Contents: Preface. Introduction. Part I: Family Definitions, Theories, and Methods.G.H. Stamp, Theories of Family Relationships and a Family Relationships Theoretical Model. P. Noller, J.A. Feeney, Studying Family Communication: Multiple Methods and Multiple Sources. Part II: Communication Across the Family Life Course.C.A. Surra, C.R. Gray, N. Cottle, T.M.J. Boettcher, Research on Mate Selection and Premarital Relationships: What Do We Really Know? F.D. Fincham, Communication in Marriage. T.L. Huston, E.K. Holmes, Becoming Parents. K.L. Fingerman, J. Nussbaum, K.S. Birditt, Keeping All Five Balls in the Air: Juggling Family Communication at Midlife. F.C. Dickson, A. Christian, C.J. Remmo, An Exploration of Marital and Family Issues of the Later-Life Adult. Part III: Communication in Various Family Forms.A.F. Koerner, M.A. Fitzpatrick, Communication in Intact Families. J.M. Lewis, J.S. Wallerstein, L. Johnson-Reitz, Communication in Divorced and Single Parent Families. M. Coleman, L. Ganong, M. Fine, Communication in Stepfamilies. L.A. Peplau, K.P. Beals, The Family Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men. R.C. Diggs, T. Socha, Communication, Families, and Exploring the Boundaries of Cultural Diversity. Part IV: The Relational Communication of Family Members.W.J. Doherty, J.M. Beaton, Mothers and Fathers Parenting Together. L.A. Van Egeren, M.S. Barratt, The Developmental Origins of Communication: Interactional Systems in Infancy. L. Stafford, Communication Competencies and Sociocultural Priorities of Middle Childhood. B. Laursen, W.A. Collins, Parent-Child Communication During Adolescence. M. Schmeeckle, S. Sprecher, Extended Family and Social Networks. Part V: Family Communication Processes.J.P. Caughlin, S. Petronio, Privacy in Families. A. Sillars, D.J. Canary, M. Tafoya, Communication, Conflict, and the Quality of Family Relationships. S.R. Wilson, W.M. Morgan, Persuasion and Families. J. Fitness, J. Duffield, Emotion and Communication in Families. K.A. Gardner, C.E. Cutrona, Social Support Communication in Families. J. Jorgenson, A.P. Bochner, Imagining Families Through Stories and Rituals. Part VI: Communication and Contemporary Family Issues.M. Perry-Jenkins, C.P. Pierce, A.E. Goldberg, Discourses on Diapers and Dirty Laundry: Family Communication About Child Care and Housework. B.J. Wilson, The Mass Media and Family Communication. N. Jennings, E. Wartella, Technology and the Family. B.A. Le Poire, The Influence of Drugs and Alcohol on Family Communication: The Effects That Substance Abuse Has on Family Members and the Effects That Family Members Have on Substance Abuse. K.L. Anderson, D. Umberson, S. Elliott, Violence and Abuse in Families. D.J. Jones, S.R.H. Beach, H. Jackson, Family Influences on Health: A Framework to Organize Research and Guide Intervention. Part VII: Epilogue and Commentary.K. Galvin, The Family of the Future: What Do We Face?