Fragen zwischen Sozial- und Rechtswissenschaften bei familienbezogener Forschung ‒ aus rechtswissenschaftlicher Sicht

Since social sciences and jurisprudence refer to each other in family-related research in many ways, it appears to be extremely important that both disciplines collaborate. They both have in common that they consider it possible that legal norms and societal realities diverge and that this division can be delineated scientifically. From this divergence, they deduce calls for consequences in legal policy. Diverging tasks and viewpoints as well as differing terms and methods may lead to misconceptions that, in turn, can only be identified by mutual comprehension and collaboration. In the contribution presented here, these findings shall be exemplified by several family constellations, such as marriage, civil union, separation and divorce, legal and social parenthood, single parents, stepfamily, socio-family relationship. In the conclusion, there shall be a plea – from the viewpoint of jurisprudence – for an intensification of transdisciplinary research. Zusammenfassung Die Zusammenarbeit von Sozial- und Rechtswissenschaften bei familienbezogener Forschung erscheint als außerordentlich wichtig, weil diese Disziplinen vielfach aufeinander Bezug nehmen. Gemeinsam ist ihnen, dass sie ein Auseinanderfallen von Rechtsnormen und gesellschaftlicher Realität für möglich und wissenschaftlich darstellbar halten und daraus rechtspolitische Forderungen ableiten. Unterschiedliche Aufgabenstellungen und Sichtweisen sowie unterschiedliche Terminologie und Methodik bringen indes die Gefahr von Missverständnissen hervor, die nur durch gegenseitige Verständigung und Zusammenarbeit offengelegt werden kann. Der Beitrag erläutert diesen Befund anhand einiger familiärer Konstellationen wie Ehe, nichteheliche Lebensgemeinschaft, Ehescheidung und Paartrennung, rechtliche und soziale Elternschaft, alleinerziehende Eltern, Stieffamilie, sozialfamiliäre Beziehung. Den Schluss bildet ein Plädoyer aus Sicht der Rechtswissenschaft für die Intensivierung transdisziplinärer Forschung.

Childlessness, Parenthood, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Prior research has examined whether parenthood is associated with higher levels of well-being among older adults, but definitions of parental status have varied. The authors examine links between parental status and depressive symptoms among older adults, comparing biological and social definitions of parenthood. The study finds few differences between biological and social parenthood but substantial variation in the relationship between parental status and depressive symptoms by gender and marital status. Biologically and socially childless adults had the lowest predicted levels of depression across all marital status groups. Widowed men averaged higher levels of depression than other men. For women, the highest predicted levels of depressive symptoms were observed among never-married biological parents and formerly married women who had outlived their children. Increased sampling of less common parental subgroups and diverse kinship relations to allow for more precise classifications and the consideration of joint marital—parental statuses in future research.

Secrecy Still the Best Policy: Donor Insemination in Cameroon

In their recent PLS article, Ken R. Daniels and Karyn Taylor (1993) advocate policies of openness in regard to donor insemination (DI). In this commentary, I examine openness within the social context of fertility, infertility, human reproduction, and social parenthood in Cameroon. The traditional concept of secrecy in reproductive failure, especially in the case of male infertility, is outlined. Some of the social alternatives, such as natural insemination and social parenthood, are discussed. The inappropriateness of openness in DI within a sociocultural milieu that places a high premium on male reproductive ability is highlighted.