JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

Scope & Guideline

Navigating the Intersections of Family and Society

Introduction

Welcome to the JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0022-2445
PublisherWILEY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1973 to 1978, from 1980 to 1981, 1985, from 1996 to 2024
AbbreviationJ MARRIAGE FAM / J. Marriage Fam.
Frequency5 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Marriage and Family aims to advance the understanding of family dynamics, relationships, and structures through rigorous research and analysis. It encompasses a diverse range of topics that reflect the multifaceted nature of family life in contemporary society.
  1. Family Dynamics and Relationships:
    The journal focuses on the complexities of family relationships, including parenting, sibling interactions, and spousal dynamics, emphasizing the role of various factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, and cultural background.
  2. Social Contexts and Family Structures:
    Research published in the journal often examines how different social contexts (e.g., neighborhoods, workplaces, and broader societal changes) influence family structures and relationships, highlighting the interplay between individual choices and structural constraints.
  3. Diversity and Inclusion in Family Studies:
    The journal prioritizes studies that address diversity in family forms and experiences, including those related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and nontraditional family structures, thereby contributing to a more inclusive understanding of family.
  4. Impact of Policy and Economic Factors:
    There is a strong focus on how policies (such as family leave and child support) and economic conditions (like employment patterns and income inequality) affect family well-being and dynamics, providing insights into potential areas for intervention.
  5. Methodological Innovation:
    The journal encourages the use of diverse methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, to capture the complexities of family life and relationships.
The Journal of Marriage and Family is witnessing a shift towards emerging themes that reflect contemporary societal challenges and evolving family structures. These trends underscore the journal's commitment to addressing current issues affecting families.
  1. Intersectionality in Family Studies:
    There is a growing emphasis on intersectionality, exploring how various identities (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) intersect to shape family experiences and dynamics, which allows for a more nuanced understanding of family life.
  2. Impact of Technology on Family Relationships:
    Research focusing on how digital technologies influence family interactions, communication, and parenting practices is on the rise, reflecting the increasing integration of technology in daily family life.
  3. Health and Well-Being in Family Contexts:
    Emerging studies are increasingly linking family dynamics with physical and mental health outcomes, particularly in light of recent global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. Non-Traditional Family Forms:
    There is an upsurge in research exploring the dynamics of non-traditional family arrangements, such as same-sex couples, cohabiting partners, and blended families, reflecting changing societal norms.
  5. Resilience and Adaptation in Families:
    The journal is seeing more work on family resilience, particularly in the face of economic hardship, health crises, and social changes, emphasizing how families adapt and thrive despite challenges.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Marriage and Family continues to cover a wide array of topics, certain themes have seen a decline in prominence over recent years. This may reflect broader shifts in societal concerns or changes in research funding and focus.
  1. Traditional Marriage Constructs:
    Research focusing exclusively on traditional marriage dynamics without considering broader relationship types (like cohabitation or non-monogamous arrangements) appears to be waning, as the journal increasingly embraces diverse family forms.
  2. Gender Norms in Parenting:
    Studies that reinforce rigid gender norms in parenting roles are becoming less frequent, as the journal highlights more fluid and egalitarian approaches to parenting and family roles.
  3. Impact of Religion on Family Dynamics:
    While still relevant, the exploration of religion's impact on family life has seen a decrease as more secular and diverse cultural narratives gain traction in family studies.
  4. Child-Centric Perspectives:
    Research that solely views family dynamics through the lens of children’s needs and outcomes, without considering the perspectives of parents and other family members, is becoming less common.
  5. Focus on Intact Nuclear Families:
    There is a noticeable reduction in studies that center exclusively on intact nuclear families, as the journal increasingly addresses the experiences of blended families, single-parent families, and other configurations.

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