Scope
JFP is the premier family research journal. Family psychology is a complex field, as it includes systems perspectives on the multiple influences on relationships, developmental perspectives on how relationships are formed and sustained over time, cultural perspectives on how society and traditions affect relationships, the intersection of individual differences and social relationships, and practice components in how to affect real and meaningful changes in couple, parent, and family relationships.
JFP addresses societal challenges faced by families today. Important societal challenges facing families today — risk for divorce in vulnerable families, couple and marital satisfaction in military families, child-raising challenges and positive outcomes in immigrant families, risk and resilience in families who adopt, and relationship transitions in diverse couples and families (e.g., in terms of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability) — are examples of topics addressed in JFP. JFP publishes important studies on what makes couple and family relationships work. JFP consistently publishes strong empirical studies on what keeps couples together, what makes for strong parent–child relationships, and the subtle nuances in predicting healthy relationships over time. JFP is a leader in publishing reports that use cutting-edge, sophisticated approaches to research design and data analysis. JFP imparts knowledge about effective therapy and prevention programs relevant to couples and families.