Synopsis
This volume bears witness to two important transitions. First, it emphasizes the dynamic importance of family transitions, particularly for the growth and development of relationships and each of their component individuals. It captures the processes by which the components of this complex social system change during the course of the transition and how changes in one component are linked to changes in the others. Second, and more broadly, this volume captures a critical transition in the larger research community. The contributors display a clear and equal partnership between intervention researchers and longitudinal observers of family systems that has developed over the past few decades. We understand, as family transitions unfold, that intervention is a critical strategy for understanding the links among family systems observed over time. We also understand that the outcomes of interventions are best followed as further development of the family system, not just successes or failures. Thus, intervention studies are enhanced by understanding the intervention as a major developmental transition, often superimposed on other family transitions.
