The Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR), published by NCFR, seeks papers for a special issue on adolescent development in the context of families. Submissions are due by March 1, 2019. The full details are as follows:

The empirical and applied scholarship on human development during the second decade of the life course includes the use of theories dealing with normative youth development. The result is that much of this scholarship on adolescent development has been conceptualized by theories based in developmental science rather than conceptual frameworks commonly used by Family Scientists to understand how adolescents are influenced by families. Despite this lack of applying Family Science theories, a large body of empirical research by scholars in Family Science and other disciplines has demonstrated consistently that complex relationships within families of diverse structures have significant impact on the normative development of adolescents. Therefore, current scholarship on adolescent life within families has failed to describe, analyze, synthesize, and critique the research on this topic. The focus of this special issue, therefore, is to start bridging this theoretical gap by inviting scholars to submit original manuscripts to JFTR that use theories commonly applied by Family Scientists to interpret how family structures and processes are influential for areas of adolescent development. A complimentary focus of interest is on the use of family conceptual frameworks to explain how the presence of adolescent family members provides reciprocal influences on the development of diverse families. 

The Journal of Family Theory & Review is rooted in a firm commitment to developing the family field through innovations in theory and critical reviews leading to the integration and development of a cumulative knowledge base. Families are viewed broadly and inclusively to include individuals of varying ages and genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and nationalities. The journal draws from a broad range of social science and transdisciplinary fields, including Family Science, human development and family studies, family therapy, sociology, social work, developmental and social psychology, close relationships, nursing, communication studies, health, gerontology, anthropology, political science, history, philosophy, ethnic studies, gender studies, and others. 

JFTR publishes original contributions in all areas of family theory, including new advances in theory development, critical analyses and reviews of existing theories, new applications of theory, essays on theory construction, and analyses of the linkage between theory and methods. JFTR also publishes original integrative reviews of literature in family-related content areas. JFTR does not publish empirical reports, with the exception of meta-analyses. 

Manuscripts are due by March 1, 2019 and the special issue will be published in early 2020. Manuscripts for the special issue must be submitted via the Manuscript Central submission portal. Be sure to note that the submission is for this special issue. Manuscripts should not exceed 35 double-spaced typed pages of text.

See detailed manuscript preparation guidelines.

For additional information or questions, please contact the special issue's editors: Anthony G. James, Jr., Ph.D., CFLE, and Gary W. Peterson, Ph.D.