Early childhood attachment stability to mothers, fathers, and both parents as a network: associations with parents' well-being, marital relationship, and child behavior problems

This study examines the stability of child attachment to mothers and fathers separately, and to both parents as a network between the infancy and preschool periods using a sample of 143 biparental families and their children (73 boys) recruited from the general population. Attachment was assessed at 15 months with the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) and at 45 months with the Preschool Attachment Classification Coding System (PACS). First, results show no stability in attachment to mothers, to fathers, or to both parents as a network. Second, parents' mental health, life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and child externalizing behavior are associated with attachment stability. Taken altogether, group comparisons reveal that children with a stable secure attachment to both parents as a network have parents with higher levels of well-being and exhibit less problem behaviors than children with 1) a stable secure attachment to one parent and an unstable attachment to the other parent (from secure to insecure or from insecure to secure), or 2) who never had a stable secure attachment to either parent. This study highlights the significance of attachment to both parents as a network over time as it is associated with developmental outcomes.

An Attachment-Based Parental Capacity Assessment to Orient Decision-Making in Child Protection Cases: A Randomized Control Trial

Two parenting capacity assessment (PCA) protocols, with a short parent-child intervention embedded in each protocol, evaluated the potential for enhanced parenting to orient child placement decision. Parents (n = 69), with substantiated reports of maltreatment by child protective services, and their children (0-6) were randomly assigned to one of two PCAs with either the Attachment Video-feedback (PCA-AVI) or a psychoeducational intervention (PCA-PI) as the embedded intervention component. The PCA-AVI group showed the highest increases in parent-child interaction quality at post-test. Also, at PCA completion, evaluators' conclusions about the parents' capacity to care for both PCA groups were associated with parent-child interactive improvements at post-test, the court's placement decision at post-test, and child placement one year later. However, only conclusions drawn by PCA-AVI evaluators were predictive of child re-reports of maltreatment in the year following PCA. PCAs, relying on short attachment interventions to assess the potential for enhanced parenting, are promising tools to orient child placement decisions.

Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in ADHD Symptoms and Associated Cognitive Deficits

Objective: A meta-analysis was carried out to determine whether there are sex differences among children and adolescents with ADHD on the primary symptoms of ADHD and on executive and attentional functioning. Method: Studies published from 1997 to 2017 comparing boys and girls with a valid ADHD diagnosis were retained. Results: The meta-analysis found boys with ADHD to be more hyperactive than girls with ADHD and boys to have more difficulties in terms of motor response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Results also confirm that youths with ADHD have more executive deficits than non-ADHD peers have, but there is no sex difference in this regard. Conclusion: Results show that there are sex differences in the behavioral expression of the difficulties related to ADHD. This highlights the importance of pursuing research to refine the profile of girls with ADHD and to develop diagnostic criteria adapted to each sex.

Tácticas de resolución de conflictos conyugales y parentales en familias sur-brasileñas

El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar la relación entre tácticas de resolución de conflictos conyugales y parentales, reportadas por las madres y por los padres, en familias con niños de 4 a 6 años. Se trata de una muestra comunitária de familias provenientes del sur de Brasil, compuesta por 300 participantes (150 mujeres y 150 hombres), de parejas heterosexuales que respondieron individualmente a los siguientes instrumentos: Cuestionario Sociodemográfico, Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) y Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales (CTSPC). Por medio de análisis estadísticos que involucran un conjunto de MANOVAS, se constató que las tácticas de resolución de conflictos parentales de Disciplina No Violenta, Agresión Psicológica y Punición Corporal combinadas distinguieron con éxito los grupos de madres y padres, en lo que se refiere a la práctica de Negociación, Agresión Psicológica y Violencia Física, en la relación conyugal. Los resultados remiten al efecto spillover, indicando que la tensión de las interacciones conflictivas de la pareja transborda la relación parental.

Types and Influence of Social Support on School Engagement of Young Survivors of Leukemia

The present study aimed to describe and explore the influence of social support on the school engagement of young survivors of pediatric leukemia. Fifty-three young Quebecers, previously diagnosed and treated for leukemia, completed a questionnaire measuring their school engagement and participated in an interview focusing on the support offered by four groups of relations with regard to school: parents, siblings, friends, and other nonprofessional relations. The interview responses revealed that parents were perceived to be the primary source of informational and emotional support, with support also provided to a lesser extent by friends, siblings, and members of the extended family. Inferential analyses indicated that young survivors report a higher school engagement score when they perceive themselves as receiving support from a greater number of groups of relations, especially from friends or siblings.

The potential role of benefit and burden finding in school engagement of young leukaemia survivors: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer may radically change the daily lives of young survivors, particularly in school. Depending on the sense they derive from the experience of illness, survivors may go through profound transformations in the way they approach life.

METHODS

This exploratory study reports on school engagement of cancer survivors by examining their perceptions of benefits and burdens in relation to their illness. Forty-nine young Quebecers, previously diagnosed and treated for leukaemia, completed a questionnaire measuring their school engagement and participated in an interview focusing on the impact of cancer on their lives. Perceptions with regard to the presence and types of benefits and burdens were described and examined in light of participants' characteristics. An analysis of variance explored whether the presence/absence of benefits and burdens were associated with participants' scores regarding school engagement.

RESULTS

Most participants mentioned benefits from having had cancer, and in particular benefits at an interpersonal level. Half of the participants mentioned burdens, mainly of a physical and psychological nature. Significant correlations indicated that (i) the older the survivors were, the more likely they were to report benefits in terms of qualities and strengths of character; (ii) the more time had elapsed since their diagnosis, the more survivors were likely to report psychological types of burdens; and (iii) children from single-parent families reported more frequently having appreciated social or recreational activities compared with children from two-parent families. One main effect indicated that school engagement was greater for survivors who perceived the presence of benefits. An interaction effect revealed that the perception of both benefits and burdens predicts the highest scores of school engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

While the results reveal the promising potential that an optimistic yet realistic disposition has in regard to school engagement, more research is necessary to further our understanding of such a disposition.

Directionality of physical and psychological dating violence among adolescents in Recife, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate the physical and psychological dating violence among adolescents with respect to the profiles of directionality - only man perpetrates, only woman perpetrates, and bidirectional, ie, both perpetrate violence.

METHODS

Sample was performed by two-stage cluster selection in public and private school in the city of Recife (PE), Brazil, presenting data on 355 adolescents of both sexes between 15 and 19 years old. Psychological violence was measured in dimensions threat, verbal/emotional, and relational. Statistical analyzes incorporated the sampling weight and the complex sample design.

RESULTS

Violence is bidirectional in most forms studied (83.9%) and girls reported higher levels of perpetration of physical violence, and boys reported more perpetration of relational violence.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that adolescent dating violence shows a pattern where partners attack each other, both physically and psychologically. Future research should study the patterns of these acts of violence, keeping the adolescent couple as the unit of analysis and exploring the context in which such violence occurs.

Apontamentos e reflexões sobre programas de apoio familiar que favorecem a competência social da criança

A harmonia nas relações familiares tem um impacto positivo para todos os seus membros e, em especial, para o desenvolvimento da competência social da criança. Com base nos conhecimentos científicos atuais, a proposta deste artigo é examinar os critérios de qualidade necessários aos programas de apoio psicossocial que visam intervir junto às famílias, no intuito de diminuir os problemas de comportamento das crianças e melhorar sua competência social. Os programas abordados nesse artigo são Incredible Years, High Scope e Fast Track (Estados Unidos), ELEM e Fluppy (Canadá). Constata-se que as intervenções familiares com base nesses conhecimentos atendem a altos padrões de eficácia e ética. Porém, conclui-se que pesquisadores e profissionais ainda encontram obstáculos em protocolos onde a baixa coerência entre a avaliação e a intervenção pode comprometer a qualidade do apoio oferecido às famílias numa perspectiva de saúde pública.

Family functioning and socioaffective competencies of children in the beginning of schooling

The aim of this short-term longitudinal study, based on the system theory, was to test the association between different aspects of family functioning of preschoolers and their socioaffective competencies at the end of the first grade. The total sample included 278 children (137 boys and 141 girls) and their families. The analysis of variance results regarding the aspects of family cohesion and harmony showed that preschoolers from more cohesive families display more social skills, while those from more conflicting families display more externalizing behavior problems (aggression and irritability). With respect to the family's ability to resolve problems, it was observed that, especially for middle and upper class families, this aspect is associated with better social skills and fewer internalized behavior problems. Overall, results of the present study suggest that the family functioning at early stage might influence children's abilities to regulate their emotions and to establish/maintain important relationships with peers and teachers in their early school years.

A mother-child secure attachment to prevent interpersonal violence among young people

There is a growing conviction among researchers and stakeholders that youth violence is often a result of the absence, or the disturbance, or even the disruption of significant relationships with adults. In this article, we propose to apply the mother-child attachment theory to an intervention of public health in order to prevent personal and social damages as consequences of youth violence. Many consider indeed that this theory is mature enough for social innovations and can lead to a light but structured program in support to young parents that favors the outbreak of basic necessary elements for the harmonious socialization of their children.

Externalizing problems and problematic sexual behaviors: same etiology?

The study sought to determine whether maltreatment subtypes, family sexuality, and personal characteristics predicted and distinguished child problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) and externalizing problems (EP). Participants were families of 188 children, 6-11 years old, referred by child welfare services in four Quebec districts. Caregivers completed interviews and questionnaires. Results suggested that family environment and maltreatment subtypes had partially different impacts on PSB and EP. When EP and gender were controlled, younger children in a sexualized family environment and those verbally victimized were more likely to exhibit PSB. When PSB and gender were controlled, verbal abuse and neglect emerged as predictors of EP. Potential implications for child PSB research and interventions are discussed.

[Personal and collective mechanisms for protecting and enhancing the quality of life during childhood and adolescence]

Based on recent literature, this paper presents individual and collective strategies for protecting and promoting the quality of life during childhood and adolescence. Addressing the core principles of an all-round protection policy aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Children's and Adolescents' Statute, it also encompasses practical aspects of professional approaches to children and adolescents in terms of ethics and confidentiality. Additionally, it discusses the determining factors that shape the development of individual and collective resilience, on scientific and theoretical bases, in addition to risk factors, health protection and the cognitive and psychosocial development of this segment of the population.The roles played by adults are stressed as protection factors in the macro and micro environments, especially the roles assigned to family members and other adults in the social surroundings such as healthcare practitioners those engaged with education, social welfare and mental health. The important role played by Social Networks is stressed, as a key strategy for implementing inter-disciplinary and trans-sector practices designed to enhance well-being and quality of life throughout the entire community.

[Prevalence and co-occurrence of five types of ill-treatment in relation with depression and conduct disorder in adolescent mothers]

In this article, the authors reflect on co-occurrence of different types of maltreatment that adolescent mothers have suffered during their childhood in order to better understand intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. They underline that studies on maltreatment that adults or adolescents have been subjected to during their childhood generally do not take into account co-occurrence of different types of maltreatment. The authors first attempt to verify if adolescent mothers are different from women of the general population in regards to prevalence and co-occurrence of various types of maltreatment suffered during their own development. They then try to establish prevalence and co-occurrence of types of maltreatment in relation to diagnoses of major depression or conduct disorder in adolescent mothers.

Estudo pessoa-processo-contexto da qualidade das interações entre mãe-adolescente e seu bebê

OBJETIVO: entender os mecanismos de transmissão das dificuldades psicossociais, diante dos processos de interação entre a mãe-adolescente e filho. A hipótese é que a qualidade das trocas mãe-filho depende de fatores de riscos associados às características da mãe e características da criança. MÉTODO: OBSERvação direta da qualidade das trocas entre 97 adolescentes primíparas e filhos, de 4 meses de idade. As adolescentes estavam na faixa de 13-18 anos na 26ª semana de gravideze. As gestantes completaram questionários relativos à preparação à maternidade e história de abusos emocional. RESULTADOS: a falta de conhecimentos sobre o desenvolvimento e a natureza dos cuidados dispensados à criança está associada a trocas maternas insensíveis com a criança aos 4 meses. Observou-se um efeito de interação entre as características da mãe (conhecimentos da maternidade e abuso sexual antes do seu nascimento) e o sexo do bebê. CONCLUSÃO: Estes efeitos de interação entre as características da mãe e de seu filho podem favorecer o ciclo de reciprocidade negativa que, com o tempo, interfere cada vez mais em relações interpessoais harmoniosas, mais freqüentemente observado quando os parceiros são reativos perante a adversidade, os quais estão em menor condições de pacificar as trocas.

Validation de la version française du CTQ et prévalence de l’histoire de maltraitance 1

Cette étude démontre que les cinq échelles de maltraitance des versions longue et courte du CTQ sont valides et utilisables avec la population francophone. Elle montre aussi que la négligence émotionnelle est la forme de maltraitance la plus fréquente dans notre échantillon de la population générale, alors que la négligence physique est celle qui est la moins fréquente. Les prévalences d’abus physique, d’abus émotionnel et d’abus sexuel de notre échantillon de convenance correspondent grosso modo aux taux généralement obtenus auprès d’échantillons non cliniques. Enfin, les femmes présentent une plus forte co-occurrence des différentes formes de maltraitance que les hommes, impliquant tout particulièrement l’abus sexuel.

L'interdépendance entre les sous-systèmes conjugal et parental: une analyse personne-processus-contexte

Dans le présent article nous étudions les mécanismes de transmission des difficultés socioaffectives entre les systèmes conjugal et parental sous l'effet d'une part de stress contextuels comme la pauvreté des familles et, d'autre part, des caractéristiques personnelles des membres de ces familles comme le sexe et l'âge de l'enfant. Un échantillon de couples avec ou sans enfant permet dans une première étude d'estimer l'impact de la présence de l'enfant sur le couple alors que deux autres études posent la question complémentaire de l'impact du couple sur l'enfant. Les résultats de ces études contribuent à démontrer l'interdépendance entre le couple et l'enfant alors que chaque membre de la famille peut-être une source d'influence sur les autres. Nous argumentons qu'une réponse aversive à des problèmes extrafamiliaux favorise des stress intrafamiliaux mais que cela se révèle surtout selon les caractéristiques des membres de la famille.

[The influence of conjugal conflict on the child: review of research, theory and practice]

The demographical phenomena that have affected families for three decades is raising new interest in the study of how marital relations influence the psychosocial development of the child. Firstly, the authors briefly describe the state of scientific knowledge with respect to the effect of marital conflicts on the psychosocial adaptation of the child. Secondly, the authors make an effort to go beyond the negative effects of marital conflict on children, and discuss the theories and concepts that attempt to explain the covariation, especially concerning specific problems undergone by the child. The third part is devoted to clinical work. It includes an overview of successes and obstacles that still need to be overcome when using preventive measures with children, as well as when supporting the families already experiencing marital conflict.

Archetypical features in tRNA families

A compilation of known tRNA, and tRNA gene sequences from archaebacteria, eubacteria, and eukaryotes permits the construction of tRNA cloverleafs which show conserved structural elements for each tRNA family. Positions conserved across the three kingdoms are thought to represent archetypical features of tRNAs which preceded the divergence of these kingdoms.