Marital transitions and changes in African American mothers' depressive symptoms: the buffering role of financial resources

Parent socialization effects in different cultures: significance of directive parenting

In this article, the controversy of divergent findings in research on parental socialization effects in different cultures is addressed. Three explanations intended to address divergent findings of socialization effects in different cultures, as advanced by researchers who emphasize cultural differences, are discussed. These include cultural differences in socialization values and goals of parents, parental emotional and cognitive characteristics associated with parenting styles, and adolescents' interpretations or evaluations of their parents' parenting styles. The empirical evidence for and against each of these arguments is examined and an alternative paradigm for understanding and empirical study of developmental outcomes associated with parenting styles in different cultures is suggested. Baumrind's directive parenting style is presented as an alternative to the authoritarian parenting style in understanding the positive developmental effects associated with "strict" parenting in cultures said to have a collectivist orientation. Directions for research on the three explanations are mentioned.

Examination of risk and resiliency in a pediatric sickle cell disease population using the psychosocial assessment tool 2.0

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the Psychosocial Assessment Tool 2.0 (PAT) as an appropriate screening measure of risk for patient and family psychological distress in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD).

METHODS

219 caregivers completed the PAT during regular hematology clinic visits. Confirmatory factor analysis and tests of reliability were conducted. Multilevel modeling examined change and predictors of risk scores across four assessments.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis factor loadings ranged from .03 to .81, and reliability coefficients ranged from .43 to .83. Risk for patient and sibling emotional problems, family problems, and parent stress reaction decreased over time. Increased patient age, chronic blood transfusion, lower caregiver education, caregivers being divorced, fewer adults and more children in the home, and greater financial difficulties were independent predictors of psychosocial risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that the PAT has utility in a pediatric sickle cell disease sample. Most caregivers reported low distress and high resiliency factors in this population.