Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I: The theoretical and methodological background -- The identity of the family -- The relational dimension -- The symbolic dimension : affective and ethical qualities -- The process of related distinction -- The intergenerational dimension in the family and society -- The transition to adulthood -- The demographic characteristics of the transition -- The specificity of the mediterranean model and the new role of the family of origin offspring's and parental tasks during the transition -- To adulthood : a joint enterprise -- Offspring and parents in the transition : reciprocal advantage -- Parental generativity and social generativity -- Family research vs. family related research : a crucial difference -- The choice of the unit of analysis -- Family scores : from the unit to the dyad, from the dyad to the family -- Second order data -- How to analyse data -- Part II: An analysis of family relationships by gender and generations -- Parents and children face to face : an analysis of relations and family functioning by gender and generation -- Parent-child relationship : an analysis by means of dyadic variables -- Family functioning : an analysis by means of global variables -- Cohesion and adaptability -- Family satisfaction -- Family collective efficacy -- The family chorus : genders and generations face to face -- Family relations, psycho-social risk, pro-social behaviour, planning for the future : parents and children, face to face -- Family relations between risk and resources -- Family functioning and offspring adjustment -- Family relations and concrete pro-social behaviour : volunteerism -- Family relations and future expectations -- Late adolescents expectation about school and work -- Future orientation : a comparison of adolescents' and their parents' views -- Concluding reflections.

Also available in print edition.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.