Promoting Healthy Relationship Development in Teens, Part I: How Dating Smart in Youth Can Foster Better Relationships in Adulthood (FCS2325/FY1363)

Figure 1. Healthy dating relationships can lead to healthy marriages. Cultivating healthy dating relationships that can lead to healthy adult romantic and marriage relationships is a science that reflects a complicated calculus of the premarital influences that may shape future relationship stability, quality, and satisfaction. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Victor W. Harris, Gilon Marts, and Martie Gillen, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1363

What Is a Healthy Dating or Marriage Relationship? (FCS2323/FY1361)

ure 1. The majority of Americans will marry at some point in their lives, making it important to understand what a healthy dating and marriage relationship is.Defining what a healthy romantic relationship is can be challenging. Thankfully, modern research has given us a good idea of what healthy dating and marriage relationships look like. Use this fact sheet to determine what a healthy relationship looks like to you. Then take the survey to get an idea of the strengths already present in your relationship and those things you may want to work on. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1361

Why Fragile Families Don’t Marry (FAR3003/FM013)

wedding rings on a weathered surface“He can’t support us. Why should I marry him?” This mom is not alone in her resistance to matrimony. In fact, increasing evidence has many of the opponents of the Healthy Marriage Initiative on the offensive. While the reauthorization of the welfare reform bill will allocate substantial funds to states for the development of programs for improving relations between unmarried parents, those who challenge the bill argue that marriage is not the answer… This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, February 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm013

Parent Time (FAR0401/FM008)

couple holding sleeping newbornParenting an infant is one of the most exciting and fulfilling opportunities of a lifetime. At the same time, it can be one of the most stressful periods in a person’s life. Research has shown that babies as young as one month old can sense and will be affected by a parent who is depressed or angry. Finding the delicate balance between the new parents’ needs and the baby’s needs is very important. This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, February 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm008

Saying Goodbye: Military Deployments (FAR0013/FM072)

soldier holds girl with flag“Those last few hugs, the last few kisses, the last few goodbyes are what many military families across the United States have experienced when seeing a loved one leave for deployment. An estimated 1.4 million servicemen and women serve as active duty members in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force. Deployments are nothing new in the military community. However, during these times of separation, family members of those serving, especially the children, undergo many hardships. Studies show children’s reactions to separation can even lead to depression.” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Alexandra Ulrich and Suzanna Smith, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm072

Improving Health and Happiness in the Home by Being an Energy Giver Rather Than an Energy Taker (FCS3313/FY1339)

Father and son with laundry basket One way to improve health and happiness in the home is to work toward becoming an energy giver rather than an energy taker. The first step in doing this is to accept that you have some control regarding the attitude you choose to display during your waking hours. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Randall A. Cantrell and Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, October 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1339

Are You Marrying Someone from a Different Culture or Religion? (FCS2321/FY1337)

Figure 1. While marrying someone from a different culture or religion can present some unique challenges, it can also provide some beautiful and enriching opportunities for growth.It was the author Paul Sweeney who penned, “A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance, and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.” Couples must make many adjustments as they learn to live with each other from year to year. When those adjustments include negotiating culture or religion, it adds another dimension to the process of trying to strengthen the relationship. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Stephanie C. Toelle and Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1337

What Do You See? Healthy Dating That Leads to Healthy Marriage (FCS2322/FY1338)

Figure 1. Giving our dating and romantic relationships the attention they deserve by being willing to look at them through different lenses can be a crucial step to developing the ability to successfully navigate the pathways of a healthy marriage.Albert Einstein offered this perspective on dating and romantic relationships: “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” Dating relationships are the building blocks for healthy marriage relationships. To give them “the attention they deserve,” use different perspectives to help see why healthy dating can lead to healthy marriages or why unhealthy dating can lead to unhealthy marriages and divorce. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Victor W. Harris and Ginny Hinton, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1338

Does Divorce Make People Happy? (FAR4006/FM315)

Figure 1.  Credits: iStockphoto“The marriage and divorce trends of the “modern” American family have been studied for decades. In an attempt to further understand the outcomes of divorce, a team of family scholars headed by University of Chicago sociologist Linda Waite studied whether unhappily married adults who divorced were any happier than unhappily married people who stayed married.” This 2-page fact sheet was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm315

Are You Marrying the Right Person? Healthy Signs and Red Flags (FCS2320/FY1336)

Figure 1. A red flag at the beach generally indicates hazardous conditions for water sports, but that still doesn't stop some people from going into the water anyway.There are very few experiences in life that are as exciting as the “real thing” of getting married. However, there are very few as disappointing as finding ourselves attached to the wrong person. Learning about what healthy relationships look like is important if we are going to make good decisions about who to marry. This 4-page fact sheet was written by LuAnn Duncan and Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1336

10 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Married (FCS2319/FY1335)

Figure 1. The three major factors that predict future marital satisfaction—our individual traits, our traits as a couple, and our personal and relationship contexts—form what is known as the marriage triangle model. (See: Larson, 2003)Americans love romantic books and movies that involve wedding vows and “happily-ever-after” endings. But in response to the high rates of divorce, a growing trend has emerged that focuses on developing a healthy marriage, rather than just the act of marriage. This 5-page fact sheet presents ten ways to achieve a healthy marriage of your own. Written by Victor W. Harris and Ginny Hinton, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1335

Adult Children of High-Conflict Marriages (FAR3037/FM394)

three arguing adults in kitchen“Most of us have probably heard someone declare that they had remained in their marriage “for the sake of the kids.” Research suggests, however, that logic may not hold up. In the long run, children whose parents are in high-conflict marriages may not be any better off than children whose parents divorce. While divorce has been shown to create significant negative outcomes for many children over the course of their lives, new research shows that conflict in marriage can have lasting effects into adulthood as well.” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm394

Baby Boomer Family Life (FAR5008/FM389)

grandfather, father, and grandson smile for camera“The first of the baby boomers are getting a lot of press lately as they begin turning 60, and researchers have been exploring how this large generation impacts not only our political and cultural climate, but our families as well.” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Suzanna Smith and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm389

Are You Ready to Tie the Knot? A Quick Checklist (FCS2318/FY1334)

Figure 1. hand in handThe inventor, statesman, and scholar Benjamin Franklin provided some wise advice to all those thinking about tying the knot. “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage,” he said, “[and] half shut afterwards.” Marriage is a partnership that has emotional, financial, and legal implications. Before entering into this union, it is important for you and your partner to have your “eyes wide open” as you examine your individual attitudes and behaviors about both social and financial issues. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Lisa M. Leslie and Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1334

Teen Relationship Abuse Research Study (FAR1205/FM400)

boy and girl face away from each other“When we think of violence between intimate partners, we often think of domestic abuse between adult men and women, and most often between husbands and wives. However, in a recent study commissioned by Liz Claiborne Inc., researchers discovered deep and troubling evidence that today’s teens are not only experiencing dating violence, but are accepting it as normal.” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm400

Adolescent Bullying and Family Therapy (FAR1204/FM399)

three teenage girls laughing at a sad girl in foreground“As much as parents like to think that bullying is something that’s outgrown in childhood, unfortunately it’s actually on the increase in adolescence. There are various individual and school-based approaches to dealing with bullying, but a new intervention that you might find surprising is none other than family therapy. ” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Kate Fogarty, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm399

Old Maid No More (FAR3038/FM416)

Figure 1.  Credits: Digital Vision“Twenty years ago, women were being warned that, according to demographic research, if they didn’t marry by the time they were in their early twenties, they would likely live out their lives unwed. As a child, I was even told that “those” women became “old maids,” and I feared a similar fate. Fast-forward to 2006, and the news is quite different.” This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Donna Davis, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm416

9 Habilidades importantes de la comunicacion para cada relacion (FCS2315Span/FY1333)

Figura 1.  Comunicación La comunicación efectiva es esencial para las relaciones exitosas. Investigadores y terapistas han encontrado que hay al menos nueve habilidades que pueden ayudar a las parejas a aprender a hablar efectivamente acerca de problemas importantes. Si aprende bien estas nueve habilidades puede ayudar a poner las relaciones en una trayectoria positiva al éxito. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Victor William Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1333

10 Reglas del conflicto constructivo (FCS2314Span/FY1332)

Figura 1. ¿Cómo maneja los conflictos? Determinar cómo manejamos los conflictos – constructivamente o destructivamente- es un buen camino para saber que tan funcionales o disfuncionales actuamos en las relaciones. Tómese un minuto para contestar la prueba que se encuentra a continuación para ver si maneja los conflictos de una forma constructiva o destructiva. Esto le ayudará a darse cuenta que está haciendo bien y en cuáles habilidades podría trabajar un poco más. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Victor William Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1332

Ocho necesidades de la pareja, el padre y el hijo (FCS2313Span/FY1331)

number eight with peopleCuando las personas, las parejas y los padres aprenden cómo satisfacer sus necesidades personales consistentemente, pueden ayudar a otros y a sus hijos a satisfacer sus propias necesidades. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Victor William Harris, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1331