bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Freer Unions, More Complex Itineraries? Male Premarital Life In Rural Mali
Authors: Hertrich Véronique
Published: February 2019

With the increase in female age at marriage and the relaxing of family controls over couple formation, the conditions of entry into union and transition to adulthood are undergoing radical transformation in sub-Saharan Africa. Is this nuptiality transition also leading to greater complexity and diversity of union formation trajectories? We examine this hypothesis by studying long-term trends in male first marriage and premarital life in a rural population of Mali. The data are drawn from a population surveillance project that has been running for 25 years and which provides unique biographical data on premarital dynamics thanks to the detailed recording of all matrimonial procedures, whether or not they actually culminate in marriage. Two main findings qualify the initial hypothesis. First, the fragility and complexity of matrimonial processes is by no means recent; these are habitual and traditional characteristics of the matrimonial institution. Second, the general trend is towards a simplification and a standardization of male union formation trajectories. In the light of these findings, it would be useful to examine the characteristics of preconjugal dynamics and their evolution in other contexts. These dynamics, not covered in major surveys, provide valuable new insight into youth, marriage and the transition to adulthood.
From Strangers to Spouses: Early Relational Dialectics in Arranged Marriages among Muslim Families in Lebanon
Authors: Nasser Khaled , Dabbous Yasmine , Baba Dima
Published: February 2019

This research explores the potential relational dialectics emerging in arranged marriages among Muslim families in Beirut, Lebanon. The study focuses on the tensions rising during the pre-wedding stages of the arranged relationship, during which candidates evolve from total strangers, to fiancés, and ultimately to spouses. Based on a thematic analysis of interviews with sixteen couples, the study revealed six major dialectical tensions emerging along partners’ socio-religious, emotionl, and gender differences, or due to parental interventions: Arranged vs. romantic script, interpersonal vs. social frames, commitment vs. autonomy, traditional vs. liberal gender roles, emotions vs. reason, and family inclusion vs. seclusion. The couples coped with tensions mostly by resorting to religion and to other family members for guidance, by reframing their conditions according to their ideal relational script.
A National Profile of Caregivers for the Oldest-Old
Authors: Takagi Emiko , Davey Adam , Wagner Donna
Published: February 2019

Limited research has examined caregivers for the oldest old (85+), a distinct group among older adults who are most likely to experience functional and cognitive limitations that require care. To profile socio-demographic characteristics of the oldest-old and their informal caregivers and assess their caregiving situations, we used data from 3163 care recipients with at least one functional limitation from the 2004 National Long-Term Care Survey and 1363 caregivers who were either adult children or spouses of care recipients. The oldestold with functional disabilities were less likely to be married and more likely to be women living alone. Compared with those under 85, the oldestold group were likely to have more extensive IADL and ADL limitations. However, with the exception of dementia, the oldest-old had a lower prevalence of chronic illness than younger elders. The oldest-old care recipients also tended to use more formal care service. While caregivers for the oldest old were less likely to be a sole caregiver and more likely to use formal care service, their physical and emotional stress from caregiving remained the same with their counterpart group of caregivers. Comparison of caregivers by their relationships to care recipients also indicated that adult children who cared for the oldest-old parents tended to express the most stress from caregiving. We contend that formal services need to be better incorporated with informal caregiving to attenuate negative caregiver outcomes, especially for the oldest-old whose informal caregiving network is rather limited.
A Theoretical Introduction to Family and Mobility
Authors: Trost Jan
Published: February 2019

A theoretical model for everyday behavior is presented based upon ideas of choice and chance. Argumented is that most of our behavior is a set of activities based upon chance even when we in everyday language we call them made by choice. The Self acts spontaneously when no evident alternative is there and the activities are by chance, they just happen. The theoretical model is applied upon the phenomenon of parents leaving their children for a limited time to earn money for a decent survival.
Displaying Families, Migrant Families and Community Connectedness: The Application of an Emerging Concept in Family Life
Authors: Seymour Julie , Walsh Julie
Published: February 2019

The new concept of Displaying Family shows how family life must not only be 'done' but also be 'seen to be done'. Both family members and external audiences need to recognise what is being conveyed during such displays—and to accept them—for these displays to be considered successful. Hence, there are multiple potential audiences for family displays. Drawing on empirical research, the article applies this important conceptual development to a study of the role of family in promoting community connectedness in a UK city which is becoming increasingly culturally diverse. Specifically, it examines the use of family display by migrant families and the observation of this by multiple audiences. The paper will consider early findings on the impact family display has on the forging of interactions and connectedness between communities and the development of a 'world building' rather than a 'nation building' sensibility. By acknowledging that the ideology of the family has both overarching themes but contextually varied interpretations, it will examine the potential of family displays—and their receipt—to allow the recognition of similarities between culturally diverse groups and to bridge the differences that extend beyond family. The article will present data from individual and group interviews with migrant families, including children, and other potential audiences of family displays to illustrate the application of this new concept.
Marital Power Structure in Two Chinese Societies: Measurement and Mechanisms
Authors: Chien Wen-Yin , Yi Chin-Chun
Published: February 2019

The changing nature of conjugal relationships has become a focal issue in family research in East Asia. The rapid social changes in the region have imposed serious challenges to patriarchal dominance as well as to the cultural value of the father-son lineage. Patterns of conjugal relationships thus represent significant family dynamics in response to external changes in the region. A lack of conjugal data and the use of single weight measurement are two conventional drawbacks in studying marital power structures. Hence, this study aims to construct a better marital power index and to apply it in analyzing mechanisms accounting for wives’ marital status by using two corresponding couple datasets from Taiwan and Shanghai. Data are taken from “The Economic Development and Women’s Family Status in Different Chinese Societies”. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process analysis, three sets of weights are derived for the marital power structure in Taiwan and in Shanghai. After taking into account both family decisions and household labor division, our results indicate that the marital power structure in Taiwan and in Shanghai tends to be male dominant. Taiwanese women’s family status score is approximately 39, in contrast with men’s score of 61. Shanghai women’s marital power score is about 43, higher than their Taiwanese counterparts, but remains lower than husbands’ score of 57. With regard to mechanisms explaining various marital power patterns, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model reveals slightly different patterns for Taiwanese and Shanghai couples. While individual and relative conjugal resources account for wives’ domestic status in both Taiwan and Shanghai, normative effects such as co-residence with paternal parents, Hakka ethnic background and the immediate constraint of children produce salient negative effect on having egalitarian marital relations among Taiwanese couples. Our findings show that Shanghai couples lean toward the Western recourse model, while Taiwan couples are affected by the interaction between norm and resource. We conclude that it is essential to consider both family decision-making and household division of labor in the construction of a multi-dimensional marital power score. Use of the “dyad” as the unit of analysis, instead of using the “individual” unit, in studying conjugal relations is strongly suggested. Furthermore, our study points out the importance of examining the interplay of norms and resources in studying conjugal relations in a changing context such as the Chinese family.
Family Size Preferences and Decision Making Process in Odisha, India
Authors: Sahoo Harihar
Published: February 2019

The decision on the number of children is taken within the household decision making framework. One argument states that, the rising costs and declining economic value of children drives couples to go for smaller families. The other major economic argument states that, it is in parent’s best interest to have large number of children in any agrarian or poor economic setting, where children can be put to work to contribute to the household income. Therefore, in this study an attempt has been made to capture the economic effects in a poor state of India i.e. Odisha, where sustained fertility decline has occurred in spite of unfavourable conditions. Data for the study are drawn from National Family Health Survey and also from a primary survey carried in one district of Odisha. The result demonstrated that the desire to stop child bearing increases rapidly with the number of living children. Multiple classification analysis shows that caste, educational level, standard of living of the household, exposure to mass media and number of living son are important determinants of desire family size. It is also evident that in spite of widespread poverty in the state the economic provision of the government is not a precondition for the decision of number of children. The result show that the thresholds have fallen because of the changing value of children; cost of raising them has increased and child participation in work force has decreased. Such changes have occurred because of diffusion of ideas.
Who Remains Unpartnered by Mid-Life in Norway? Differentials by Gender and Education
Authors: Wiik Kenneth Aarskaug , Dommermuth Lars
Published: February 2019

Using data on men and women born 1927 to 1968 from the Norwegian Gender and Generations Survey (N = 8,813), we examine differentials in remaining without experience from a marital or non-marital union by age 40. We are particularly interested in differentials by gender and education, as well as changes across birth cohorts. 6.5% of the respondents (7.8% of the men and 5.2% of the women) had no union experience by age 40. Multivariate results confirmed that the odds of remaining unpartnered by age 40 decreased across the birth cohorts studied here, particularly among women. Separate models for men and women confirmed that primary educated men had the highest odds of remaining unpartnered. Among women, on the other hand, those with a university education had significantly higher odds of not having had union experience by age 40 compared with their lower educated counterparts. Results from interaction models confirmed that higher educated men have become increasingly likely to remain unpartnered. Among women, we found no evidence for a changing importance of education for remaining unpartnered by age 40.
Caring Responsibilities, Change and Transitions in Young People’s Family Lives in Zambia
Authors: Day Caroline , Evans Ruth
Published: February 2019

Young people in Zambia and other African countries affected by the HIV epidemic are under increasing pressure to obtain a good education and employment to support their families, whilst some also have to cope with the loss of parents and care for relatives with little external support. This article discusses the findings of qualitative research that explored the experiences of young people (aged 14-30) who had significant family caring responsibilities and those without such responsibilities in Zambia. Interviews and life-mapping methods were conducted with a total of 35 young people living in rural and urban areas, 12 parents and relatives and 12 professionals. The paper analyses young people’s perceptions of significant transitions and the strategies they adopt to manage change. This includes socially expected transitions, such as initiation rites, marriage, leaving school and earning an income, in addition to more unpredictable changes in young people’s lives, such as family illness and disability, caregiving, bereavement, mobility and migration. A range of life transitions were regarded as significant to young people’s past, present and future lives and aspirations.
Studies on African Families: In Hindsight
Authors: Sooryamoorthy R , Chetty Rosalind
Published: February 2019

The family both in Africa generally and in specific African countries remains underresearched. What is evident from this review of studies published in the Journal of Comparative Family Studies for the selected period is that it is a rich resource for topics and themes that affect varied aspects of the family—some of which have not been previously closely considered. Immense possibilities for research in a number branches of science are open in Africa. The institution of the family in Africa is no exception. The review presented here provides an insight into how the family on the continent functions in divergent forms. It highlights how the family has been transforming under the influence of certain key variables, and the contradictions that exist among different ethnic groups on the continent. Additionally, the studies offer opportunities for scholars around the world to (re)examine some of the pertinent issues that would contribute to both theoretical and empirical knowledge about the family.
Same-Race and Interracial Asian-White Couples: Relational and Social Contexts and Relationship Outcomes
Authors: Canlas Jerevie M , Miller Richard B , Busby Dean M , Carroll Jason S
Published: February 2019

Research suggests that interracial couples have lower relationship stability compared to their same-race counterparts, but there is evidence that interracial relationships involving Whites and Asians are an exception. This study compared the pathways to relationship stability among same-race and interracial Asian-White couples. Using MANCOVA, partner empathy, social approval, relationship satisfaction, and relationship stability for same-race and interracial Asian-White couples were compared, while holding length of relationship constant. A Structural Equation Model tested differences between groups in the effect that partner’s empathic listening and social approval had on relationship satisfaction and stability. Results indicated that interracial couples had similar relationship satisfaction and stability, as well as partner empathy, and social approval, as same-race White couples. Same-race Asian couples consistently scored lowest in relational and social factors, as well as relationship outcomes. With few exceptions, the influence of empathy in communication and social approval on relationship outcomes was similar for interracial and same-race couples.
Being a Traditional Dad or Being More Like a Mum? Clashing Models of Fatherhood According to Swedish and Polish Fathers
Authors: Suwada Katarzyna
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this article is to document how Swedish and Polish fathers understand their parental roles in the times of changing gender relations. An important question is how they deal with two conflicting models of fatherhood—the traditional model based on breadwinning and the new model of involved fatherhood. I argue here that fatherhood is a highly contextual phenomenon and the way men engage in parental roles is strictly connected with the social expectations and people’s assumptions about parenting and gender roles. The focus of this paper will be on the links between three elements: (1) the institutional context, in particular the family policy systems, (2) a conflict resulting from the coexistence of two different models of fatherhood, and (3) men’s parenting behaviour. The article consists of two parts. In the first one the family policy systems of Sweden and Poland are described. The second part is based on 52 in-depth interviews conducted with Swedish and Polish middleclass and heterosexual fathers. A thematic analysis revealed that the experience of fatherhood is firmly embedded in in a family policy system. Depending on the definitions of parental roles adopted by the welfare state, the particular mechanisms of family policy can sustain or reconstruct the models of fatherhood (and motherhood) and consequently have an impact on the gender inequalities.
Family Complexity in Rural South Africa: Examining Dynamism in Children’s Living Arrangement and the Role of Kin
Authors: Madhavan Sangeetha , Brooks Alyssa
Published: February 2019

It is well established that Black African children in South Africa live in complex living arrangements. Far less, however, is known about the dynamism in children’s living arrangements over the life course or the extent to which kin group characteristics influence the intensity of change in these arrangements. In this article, we draw on data collected on 337 children aged 0-21 embedded in 13 kin groups in Mpumalanga, South Africa to (a) describe the types of living arrangements that children are in at the time of birth and in 2002; (b) examine the extent of change and stability in living arrangements over two points in time; (c) describe the variation in the intensity of change in living arrangements over the life course; and (d) analyze the extent to which kin group characteristics help explain this variation. Our analysis shows that most children are in the same living arrangement at birth and in 2002 but that those born into a nuclear arrangement are most likely to change. Moreover, we also found considerable variation in the number of changes in living arrangements that children experience over the life course. The proportion of dependents in the kin group and the living arrangement at the time of birth explained some of this variation controlling for age and parental attributes.
Normative, Structural, and Individual Factors that Predispose Adult Children to Provide Social Support to Their Elderly Parents
Authors: Lorca María Beatriz Fernández , Ponce María Soledad Herrera
Published: February 2019

This study is based on a face-to-face survey, conducted in 2009, with a representative sample of adults who were aged 45 years or above, living in the urban area of Santiago, Chile. This survey examined the exchange network between adults and their elderly parents, focusing on two of the main explanatory approaches to supportive family interrelations. That is, the norms of filial obligation and reciprocity. The article also investigates factors associated with the structure of needs and opportunities, as well as the family structures of the adult children and their parents. By estimating logistic regression models with cluster-robust standard errors the reciprocity norm is found to be significant, whereas that for filial obligation is not. The estimated models show that receiving support from the parent is one of the main factors that predisposes the adult child to the provision of parental support. That is, such action is favored by incorporation in a network of reciprocal exchanges. Thus, intergenerational ties work in two directions: parents request help from their children but also give them help. The norm of filial obligation, on the other hand, is only significant in the case of women.
Global Migration and Family Change in the Baltic Sea Region
Authors: Juozeliūnienė Irena , Budginaitė Irma
Published: February 2019

Global migration rapidly modifies family life in the Baltic Sea region and, for the several last decades, has presented a challenge to migration scholars. The impact of migration on a family attracts the interest of researchers not only because the number of such families is on the rise, but also because it poses certain challenges to the academic discipline, especially when it comes to revising family theories rooted in the ‘low-mobility’ family discourse. The purpose of this article is to review the impact of global migration on family life in the Baltic Sea region, introduce the ‘family change’ perspective for studying migrant families and, to provide an example of how to apply this perspective, by examining the migratory experience of the Lithuanian families. The article demonstrates that the Baltic Sea region can be considered as heterogeneous in regard to migration patterns as well as challenges and opportunities facing its families. To facilitate the analysis of migrant families, the authors of the article propose the ‘family change’ perspective, which is based on the ideas about interactions, orders and identities articulated by symbolic interactionism, and further supplement these ideas with contemporary awareness about the imagined family configuration structure; the suffusion of intergenerational, kin, and personal relationships; and the analysis of family change with a perspective of memory and temporal dimensions. We draw data from the mixed method study conducted from 2012 to 2014 to analyze the migratory experience of Lithuanian families. We discuss familial resources as a latent relationship matrix that can be activated in the case of migration and emphasize the overlap of kin and non-kin ties in this matrix. We also reveal the importance of family relationships in conceptualizing migrant families and demonstrate how role behavior and related identities could constitute an axis for the study of migratory behavior.
Single Singaporeans and their Hesitation to use Commercial Matchmaking Services
Authors: Mathews Mathew , Straughan Paulin Tay
Published: February 2019

The rising proportion of singles in several East and South-east Asian countries and the related concerns of low fertility have resulted in policy makers in the region introducing state sponsored matchmaking services to help singles enter the nuptial phase. In this paper, the case of Singapore is discussed with particular reference to the hesitation of singles to use such marriage intermediaries. Using a qualitative approach involving 83 single Singaporeans of different ethnic and social backgrounds, the aversion to commodification in the mate selection process, the lack of authenticity and spontaneity that ensues from finding matches through commercial services, and the concern that agencies do not provide quality singles are identified as potential barriers to the use of matchmaking services. Possibly the early involvement of the state in promoting such matchmaking services is being resisted by singles who are averse to subjugating their freedom to pursue the spontaneity of romantic love for the pragmatism of matchmaking.
Intergenerational Financial Transfers Across Seven Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Intersection of Gender and Proximity
Authors: Quashie Nekehia T
Published: February 2019

This study extends recent research on the relationship between residential proximity and the support older adults receive from their children, by providing a comparative assessment of the association between the location of the nearest child and older adults’ receipt of financial transfers in seven different cities across Latin America and the Caribbean. The paper further examines the extent to which financial transfers are contingent on the gender of the parent and their economic needs. Data (N=9,063) are drawn from the 2000 Survey of Health, Well-Being and Ageing in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE) collected in seven major cities. The results highlight the importance of co-residence for parents’ receipt of financial transfers. Although increasing distance was negatively associated with receiving support, the city of residence moderated the association between further distance and the receipt of financial support. Older adults in contexts with weak social welfare systems, Mexico City and Havana, were more likely to receive financial support from children far away relative to those residing in stronger welfare contexts such as Montevideo, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Bridgetown. Children do respond positively to their parents’ economic vulnerability but this relationship is also contingent on parents’ proximity to their children, city of residence, and gender. Overall, geographic distance appears to be more, or less, important to financial support depending on the strength of social welfare systems that characterize parents’ city of residence.
The Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Elementary Students’ Academic Achievement in China: One-Only Children vs. Children with Siblings
Authors: Wei Wei , Wu Yifang , Lv Bo , Zhou Huan , Han Xiuhua , Liu Zhaomin , Luo Liang
Published: February 2019

One-only children have long been a research concern and previous studies have consistently found that one-only children posed academic advantages. However, we know very little about why one-only children scored higher in school examinations than their peers with siblings. Parental involvement might be the reason underlies this difference. This study compares the relationship between parental involvement and students’ academic achievement in families with only one child and families with more than one child in China. The results indicate that parents with only one child are more involved in their children’s learning compared with their counterparts with more than one child. The findings also suggest that parent-child communication and parent-child activities can positively predict one-only children’s academic performance, whereas parent-school contact negatively predicts non-only children’s academic performance. These findings highlight the complexity and importance of parental involvement in academic achievement and presents implications for future practice.
Understanding Happiness and Psychological Wellbeing Among Young Married Women in Rural India
Authors: Ghosh Sudeshna , Lahiri Subrata , Datta Nitin
Published: February 2019

The practice of early marriage is deeply rooted in the socio-cultural structure and is well prevalent in rural India despite marriage-prohibiting laws. The paper examines happiness and psychological well-being and its influence by various aspects of marriage among young married women. Multistage sampling technique was used to interview 654 married women, 13-24 years in rural West Bengal. Mean age at marriage was found to be 16 years. One-third reported adjustment problem initially after marriage. Logistic regression analysis results showed marital happiness was positively influenced by less spousal difference in opinion; couple educational status, able to adjust marital problems and wish to have same life partner given an option of partner selection. No significant association was found between happiness and type of marriage and husband’s currently staying with wife.
Intergenerational Transfers Between Young Adult Children and Their Parents in Korea
Authors: Kim Ju-Hyun , Lee Yun-Suk , Kim Phil-Suk
Published: February 2019

Using the first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, this study investigates intergenerational transfers between young adult children and their parents in Korea, where the influence of Confucianism is strong on the relationship between parents and children. As children grow older, they receive decreasingly less financial support from their parents and instead, children provide increasingly more economic aid to their parents. However, while the amounts of upstream transfers are modest, the amounts of downstream transfers are huge. The results revealed that the altruism, exchange motive, and ‘hyo’ theories can explain the mechanisms underlying intergenerational transfers. Additionally, we found that the two generations with more resources are more likely to exchange economic support to maintain and enhance their class positions.
Division of Household Labor and Marital Satisfaction in China: Urban and Rural Comparisons
Authors: Kubricht Bryan C. , Miller Richard B , Yang Kang-lin , Harper James M. , Sandberg Jonathan G.
Published: February 2019

Division of household labor is associated with marital satisfaction among Chinese populations. However, little research has compared rural and urban regions in Chinese societies, which have traditionally had significant cultural differences. This study compared the level of division of household labor and the relationship of division of household labor and marital satisfaction between the urban and rural regions of China. ANOVA results indicated that there were no urban-rural differences in the division of household labor among males and among females. Overall, the division of household labor was significantly associated with marital satisfaction, and invariance testing using SEM revealed the strength of the relationship between division of labor and marital satisfaction did not differ among urban and rural regions in China. Females reported higher levels of household labor in both rural and urban regions, but there were no gender differences in the relationship between division of household labor and marital satisfaction.
Gendered Penalties of Divorce on Remarriage in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Lazarus Suleman Ibrahim , Rush Michael , Dibiana Edward T. , Monks Claire P.
Published: February 2019

Seeking the views of metropolitan, university educated Nigerians in Lagos and Abuja (the previous and current capital cities respectively), our study explores gendered perspectives on the issue of remarriage after divorce to gain a deeper understanding of how customary, Islamic and statutory laws intersect. We build on previous studies (e.g. Therborn, 2004) to highlight that from the 1930s onwards, marital aspects of modern customary laws may be more patriarchal than some pre-colonial ones due to the colonial codification of customary laws in Africa. The empirical basis of our study is interviews with 24 Nigerian men and women, including female divorcees. The results suggest that what Ibrahim (2015) calls “the sociocultural penalties of divorce” are borne more heavily by women and this is exacerbated because traditional or customary laws in modern Nigeria were reshaped by colonial Christian codification. We conclude that whilst Yoruba people seem to have thwarted some of the more negative legacies of religious codification on traditional laws more than other major ethnic groups, customary laws in Nigeria still require re-codification to take on board the perspectives of African feminism.
“We Are Citizens”—Vulnerability and Privilege in the Experiences of Israeli Gay Men with Surrogacy in India
Authors: Lustenberger Sibylle
Published: February 2019

In the spring of 2013, I had the opportunity to accompany a group of Israeli gay couples to Mumbai to conduct ethnographic research on their experiences with transnational surrogacy. Based on this study, the article discusses their encounters with the Indian and Israeli bureaucracy establishing legal parenthood and citizenship to their children. The involved procedures seldom worked out smoothly, and brought about many moments of standstill. I suggest that these moments constituted crises of citizenship, in which the intended parents’ experiences clashed with their expectations towards the state and their place in the world. As both countries had no written policies with regards to transnational surrogacy, the protocols and requirements were in flux and left them with constant anxiety from the unknown and with the feeling that many of the requirements were arbitrary, even exploitative or spiteful. The very same moments also unveiled my interlocutors’ power, as agents and brokers—and at times even their social network back home—assisted them in the maze of bureaucracy and intervened on their behalf. Yet, their reliance on intermediators turned out to be a double-edged sword: The intended parents often felt that the middle men themselves were not engaged enough, overcharged them, or tricked them into additional payments. Vulnerability and privilege go here hand in hand, thus allowing for an understanding of intended parents that does not view them as either successful neoliberal citizens or vulnerable victims of the state.
Correlates of Single Motherhood in Four Sub-SaharanAfrican Countries
Authors: Odimegwu Clifford O , Mutanda Nyasha , Mbanefo Chidimma M.
Published: February 2019

Despite the increase in the number of singlemother families in Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of family breakdown and increasing non-marital childbearing, little is known about the correlates of single motherhood in this region. Using the latest Demographic and Health Surveys data of four Sub-Saharan Africa countries, namely Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Namibia and Swaziland, this study examines the correlates of single motherhood in the selected countries. The results showed that single motherhood is prevalent, ranging between 27% in Congo-Brazzaville and 53% in Namibia, with non-marital childbearing being the major cause of single motherhood. Correlates of single motherhood varied across countries; however, age at first birth, number of living children, and occupation emerged as correlates of single motherhood across the four countries.
Trends in the Divorce Rate and its Regional Disparity in China
Authors: Mo Li
Published: February 2019

With rapid economic growth, China has undergone substantial social, cultural and ideological transformations over the recent decades. In the meantime, trends in China’s family structure have changed dramatically as well. However, due to data limitations, research on trends in divorce has been very rare in China; especially the quantitative studies at the macrolevel. The literature indicates that despite the very low divorce rate from the 1960s to the 1970s, China’s divorce rate has increased greatly in recent decades, but this increase has been uneven in both space and time. Therefore, this paper analyzes trends in China’s divorce rate at the national, regional and provincial levels. The research results suggest that China’s divorce rate has witnessed a steady and noticeable increase in the recent two decades, with the Crude Divorce Rate (CDR) increasing by 178% and Refined Divorce Rate (RDR) increasing by 211%. Among the four provincial-level municipalities, Chongqing shows strikingly high divorce rates, whereas the divorce rates of Beijing and Shanghai have leveled off in recent years. Among all the provincial level units, the Moslem-majority Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region ranks first, whereas Tibet ranks last.
The Error of Looking at Indian Marriages Through Occidental Lenses
Authors: Chand Maitri S.P. , Lee Robert E. , Verma Aneesha
Published: February 2019

This is a cautionary illustration of what errors may occur when marital concepts and assessment tools based on one culture are used to explore another. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised, largely standardized on Western populations, was administered to 88 male and female middle class urban Hindus (MCUH) residing in New Delhi, India. The inventory items were modified so that the questions asked the respondents to reply in terms of their beliefs about marital relationships. Subsequent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses clearly demonstrated that the theoretical infrastructure of the MSI-R—its item content and sub-scales—was not at all a “good fit” for the data of these MCUH. These findings are discussed in terms of the challenges of cross-cultural social research and their shaping of all future work by the researchers. The ultimate goal is to produce a behavior actually shaped by other forces. The present study utilizes the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and discrete-time event history analysis to examine the influence of religious affiliation and attendance on ethnic remarriage differences. The findings suggest that Catholicism does not account for the lower rates of remarriage of Latinos compared to Whites and provide strong evidence for dispelling the previously untested but frequently assumed Catholic influence on ethnic differences in remarriage.Additionally, Evangelical Protestants, particularly men, appear the most likely to remarry. culturally relevant and valid Indian marital survey instrument for both clinical and academic use.
Parenting Intervention Needs and Perceived Barriers Among Korean Immigrant Parents in New Zealand
Authors: Vaydich Jenny L. , Keown Louise J.
Published: February 2019

In recent years, Korean families have immigrated to New Zealand in large numbers. The process of learning to adjust and adapt to a new host country can bring with it opportunities for growth as well as difficulties. Immigrating to a new country often introduces a variety of challenges and stressors, which may influence parenting. A consumer engagement approach was used to solicit information from Korean immigrant parents regarding their parenting concerns and needs to inform parenting program content. The current study used a mixed methods approach to understand the parenting needs of Korean immigrant parents as well as barriers and enablers to participation in a parenting program. Preferred methods of program delivery were also explored. Implications for practitioners and parenting programs are discussed.
Measurement Invariance of the Differentiation of Family System Scale for Koreans and Americans
Authors: Lee Hyanghee , Sabatelli Ronald M.
Published: February 2019

The Differentiation in the Family System Scale (DIFS; Anderson & Sabatelli, 1992) is a popular scale used to assess emotional connectedness and separateness within the context of family-of-origin experiences. This current study contributes to the research on family patterns of interaction by assessing the measurement invariance of DIFS for Americans and Koreans. The results indicated that the factor structure and loadings of the DIFS were invariant across both samples; however, latent means should not be compared across two groups because strong invariance was not met. It implies that there may be bias when participants from different cultures respond to the particular items. The findings challenge the practice, often used by internationally based researchers, of using translated versions of scales developed for use with U.S. based samples/populations. The non-invariance of some items is discussed in terms of the linguistic and cultural differences that would influence responses to translated measurement for Koreans. This research emphasizes the need for culturally grounded measures that integrate cultural factors into the measurement of marriage and family constructs.
Daily Emotion Regulation in American and Asian-Indian Romantic Couples
Authors: Fonseca Ana Laura , Kamble Shanmukh , Duggi Deepti , Flores Melissa , Butler Emily A
Published: February 2019

We present findings from a daily diary study that explored relative preferences for using each of six emotion regulation strategies and associations between those strategies and romantic relationship quality, as indicated by negative emotions experienced due to one’s partner. We also investigate differences in these processes as predicted by country of residence (United States or India), since these countries differ on many aspects of social and emotional behavior. We hypothesized that a given emotion regulation strategy would be: 1) used more than the others, and 2) associated with lower negative emotions due to one’s partner to the extent that its function fit with an individual’s country of residence. The results provide both support for and evidence against our hypotheses, but in general suggest that culture can influence the preference for different emotion regulation strategies as well as their associations with negative emotional experiences in romantic relationships.
تطوير المواد التعليمية لمهارة الاستماع لدارس اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها
Authors: Farid Edi Kurniawan
Published: February 2019

يهدف هذا البحث إلى تطوير المواد التعليمية لمهارة الاستماع لدارس اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بهافي المدرسة المتوسطة الاسلامية في بروبولنجو-جاوى الشرقية. والأسئلة التي يريد الباحث إجابتها وهي الأولى، كيف تطوير المواد التعليمية لمهارة الاستماع لدارس اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها. والثانية، كيف التجربة الميدانية لهذه المواد التعليمية. والثالثة، ما مدى فعالية المواد التعليمية. مدخل البحث هوشبه الكمي ونوع البحث هو بحث تطويري. يجرى هذا البحث التطويري على الخطوات؛ لتمهيدية، التخطيط، التصميم، تعديل المنتج من الخبراء، التجريب الميداني. ومجتمع هذا البحث كل الطالب في الصف السابع بالمدرسة المتوسطة الإسلامية زين الحسن-قنقون بروبولنجو، وعيّن الباحث 28 طالبا في الصف السابع (أ). استخدم الباحث أدوات جمع البيانات منها الملاحظة، الاختبار القبلي والاختبار البعدى، والاستبيان، والمقابلة. ونتائج هذا البحث هي: 1) الكتاب التعليمي لمهارة الاستماع لدارس اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها .2) ارتفاع قدرة الطلاب في الاستماع ورغبتهم فيه وتغيير آرئهم عنه بأنه سهل. 3) إنّ المواد التعليمية فعالة لترقية قدرة الطلاب في الاستماع.
Teaching Vocabulary Using Modified Snakes and Ladders Game
Authors: Setiawan Imam , Mitra Zuana Muhammad Mujtaba
Published: February 2019

Many teachers fail to create a creative learning activity based on the children’s characteristics. In fact, many of today’s elementary schools are equipped with modern technology facilities that can encourage the children’s motivation in vocabulary learning. Unfortunately, the facilities are still used monotonously in learning activity.  This invariable learning activity may cause boredom for young learners. One of the ways to solve the problem is by developing a suitable teaching aid to increase vocabulary learning quality for young learners; it is the electronic Snakes and Ladders game. Therefore, this study aims to develop the conventional format of Snakes and Ladders game into electronic format for the teaching of English vocabulary to the second graders and to investigate the students’ responses toward the game developed. The results in revision I and revision II shows that there are some revisions made dealing with the features and content during the development of the game. While the content is revised by adding more questions amount and variation. Overall the material used and the features exposed in electronic Snakes and Ladders game are appropriate with the second graders characteristics and learning objective. Furthermore, the students show positive response toward the electronic Snakes and Ladders game.
Kualitas Bibit Durian Unggul Lokal Palopo
Authors: Sapareng Sukriming , Idris Muhammad Yusuf , Intisari Intisari , Yasin Sitti Maryam , Rosnina Rosnina
Published: February 2019

Budidaya tanaman durian (Durio zibethinus L.) di Indonesia memiliki prospek tinggi karena mempunyai nilai komersial yang tinggi dan permintaan konsumen pada saat musim durian yang cukup tinggi. Selain itu untuk agroindustri, buah durian dapat dijadikan sebagai bahan campuran makanan maupun minuman sehingga mempunyai nilai ekonomis cukup tinggi. Penelitian  bertujuan menganalisis usaha pembibitan durian unggul lokal Palopo yang mempunyai citrarasa khas dengan aroma yang lebih ringan. Kendala utama pada pengembangan durian yaitu penyediaan bibit yang berkualitas. Usaha untuk mengatasi hal tersebut dapat dilakukan melalui teknik penyediaan bibit yang baik dan benar dengan cara vegetatif (berasal dari okulasi maupun sambung pucuk). Hasil penelitian analisis kelayakan usaha menunjukkan bahwa pembibitan durian unggul lokal Palopo dinyatakan layak dari sisi finansial. Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan harga pokok produksi minuman bibit diperoleh Rp 2.515,82. Hasil kelayakan usaha bibit durian diperoleh nilai NPV= Rp 1.345.334,21, gross B/C= 1.7244, net B/C= 3.9214, dan IRR= 63%..
Perempuan Penjual Pecel Lamasi, Kecamatan Lamasi, Kab. Luwu Sulawesi Selatan Sebagai Pilar Ekonomi Keluarga.
Authors: Jumarniati Jumarniati , Saruman Sri Hastuty , Baharuddin Muhammad Rusli
Published: February 2019

Tujuan program kemitraan perempuan penjual pecel lamasi adalah terbentuknya mental kewirausahaan dengan indikator tercipta semangat tinggi dalam menghadapi tantangan permasalahan ekonomi keluarga, Perluasan pemasaran dan terbentuknya Perkebunan organik sebagai solusi kebutuhan Sayuran pelengkap. Metode pelaksanaan yaitu sosialisasi program, pelatihan dan pendampingan kewiausahaan, sistem perkebunan organik, pelatihan dasar-dasar koperasi, dan strategi perluasan pemasaran. Keberhasilan pelaksanaan program tidak lepas dari partisifasi aktif masyarakat dengan mengikuti seluruh rangkaian kegiatan dan monitoring dan evaluasi secara berkala. Sebagai hasil kemitraan ini maka terbentuk koperasi perempuan penjual pecel, peningkatan pengetahuan tentang pemanfaatan lahan pekarangan, dan mengubah prilaku usaha perorangan menjadi usaha kelompok atau sentra produksi pecel lamasi.
Peningkatan Kompetensi Teknologi dan Informasi Guru Bimbingan dan Konseling
Authors: Cahyawulan Wening , Badrujaman Aip , Fitriyani Hilma , Mamesah Michiko , Wahyuni Eka , Djunaedi Djunaedi
Published: February 2019

Kompetensi teknologi dan informasi bagi guru bimbingan dan konseling/konselor merupakan kompetensi yang perlu dimiliki. Hal ini dikarenakan, kompetensi teknologi dan informasi akan membantu guru bimbingan dan konseling/konselor melaksanakan administrasi bimbingan dan konseling yang cenderung memakan waktu, seperti analisis hasil asesmen. Pengabdian pada masyarakat dilakukan dengan metode pelatihan yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kompetensi teknologi guru bimbingan dan konseling/konselor di wilayah DKI Jakarta. Pengabdian pada masyarakat melibatkan 28 orang guru bimbingan dan konseling di wilayah DKI Jakarta. Berdasarkan hasil pelaksanaan pengabdian pada masyarakat, diperlukan adanya pendampingan bagi peserta ketika menerapkan kompetensi teknologi dan informasi dalam layanan bimbingan dan konseling di sekolah masing-masing
Finger Texture Verification Systems Based on multiple spectrum Lighting Sensors with Four Fusion Levels
Authors: Al-Kaltakchi Musab T. , Omar Raid R. , Abdullah Hikmat N. , Han Tingting , Chambers Jonathon A.
Published: February 2019

Finger Texture (FT) is one of the most recent attractive biometric characteristic. Itrefers to a finger skin area which is restricted between the fingerprint and the palm print (just after including the lower knuckle). Different specifications for the FT can be obtained by employing multiple images spectrum of lights. This inspired the insight of applying a combination between the FT features that acquired by utilizing two various spectrum lightings in order to attain high personal recognitions. Four types of fusion will be listed and explained here: Sensor Level Fusion (SLF), Feature Level Fusion (FLF), Score Level Fusion (ScLF) and Decision Level Fusion (DLF). Each fusion method is employed and examined for an FT verification system. From the database of Multiple Spectrum CASIA (MSCASIA), FT images have been collected. Two types of spectrum lights have been exploited (the wavelength of 460 nm, which represents a Blue (BLU) light, and the White (WHT) light). Supporting comparisons were performed, including the state-of-the-art. Best recognition performance were recorded for the FLF based concatenation rule by improving the Equal Error Rate (EER) percentages from 5% for the BLU and 7% for the WHT to 2%.
Fördert die Exzellenzinitiative soziale Ungleichheit bei
der Hochschulwahl?
Authors: Wagner Andreas
Published: February 2019

Untersucht wird die Frage, ob die Exzellenzinitiative eine Prestigewirkung auf die Hochschulwahl von Studierenden mit hohem sozioökonomischen Status (SES) hat. Eine Längsschnittregression der Daten des Deutschen Studierendensurveys der Universität Konstanz zeigt keinen signifikanten Kausaleffekt. Stattdessen verdichten sich Hinweise, dass die Exzellenzinitiative bereits vorhandene Prestigedifferenzen zwischen deutschen Universitäten abbildet, die mit geringer sozialer Ungleichheit zwischen den Studierenden einhergehen.