Tóm tắt:

The Handbook serves to advance the field by reframing old questions and stimulating new ones. The contents are comprised of chapters covering: theoretical and methodological issues influencing current conceptions of family; research and theory centering around the family life course, communication occurring in a variety of family forms, dynamic communication processes taking place in families. New topics reflecting the growth of the discipline, including chapters on "singles" as family members, emerging adults, and physiology and physical health. The book is highlighting the work of scholars across disciplines--communication, social psychology, clinical psychology, sociology, family studies, and others--this volume captures the breadth and depth of research on family communication and family relationships. The well-known contributors approach family interaction from a variety of theoretical perspectives and focus on topics ranging from the influence of structural characteristics on family relationships to the importance of specific communication processes.