Family Theory and Research in Hungary (1996)

Including This Report in the State of Family Project

While this report predates the official launch of the State of Family Project by Marriage and Family Review (MFR), we’re excited to include it on our interactive map. Here’s why:

Alignment with Project Goals: This report, published by MFR, delves into a key aspect of family life, echoing the project’s aim to provide comprehensive insights into contemporary families. Its inclusion enriches the project’s scope and historical context.
Honoring MFR’s Legacy: MFR has a long and distinguished history of publishing research on families. Including this report pays homage to that legacy and acknowledges the significant contributions MFR has made to the field.
Valuable Knowledge: Regardless of publication date, the report offers valuable knowledge and insights that resonate with the project’s goals. Sharing it on the map ensures wider accessibility and fosters meaningful conversations about families.

We encourage you to explore the report’s abstract and full article linked below.

In the garden

Abstract

Systematic study of family began in Hungary after World War II. Empirical research on family was replaced with ideologically guided works after the Communist political takeover in 1949. The impact of socialism on family life and family research and the influence of various theoretical and methodological approaches on analysis of family are discussed in this paper. There was no baby boom in Hungary. The low birthrate, heavy use of abortion as a means of family planning, and movement of the society toward industrialization, collectivization, and urbanization had profound effects on family functions and lifestyles. This paper traces the development of family research in Hungary. Concern over declining fertility prompted a series of family studies in the 1950s and 1960s. Divorce and kinship were topics explored by Hungarian researchers in cross national linkages with scholars from the United States. Recent research has focused on social problems of the elderly and the informal networks of the nuclear family. Marxist and structural- functionalist theories have been prominent in Hungarian family research; but historical demographic and systems approaches have also been employed.

https://doi.org/10.1300/J002v22n03_01

By incorporating this report, we demonstrate the State of Family Project’s commitment to comprehensiveness, historical awareness, and the pursuit of knowledge that benefits families and communities.

This report was authored by: László Cseh-Szombathy & Peter Somlai

Notes

images from istockphoto.com

Contributors

profajames

Anthony G. James, Jr. holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in human development and family studies from the University of Missouri and a B.S. in Sociology (with a minor in Military Science) from Lincoln University (MO). He is an associate professor in the Department of Family Science & Social Work at Miami University. He is the editor-in-chief of Marriage and Family Review. Dr. James’s research and thought leadership has appeared in Diverse Issue in Higher Education, TIME, and the Thrive Center for Human Development blog. He is the editor of Black Families: A Systems Approach, co-editor of Essays of Advice, and author of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: A Practical Guide.

Prof. A James Jr.

Anthony James Jr. is a professor at Miami University in the Department of Family Science and Social Work. He is the founder and director of the Center for the Scientific Study of Families.