teen's abstract parenting knowledge, but rather in building a relationship between the teen and his child. The sessions target the interactional quality of the relationship by introducing relationship, communication, and socio-emotional enhancing techniques.…
Retreats allow couples to spend time together and have fun away from the structure and constraints of formal military life. Such retreats allow the couple to learn and practice relationship skills without distractions and in a more intimate setting. Additionally, retreats often provide coaching specific to the needs of each couple, which can be very beneficial to military couples experiencing unique challenges. This Tip Sheet will provide civilian community-based organizations some suggestions about providing MRE retreats to military couples. (Author abstract)
One of the first steps to fighting cancer is to understand that you are not alone. Many couples successfully cope with cancer together and allow their relationship to thrive. Life happens despite cancer; there is no "pause" button. However, by being prepared and proactive, cancer can actually bring a couple together as a team, even in the face of a terminal diagnosis. The following tips offer ways that couples can work together to battle the impact of cancer and maintain a healthy relationship. (Author abstract modified)
The Internet, along with mobile phones, has come to play a part in communications within intimate partner relationships. This Fact Sheet examines the use of online and mobile technology by teens and adults and how that technology is influencing how they communicate and interact with their romantic partners. It includes data on how many people are using the Internet to meet and find partners but also how the Internet and mobile technology can contribute to strains on relationships. (Author abstract)
A cancer diagnosis is a game changer on many levels for a couple. It affects not only the diagnosed partner but also the well partner as it has financial, family, and medical implications. Cancer often becomes a daily conversation and can have the potential to damage a couple's relationship. Life happens despite cancer; there is no "pause" button. By being prepared and proactive, the experience of cancer can actually bring a couple together as a team, even in the face of a terminal diagnosis. This Tip Sheet for marriage and relationship education (MRE) practitioners offers ways to encourage…
