skip to main content

The Journal of Family Psychology® (JFP) is the premier family research journal. Family psychology is a complex field, as it includes systems perspectives on the multiple influences on relationships, developmental perspectives on how relationships are formed and sustained over time, cultural perspectives on how society and traditions affect relationships, the intersection of individual differences and social relationships, and practice components in how to affect real and meaningful changes in couple, parent, and family relationships.

JFP addresses societal challenges faced by families today. Important societal challenges facing families today — risk for divorce in vulnerable families, couple and marital satisfaction in military families, child-raising challenges and positive outcomes in immigrant families, risk and resilience in families who adopt, and relationship transitions in diverse couples and families (e.g., in terms of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability) — are examples of topics addressed in JFP .

JFP publishes important studies on what makes couple and family relationships work. JFP consistently publishes strong empirical studies on what keeps couples together, what makes for strong parent–child relationships, and the subtle nuances in predicting healthy relationships over time.

JFP is a leader in publishing reports that use cutting-edge, sophisticated approaches to research design and data analysis. Actor–partner modeling, bootstrapping, use of phantom data, mixed methods, qualitative inquiry, structural equation modeling with moderators and mediators — these are just a few of the sophisticated approaches commonly used in JFP reports. Close to half of the highly cited works in JFP are longitudinal studies.

JFP imparts knowledge about effective therapy and prevention programs relevant to couples and families. JFP provides an excellent outlet for high-quality studies that test the effects of family- or couple-based therapy or prevention programs. Especially important are reports that include couple or family characteristics as potential mediators and moderators of program effects.

Contact the editoropens in new window if you have questions about whether your topic is suitable for JFP .

Disclaimer: APA and the editors of the Journal of Family Psychology assume no responsibility for statements and opinions advanced by the authors of its articles.



Addressing stigma, bias, and race

Collaborative Review Model guidelines

A statement regarding the journal's policy on CRMopens in new window and the inclusion of students and junior colleagues in the review process


Author and article recognition


Abstracting and indexing

Abstracting and indexing services providing coverage of Journal of Family Psychology

Open access offered
Published eight times per year, beginning in February
Average lag for online first 37 days
Average time to first decision 35 days
Rejection rate 76.9%
Impact factor 2.4
5-year impact factor 3.3
Family Studies 10 of 66
Psychology - Clinical 72 of 184
Journal citation indicator 1.02
Features
  • Author contribution statements using CRediT
  • Editorial fellowships opportunities
  • Reviewer recognition via ORCID
  • Publishes impact statements
  • Adheres to TOP Guidelines
  • Replication studies encouraged
  • Impact factor
More information is in the submission guidelines
ISSN 0893-3200
eISSN 1939-1293
Founded 1987