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Families

A multigenerational group of people who share a close relationship and generally live in the same household, with one or more parents caring for biological or adopted children, families also include adult children who care for their elderly parents. RAND research on families spans various populations and socioeconomic backgrounds in developed as well as developing countries and addresses such topics as child welfare, fertility, marriage and divorce, and household economic security.

Journal Article
Couples' Diminished Social and Financial Capital Exacerbate the Association Between Maladaptive Attributions and Relationship Satisfaction
A study of the social networks of 462 ethnically diverse newlywed spouses living with low incomes.
Jun 21, 2023
Journal Article
Typologies of Dementia Caregiver Support Networks: A Pilot Study
This study suggests that there are different types of care and support networks available to caregivers to people with Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias, and that the size and structure of networks vary considerably among demographic groups.
Jun 13, 2023
Commentary
Your Health Insurance May Not Be As Good As Your State Requires—and It's Perfectly Legal
Massachusetts has a law to ensure ease of access to birth control pills, saying there should be no copays and women can fill a 12-month prescription at once. Infertility care has similar protections. But many health plans don't have to comply with state laws because they are “self-insured.”
Jun 9, 2023
Journal Article
Lasting Declines in Couples' Social Network Interactions in the First Years of COVID
Couples experienced a 50% decline in face-to-face interactions with their social networks and a nearly 40% decline in virtual interactions during COVID-19, with little recovery over the first 18 months of the pandemic.
Jun 2, 2023
Journal Article
Stability and Change in Newlyweds' Social Networks Over the First Years of Marriage
The social networks of 462 newlywed couples was tracked over the first 18 months of marriage. Spouses' networks grew to include more of each other's family members, more married and financially secure individuals and more good relationships.
Jun 2, 2023
Journal Article
Geographical Access to Specialized Behavioral Health Treatment Programs for U.S. Active Duty Service Members and Military Families from Military Installations
The purpose of this study is to determine geographical access to specialized behavioral health programs tailored to active duty U.S. service members and military families from military installations.
Jun 1, 2023
Report
"Conditions for Postservice Success Are Set Well Before the Uniform Comes Off": Proceedings from a Roundtable on How Military Service Affects Veterans' Posttransition Outcomes
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute hosted subject-matter experts for a roundtable discussion focusing on how military experience shapes veterans' transitions to civilian life.
May 30, 2023
Research Brief
Domestic Abuse Prevention and Outreach Approaches for the Military Community
This study focused on identifying strategies to help prevent domestic abuse among service members and their spouses or partners before it occurs and strategies for outreach to high-risk groups that could be effective in the military environment.
May 16, 2023
Report
Preventing Domestic Abuse in the U.S. Armed Forces
Domestic abuse has severe consequences for service members, their families, and, potentially, unit readiness. What strategies could help prevent domestic abuse before it occurs and help the military with communication to reach individuals who might have risk factors for domestic abuse?
May 16, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: May-June 2023
The cover story commemorates RAND's 75th anniversary. One feature article explores what it would take to eliminate racial wealth disparities in the United States; another highlights a promising mental health first aid initiative in New York City.
May 12, 2023
Blog
RAND Turns 75: A Look Through the Decades At World-Changing Research
From anticipating the Space Age in the 1940s to studying gun policy and COVID-19 responses in the 2020s, RAND is celebrating 75 years of research that has made a difference.
May 8, 2023
Blog
Truth Decay and National Security, Gun Violence, Blockading Crimea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Truth Decay and national security, America's gun violence problem, how Ukraine could blockade Crimea, and more.
Apr 14, 2023
Report
Supporting Students in Foster Care
State and federal policymakers have passed legislation designed to promote collaboration between the education and child welfare systems with the goal of improving educational stability for youth in foster care and, in turn, their educational outcomes. But there are barriers to cross-system collaboration.
Apr 4, 2023
Report
Evaluability Assessment and Evaluation Options for an Elder Abuse Shelter Model
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center's EAS in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) model.
Mar 23, 2023
Research Brief
The Weinberg Center's Elder Abuse Shelter Model: Ready for Impact Evaluation
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center’s Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the EAS model.
Mar 23, 2023
Report
America's Opioid Ecosystem
Patterns and consequences of opioid use are changing dramatically. Researchers provide a nuanced assessment of America's opioid ecosystem, highlighting how leveraging system interactions can reduce addiction, overdose, suffering, and other harms.
Mar 16, 2023
Visualization
The Ecosystem Approach to Opioid Policy
RAND researchers created a tool to help federal, state, and local policymakers better understand issues surrounding opioids as an ecosystem—and explore innovative policy ideas.
Mar 16, 2023
News Release
U.S. Opioid Crisis Best Viewed as Connected Ecosystem; Changing Policymakers' Approach Can Aid Solutions
The nation's opioid crisis, which kills thousands of Americans annually, is best viewed as an ecosystem where all parts of the vexing problem are interconnected, underscoring the need for holistic solutions that address the broad needs of those with substance use disorders, their families, and the communities where they live.
Mar 16, 2023
Report
Interventions for People Who Have Attempted Suicide and Their Family Members: A Systematic Review
A history of having attempted suicide is an important risk factor for suicide. In this report, the authors review the uptake, retention, and effectiveness of suicide aftercare interventions after an attempt.
Mar 8, 2023
Journal Article
Low Tech, High Potential: Using Technology to Improve Communication Across Home Care Workers
Our findings suggest that a basic workflow process—communication among HCWs—is limited in many home care settings. Simple technologies could be developed to support HCWs to navigate the challenges of providing care to clients in their homes.
Mar 7, 2023

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RAND Topic:
Families

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Kankan Zhang

Analyst

Kankan Zhang (she/her) is an analyst working in the area of home affairs and social policy at RAND Europe. Her research interests include gender, employment, and family policy. Prior to joining RAND, Zhang completed a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge which focused on the childcare…
Stephanie Brooks Holliday

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Stephanie Brooks Holliday (she/her) is a senior behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist at the RAND Corporation. Her research has spanned a range of topics. Several of her studies at RAND have focused on the criminal and juvenile justice system, including the evaluation of programs to…

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