Mental toughness in adolescents: bridging family relationships and depression across personality traits

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a pivotal stage vulnerable to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. While family relationships, mental toughness, and personality traits are known to impact adolescent mental health, their interactive and moderating roles are not fully understood.

AIM

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of mental toughness in the relationship between family relationships and depression among high school students, and to examine the varying impacts of personality traits on this mediation.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 734 adolescents. Participants completed measures assessing family relationships, mental toughness, personality traits, and mental health outcomes (depression). Latent Profile Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling, to investigate these relationships.

RESULTS

The study found that mental toughness significantly mediates the relationship between family relationships and depression. Notably, this mediating effect varied between personality type; it was more pronounced in the moderate-reserved type compared to the proactive-engaged type. LPA identified two distinct personality types of students based on their personality traits, with differential patterns of family relationships, mental toughness, and depression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that character and adaptability, components of mental toughness, were significant negative predictors of depression.

CONCLUSION

The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of adolescent mental health, particularly in the context of Chinese high school students. It underscores the importance of considering family dynamics, personality traits, and mental toughness in developing effective mental health interventions for adolescents.

Contact with mothers for children in out-of-home-care: Group-based trajectory modelling from the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS)

BACKGROUND

Good quality contact with birth parents is considered important to successful out-of-home care (OOHC) placements.

OBJECTIVE

There is, however, an absence of empirical evidence about contact needs of children in the OOHC system and how these needs change over time.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The current analysis analyzed four waves of data from the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study in Australia relating to 1507 children on yearly frequency of contact with mothers, relationship quality with mothers, and the extent that contact met the needs of the child.

METHODS

Group-based trajectory modelling was used to examine in what ways frequency of contact, child-mother relationships and child's needs for maintaining family contact were associated over time.

RESULTS

The analysis showed a positive association between these three outcomes that also held true as the children aged, with five distinct patterns: (1) low frequency and poor relationship (low poor) (14.5 % of the sample); (2) moderate frequency and poor relationship (moderate poor) (30.3 %); (3) increasing frequency and improving relationship (improving) (19.8 %); (4) declining frequency and declining relationship (declining) (19.5 %); and (5) high frequency, good relationship (high good) (15.9 %). Care type, child demographics, child socioemotional wellbeing and unsupervised contact arrangements were significantly associated with trajectory group membership.

CONCLUSIONS

These results can be used to inform policy and practice around contact and to better match the heterogenous contact needs for children in OOHC.

"We're stronger as a family": Family experiences and relationships in an adapted physical activity camp

Adapted recreation programs involving the entire family may offer ways to enhance relationships in families with a child living with a disability because they enable participating together in new and potentially empowering experiences. This study examined family members' perspectives on their lived experiences with their relationships within their family and how they perceived they were affected by their participation in an adapted summer camp for families with a child living with a disability. We conducted a collective case study with five families who participated in a week-long camp. A focus group was conducted with each family and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participation in the camp impacted family relationships by reducing isolation for mothers; alleviating stress and anxiety which helped families bond; providing shared experience which led to mutual understanding, communication, and support; improving independence and confidence of the child living with a disability; facilitating sibling bonding and parent comfort with giving siblings more responsibility; and enhancing families' confidence to participate in family activities beyond the camp. These findings elucidate how participation in this type of program can impact relationships in families that include a child living with a disability and inform future program design.

"Unlinked lives": Elaboration of a concept and its significance for the life course

This article introduces the concept of "unlinked lives" and illustrates its significance for scholarship on the life course. There are many lessons to be learned about human interdependence by focusing not on relationships that are formed and then maintained, but instead on relationships that are lost or ended by choice or circumstance, such as through changes in institutional affiliations, social status and positions or places. Unlinked lives carry important social meanings, are embedded in complex social processes, and bring consequences for the wellbeing of individuals, families, and societies. To develop this concept, we put forward nine key propositions related to when and how unlinkings happen as processes, as well as some of the consequences of being unlinked as a status or outcome. The coupling of "unlinked lives" with "linked lives" offers a crucial avenue for advancing life course theories and research, integrating scholarship across multiple life periods and transitions, and bridging the two now-distinct traditions of intellectual inquiry on the life course and on social networks.

Aging with my family: a grounded theory approach on the role of family when aging as foreign-born

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that it is the quality of the closest relationships in the mixture of social relations that matters most for older adults. For older foreign-born, especially those who migrate late in life, the family is often the only socioeconomical resource they can lean on. This study aims to explore how older foreign-born perceive the role of family as they age.

METHODS

The study design has a grounded theory approach. Data consist of individual open-ended interviews with 15 foreign-born informants aged between 60 and 85 years old who migrated to Sweden as adults from various parts of the world.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrate that family was an essential part of the informants' lives as they lived for their families and their families lived for them. Family solidarity was described as a cultural heritage they took over from their original families and a cultural heritage they wished to pass on to their future generations. They found that this was what separated them as foreign-born from native-born. Memories of their parents reminded them of their biological, social, and cultural heritages. The intimate relationship with their spouses in a life course had served as a source of validation of their individual identities and promoted personal growth and self-esteem. The role as a loving and caring parent entailed a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for the life lived. And now as grandparents, the role as a link between the family's historical heritage and the future generation entailed not only a sense of coherence as they aged but also hope and meaning beyond their own lives.

CONCLUSIONS

The older foreign-born experienced life satisfaction as they aged with their families. Family meant community and solidarity. It was in the family that they found their distinct roles that had defined them. Family was an indispensable part of their social identity. The findings highlight the importance of older foreign-born being studied from a family and lifetime perspective.

Coparenting, mental health, and the pursuit of dignity: A systems-level analysis of refugee father-mother narratives

Research on coparenting is virtually absent from the refugee literature, despite its importance for family systems, children's bio-behavioural and emotional development, and intergenerational responses to social change. In 2022, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with Syrian refugees in Jordan and used thematic analysis to examine how fathers and mothers (n = 15 dyads) enacted parenting together. We identified four approaches characterising how couples navigated coparenting interactions, family cohesion, and intergenerational change. These were negotiation, mirroring, anchoring, and transformation. Specifically, Syrian couples negotiated how to balance responsibilities, sought emotions and behaviours that reflected calm and respect, prioritised family togetherness over education or resettlement opportunities, and, strikingly, adopted gentler parenting approaches to transform intergenerational experiences. Underpinning these four themes were efforts to uphold family dignity. Syrians described themselves as ordinary parents, eschewing the label of refugee parents and building a normal life for their families after war and displacement. Our thematic analysis offers methodological and conceptual advances in exemplifying how to capture a dyadic understanding of coparenting and why refugees strive to parent in ways that sustain mental health and dignity. This systems-level analysis of coparenting in dignity is specifically relevant to strengthening the processes of family-level communication and to designing integrated programs that support caregiving, wellness, and family unity. Our findings lay the groundwork for developing a relational, agentic model of family caregiving systems in the context of precarity and forced displacement.

Daily Caregiving Appraisals, Future Self-Views, and Physical Activity Goals Among Adult-Daughter Dementia Caregivers

OBJECTIVES

Caregiving dynamics may shape caregivers' views on their own aging in ways that affect their (de)motivation to improve their current and future health and well-being. In this study, we investigated within-person associations of daily positive and negative caregiving appraisals, future self-views (physical functioning, cognitive, and overall health domains), and physical activity goal pursuit among adult-daughter dementia caregivers.

METHODS

Data came from 33 middle-aged caregivers (M = 55.03) who participated in a 30-day microlongitudinal study of caregiving (N of occasions = 855). We used multilevel modeling to analyze within-person associations.

RESULTS

Daily positive caregiving appraisals were not associated with daily future self-views. However, on days when caregivers reported higher negative caregiving appraisals, they thought more negatively about their future older selves in all domains. In turn, on days when caregivers thought more negatively about their future older selves in all domains, they reported lower physical activity goal pursuit. Future self-views in all domains mediated the association between negative caregiving appraisals and physical activity goal pursuit. Future self-views did not mediate the association between positive caregiving appraisals and physical activity goal pursuit. However, cognitive future self-views moderated the association between positive caregiving appraisals and physical activity goal pursuit.

DISCUSSION

Results suggest that one pathway through which subjective caregiving experiences, especially negative caregiving appraisals, affect caregivers' physical activity goal pursuit is through future self-views. Thus, this study offers a deeper theoretical understanding of caregivers' self-regulatory health behavior and new empirical information on how caregiving might affect life-span developmental motivation.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people in El Salvador: Associations with peer and family relationships, artistic activities and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the correlates of mental health, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in lower income countries. Using data from almost the entire population of graduating high school students in El Salvador, we examine the associations between depression and anxiety symptoms and potentially protective factors including peer and family relationships, health behaviours and artistic leisure activities.

METHODS

Data comes from the AVANZO survey conducted in El Salvador with 42,314 graduating high school students aged 15-21 in November 2020. Participants completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale and Socioemotional Skills Scale. Using a structural equation modelling framework, we tested the associations between these variables and whether these associations varied by sex.

RESULTS

Participants who experienced more positive family relationships reported fewer symptoms of depression (β = -0.304, p < .001) and anxiety (β = -0.103, p < .001). Similar results were found between health behaviours and symptoms of depression (β = -0.398, p < .001), and anxiety (β = -0.312, p < .001). Peer relationships were non-significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Associations were similar for boys and girls.

LIMITATIONS

Students undertook the mental health survey as part of an academic test, which might have increased mental stress. The Socioemotional Skills Scales is newly developed, and results are cross-sectional.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide insight into the experiences of an understudied population during the pandemic and identify positive family relationships and health behaviours as important correlates of mental health during this time.

Longitudinal Associations between Peer and Family Relationships, Emotional Symptoms, and Regional Brain Volume across Adolescence

The period of adolescence brings with it a dynamic interaction between social context and behaviour, structural brain development, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. The rate of volumetric change in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and amygdala have been implicated in socioemotional development in adolescence; typically, there is thinning of grey matter volume (GMV) in the vmPFC and growth in the amygdala during this time. The directionality of the associations between social, emotional, and neuroanatomical factors has yet to be untangled, such as the degree to which social variables impact regional brain development, and vice versa. To add, the differences between sexes are still up for debate. In this study, longitudinal associations between peer problems, family support, socioeconomic stress, emotional symptoms, amygdala volume, and vmPFC GMV were investigated for both sexes using latent change score models. Data from a multi-site European study at baseline (mean (SD) age = 14.40 (0.38) years; % female = 53.19) and follow-up 2 (mean (SD) age = 18.90 (0.69) years, % female = 53.19) were used. Results revealed that peer problems did not predict emotional symptoms, rather they changed together over time. For males only, there was positive correlated change between vmPFC GMV, peer problems and emotional symptoms, indicating that slower vmPFC GMV thinning was associated with poorer social and emotional functioning. Additionally, greater family support at age 14 years was associated with slower growth of amygdala volume between ages 14 and 19 years for males; previous research has related slower amygdala growth to resilience to mental health disorders. The findings have extended understanding of mutual social, emotional and brain development, and avenues to protect mental health.

The Mental Health Benefit of Friend Networks in Older Korean Americans: The Conditioning Effect of Family Type

OBJECTIVES

We identified types of family relationships of older Korean Americans and examined how the mental health benefit of friend networks might be conditioned by family type.

METHODS

Data were from 2,070 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans, a multistate survey of Korean immigrants aged 60 and older (Mage = 73.3, standard deviation [SD] = 8.01). To identify family types, latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed with marital status, living arrangement, family network, positive and negative interactions with family members, and family mistreatment. Linear regression models examined how mental distress was associated with friend networks and family types, as well as their interactions.

RESULTS

LPA identified 5 family types: close-knit, intimate but distant, detached, connected but dysfunctional, and dysfunctional. Greater distress was associated with smaller friend networks and belonging to the detached, connected but dysfunctional, and dysfunctional family types in comparison to the close-knit type. The interaction model showed that people in the connected but dysfunctional and dysfunctional groups had a stronger association between friend networks and mental distress than the counterparts in the close-knit group.

DISCUSSION

We not only confirmed the health-promoting role of friend networks and the value of a close-knit family but also found that the benefit of friend networks was pronounced when quality of the family relationship was impaired. Our findings called renewed attention to older immigrants' social convoys of family and friends, suggesting that the enhancement of friend networks could be particularly advantageous for older immigrants with dysfunctional family relationships.

Maternal periconceptional environmental exposure and offspring with congenital heart disease: a case-control study in Guangzhou, China

BACKGROUND

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a major global health problem, yet their crucial environmental risk factors are still unclear. We aimed to explore the associations between maternal periconceptional environmental exposures and all CHDs, isolated and multiple CHDs and CHDs subtypes.

METHOD

A case-control study including 675 infants with CHDs and 1545 healthy controls was conducted. Participating mothers who delivered in Guangzhou from October 2019 to November 2021 were recruited. To examine the independent associations between maternal periconceptional environmental exposure and offspring with CHDs, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Maternal exposure to living near main roads [adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.06-3.56] and housing renovation (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.03-3.67) during the periconceptional period were positively related to a greater risk of all CHDs, similar results were also found in isolated CHDs rather than multiple CHDs. Additionally, living near main roads was positively associated with secundum atrial septal defect/patent foramen ovale (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.03-6.81) and housing renovation was strongly positively associated with ventricular septal defect (aOR = 5.08, 95% CI = 2.05-12.60). However, no association was observed between incense burning and family relationships and all CHDs, isolated and multiple CHDs and CHDs subtypes.

CONCLUSION

Living near main roads and housing renovation during the periconceptional period are significantly associated with the increased risks for all CHDs and isolated CHDs. Further study is needed to extend sample size to explore the effects of time and frequency of burning incense and family relationships on CHDs in offspring.

Sleep mediates the relationship between having an autistic child and poor family functioning

Sleep is an important biological necessity, a lack of which can have many cognitive, psychological, social, and physical impacts. Children with autism are known to present with sleep difficulties more frequently than their typically developing peers but despite this, there is relatively little research looking at the impact of sleep on the family. To investigate the effect of sleep on families of autistic and typically developing (TD) children, we conducted a study of sleep disturbances among children, sleep quality of their parents in association with their family function. In our study, 239 parents of autistic children and 227 parents of TD children participated. These parents completed a survey about their child's sleep disturbances, their own sleep quality, and their family function, along with a series of demographic questions. Analyses indicated that autistic children experience more sleep difficulties than TD peers, that children's sleep disturbances are associated with parental sleep quality and that parents of autistic children report decreased sleep quality compared to parents of TD children. Parental sleep quality, and child sleep quality were both found to partially mediate the relationship between autism diagnosis and family function.

Family Relationships and Alcohol Consumption: Interaction with the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR)

INTRODUCTION

The interaction of environmental and inherited factors determines how a young person becomes involved in problem behaviours such as drinking alcohol. We have investigated whether the association of family relationships with early experience with alcohol is related to variation in the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR).

METHODS

We used data of the two birth cohorts of the Estonian Personality Behaviour and Health Study (original n = 1,238) at age 15 and 18 years. Data were self-reported in a laboratory setting.

RESULTS

Family relationships at age 15 years were significantly related to the frequency of drinking alcohol. Specifically, association of Warmth in Family (closeness and support within family) with consuming alcohol was in a negative, while maltreatment (misprize and abuse) in a positive relationship with alcohol consumption. At age 18 years, the effects of family relationships on consuming alcohol were lower and no longer statistically significant (p values >0.10). The associations between family relations and alcohol use at age 15 years varied by the 5-HTTLPR genotype: at this age, the impact of the family relations, both Warmth and Maltreatment, on the frequency of drinking alcohol was statistically significant among participants with the S/L genotype, and while rather similar results were obtained for the S/S genotype, no relations were apparent between family relations and consuming alcohol in subjects with the L/L genotype.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal that family relations are related to alcohol consumption, dependent upon the 5-HTTLPR genotype. This is compatible with the hypothesis that the S-allele carriers are more malleable by the environment.

The efficacy of a facilitated support group intervention to reduce the psychological distress of individuals experiencing family estrangement

BACKGROUND

Stand Alone is a charity operating in the United Kingdom that supports adults who are estranged from a family member. The charity recognises that those who experience estrangement from a family member experience sadness, anger and a sense of loss. Due to stigma, they rarely disclose their experiences of estrangement to others.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of a six-session facilitated support group intervention for individuals experiencing family estrangement in reducing psychological distress.

METHODS

Attendees (N = 263) completed the CORE-10 questionnaire assessing psychological distress at registration and at completion of the groups. They also completed a brief survey at each time-point, including an open-ended question about how they felt the support groups had impacted their wellbeing (N = 51).

RESULTS

Attendees experienced a statistically significant reduction in psychological distress, with average scores of distress falling from moderate levels of distress to mild. After attending the groups, attendees felt less alone and less ashamed.

CONCLUSION

Six-week facilitated support groups are an effective way of reducing psychological distress for individuals experiencing estrangement from a family member, helping attendees feel less alone and ashamed.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Through facilitated support group intervention, it is possible to reduce the psychological distress of those individuals experiencing family estrangement.

Family Functioning and Emotional Aspects of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Southern Brazil

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects children and their families. We investigated the family environment of children with ASD in Brazil. Twenty-one families participated. Outcome measures administered to parents included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Questionnaire on Resources and Stress—Short Form, and the Family Environment Scale. All families reported a number of difficulties, including social interactions and peer relationships, stress levels, and communication difficulties. Families also reported great concern for their child’s future. Brazil is a developing country, yet there are few national resources and studies related to ASD. The challenges continue from diagnosis through treatment. Our results emphasize the need to understand the family environment of children with autism and their parents’ apprehensions to develop effective coping programs.

Risk of eating disorders in a representative sample of Italian adolescents: prevalence and association with self-reported interpersonal factors

PURPOSE

Adolescence represents a critical period for the onset of eating disorders (EDs). The present study aimed to provide the prevalence of individuals at risk for EDs psychopathology in a representative population of adolescents aged 14-19 and to characterize this population regarding interpersonal and psychological factors.

METHODS

The percentage of participants at risk for EDs in a representative high school population was assessed through the SCOFF screening questionnaire (cut-off score: 3) in the total sample (N: 6551) and in gender-based subgroups for different body mass index (BMI) categories. Odds ratios for being at risk of ED (SCOFF ≥ 3) were esteemed in a multivariable analysis including self-reported parental education, quality of family and peer relationships, bullying victimization, age at first sexual intercourse, and psychological distress.

RESULTS

A SCOFF score ≥ 3 was found in 31.0% of participants (boys: 19.4%; girls: 44.6%), with a greater prevalence among higher BMI categories. Bad family relationships, being bullied, having the first sexual intercourse before the age of 14, and experiencing high distress were associated with this risk condition. Among girls, bad peer relationships were associated with a low-risk SCOFF score.

CONCLUSION

A remarkable percentage of adolescents reported significant body image or eating concerns. Screening programs are deeply needed, and particular attention should be devoted to interpersonal factors, such as the quality of family relationships and interactions with peers, which represent potential indicators of this vulnerability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V - Cross-sectional study.

Resilience in the face of peer victimization and perceived discrimination: The role of individual and familial factors

BACKGROUND

Peer victimization and discrimination are two related forms of social victimization. However, the majority of studies only focus on one form or the other. This study investigates resilience in victims of both these forms of violence.

OBJECTIVE

To identify individual and family level factors that foster, or hinder, resilience in the face of both peer victimization and perceived discrimination.

PARTICIPANTS

In a sample of 2975 high-school students, 22% (n = 644) met the criteria for substantial social victimization. The sample's mean age was 16.5 years, 57% were girls, 19% were in vocational courses, 12% were from an ethnic minority background, and 5% were lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

METHOD

A measure of resilience was created by regressing the mean levels of current mental health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction on the frequency of lifetime peer victimization and past year perceived discrimination. Regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of resilience considering protective and vulnerability factors, including sociodemographic information, anxious personality, empathy, coping strategies, familial optimism, and the relationship with their mother and father.

RESULTS

Resilience was associated with low anxious personality, four coping strategies (active, use of humor, low self-blame, low substance use), and satisfaction with the relationship with the mother.

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience is related to both behavioral and meaning-making coping strategies, personality traits, and satisfaction in relationships. This study's findings can be used to tailor interventions to foster resilience in adolescents exposed to social victimization.

What could we do differently next time? Australian parents' experiences of the short-term and long-term impacts of home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 lockdowns have resulted in school closures worldwide, requiring curriculum to be delivered to children remotely (home schooling). Qualitative evidence is needed to provide important context to the positive and negative impacts of home schooling and inform strategies to support caregivers and children as the pandemic continues. This study aimed to explore the experiences of home schooling caregivers at multiple time-points during the pandemic.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a longitudinal survey of a representative Australian sample conducted over 8 waves during 2020 and 2021. Participants who had home schooled at least one child during COVID-19 completed open-ended questions at Wave 4 (May 2020; n = 176), Wave 7 (June 2020; n = 145), and Wave 8 (March 2021; n = 57). Participants were asked to describe what they found positive and challenging about home schooling (Wave 4), what they would do differently if they home schooled their children again (Wave 7), and the longer-term impacts of home schooling on caregivers and children (Wave 8).

RESULTS

91% of participants at Wave 4 reported at least one positive and/or negative aspect of home schooling. At Wave 8, 32% and 29% of participants reported no long-term positive or negative impacts of home schooling respectively. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, six themes were developed from the data, encompassing the impacts of home schooling on parents, and the perceived impacts on children. Impacts on parents included connecting with children, managing the work-life-school balance, and the challenge of home schooling when parents are not teachers. Perceived impacts on children included: quieter and safer learning at home, and the negatives of managing schoolwork load and social isolation. At Wave 7, 56 participants (44%) identified at least one thing they would do differently.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite some participants reporting positive experiences associated with home schooling, it remains challenging for many parents and their children. Supports for parents and children engaged in home schooling should provide clear and flexible guidance on how to balance schoolwork with other competing demands, assist parents who lack confidence in supporting their children's remote learning, and address risks associated with social isolation.

How Families Make Their Way Into Your Heart: Exploring the Associations Between Daily Experiences Involving Family Members and Cardiovascular Health

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is a critical public health issue and a growing body of literature on relationships and health point to individuals' interactions and involvement with family members as significant correlates of cardiovascular outcomes. However, less is known about the implications of daily encounters with family members on cardiovascular health outcomes and how the associations vary across adulthood.

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to examine the associations of positive and negative daily experiences with family members with comprehensive measures of cardiovascular health and to further explore how age moderates these associations.

METHODS

This study used data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) II and MIDUS Refresher. The sample was composed of respondents who participated in two subprojects of MIDUS, namely the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) and Biomarker Project (N = 1,312). Indices of cardiovascular health included inflammatory markers, autonomic functioning, and Life's Simple 7 scores.

RESULTS

Results showed that the associations between daily family experiences and cardiovascular outcomes differed by age. Having more daily negative experiences with family members was associated with better cardiovascular health outcomes among young adults and worse cardiovascular outcomes among older adults. Having more daily positive experiences was also associated with lower heart rate variability for older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Results revealed that contrary to the general assumption that negative experiences have health-damaging effects, frequent involvement with family members in daily life, even negative ones, may be indicative of active engagement in life that could be health promoting for younger adults.

Family Structure Transitions: Prevalence and Physical Health Effects in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and physical health consequences of family structure transitions among children in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. In many high-income countries, family structure transitions are common, and research suggests that they can lead to worse physical health for children. However, we know little about either the prevalence or consequences of family structure transitions for children in low-and middle-income countries, who make up the vast majority of the world's children. First, we estimated the number of family structure transitions by age 12 using four rounds of Young Lives data from four low-and middle-income countries (N = 8062, Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam) and validated our prevalence estimates with another dataset from these same countries. The proportion of children experiencing a family structure transition by age 12 was: 14.8% in Ethiopia, 5.6% in India, 22.0% in Peru, and 7.7% in Vietnam. We put these estimates in context by comparing them to 17 high- and upper-middle-income countries. Second, using linear mixed models, we found that family structure transitions were not directly associated with worse physical health for children in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Children in Peru experienced higher rates of family structure transitions relative to children in the other Young Lives countries, and similar rates to many of the 17 comparison countries, yet physical health was unaffected. It is possible that in low-and middle-income countries, the environment may overwhelm family stability as a determinant of physical health.

Testing the Feasibility of Virtual Reality With Older Adults With Cognitive Impairments and Their Family Members Who Live at a Distance

Background and Objectives

This study tests the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) with older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild-to-moderate dementia with a family member who lives at a distance.

Research Design and Methods

21 residents in a senior living community and a family member (who participated in the VR with the older adult from a distance) engaged in a baseline telephone call, followed by 3 weekly VR sessions.

Results

Residents and family members alike found the VR safe, extremely enjoyable, and easy to use. The VR was also acceptable and highly satisfying for residents with MCI and dementia. Human and automated coding revealed that residents were more conversationally and behaviorally engaged with their family member in the VR sessions compared to the baseline telephone call and in the VR sessions that used reminiscence therapy. The results also illustrate the importance of using multiple methods to assess engagement. Residents with dementia reported greater immersion in the VR than residents with MCI. However, the automated coding indicated that residents with MCI were more kinesically engaged while using the VR than residents with dementia.

Discussion and Implications

Combining networking and livestreaming features in a single VR platform can allow older adults in senior living communities to still travel, relive their past, and engage fully with life with their family members, despite geographical separation and physical and cognitive challenges.

Social media use and social connectedness among adolescents in the United Kingdom: a qualitative exploration of displacement and stimulation

Background

Connectedness to family and peers is a key determinant of adolescent mental health. Existing research examining associations between social media use and social connectedness has been largely quantitative and has focused primarily on loneliness, or on specific aspects of peer relationships. In this qualitative study we use the displacement hypothesis and the stimulation hypothesis as competing theoretical lenses through which we examine the complex relationship between social media use and feelings of connectedness to family and peers.

Methods

In-depth paired and individual interviews were conducted with twenty-four 13–14-year-olds in two inner-city English secondary schools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed.

Results

Analysis identified four themes: (i) ‘Displacement of face-to-face socialising’ (ii) ‘Social obligations’ (iii) ‘(Mis)Trust’ and (iv) ‘Personal and group identity’. Results indicated stronger support for the stimulation hypothesis than the displacement hypothesis. We found evidence of a complex set of reciprocal and circular relationships between social media use and connectedness consistent with a ‘rich-get-richer’ and a ‘poor-get-poorer’ effect for family and peer connectedness – and a ‘poor-get-richer’ effect in peer connectedness for those who find face-to-face interactions difficult.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that parents should take a measured approach to social media use, providing clear guidance, promoting trust and responsible time management, and acknowledging the role of social media in making connections. Understanding and sharing in online experiences is likely to promote social connectedness. Supporting young people to negotiate breathing space in online interactions and prioritising trust over availability in peer relationships may optimise the role of social media in promoting peer connectedness.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11802-9.

Examining Adolescent Family Experiences as Risks for Young Adulthood Intimate Partner Violence in Two Longitudinal Samples

Little research has examined multiple family risks that may act as precursors to the cycle of violence, or the link between child maltreatment and subsequent intimate partner violence perpetration. Scholarly work that addresses this gap has important implications for early prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing family violence in adolescence and young adulthood. Based upon the family stress model and the cycle of violence hypothesis, it was hypothesized that adolescent experiences of economic pressure, caregiver depressed mood, and caregiver conflict would increase risk for abusive parenting and that abusive parenting in adolescence would link these family experiences to partner violence perpetration in young adulthood. The model was tested using longitudinal data spanning 12 years from two studies: The Iowa Youth and Families Project (N = 306, 56.2% women), a sample of White, married-parent families, and the Family and Community Health Study (N = 213, 53.3% women), a sample of Black families diverse in terms of family structure. Path model analyses provided support for the proposed model in each sample, highlighting the importance of considering several adolescent family experiences in work on the etiology of partner violence. Policy and practice interventions are offered, such as the need for economic supports for families, accessible mental health care, and relationship education programming for youth.

Happy for Us not Them: Differences in neural activation in a vicarious reward task between family and strangers during adolescent development

During adolescence social-interactions with other people become more relevant. One key aspect of these interactions is cooperative behavior. Cooperation relies on a set of cognitive and affective mechanisms. In this study, we focused on the mental ability to feel happy for another person’s positive experience, called vicarious joy. We investigated the neural mechanisms of this ability using a false-choice vicarious reward fMRI task. Participants played a game where they could win monetary rewards for themselves, their mother, their father, and a stranger. A region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of the Nucleus Accumbens revealed robust activation in this region for personal reward as well as vicarious rewards for both parents. Vicarious reward for a stranger was not associated with activation within the Nucleus Accumbens. ROI activation was associated with self-reported vicarious joy for mother and father. A Prisoner’s Dilemma game outside the scanner showed an increase in cooperative behavior until age 14 for parents and strangers, followed by a decline for the stranger but not for the parents. Together, these findings demonstrate that adolescence is an important time for developing ingroup-outgroup relations.

Committed to Caring: Cluster-Analysis of Appraisals and Feelings of Family Childcare Work

Background

There is a concern regarding the decreasing number of family childcare (FCC) providers, due to the population that primarily relies on it. Compared to studies of center- and school-based preschool practitioners, the FCC literature is lacking robust workforce studies, including examinations of whether and how FCC providers’ workplace appraisals of and feelings while at work are associated with indicators of interaction quality (relationships with families, relationships with children, and responsiveness to children's negative emotions) and the quality of their interactions with children and families.

Objective

The present study examines how groups of FCC providers, categorized based on differences in appraisals of and feelings experienced at work, differ in the quality of interactions with children and families. The study seeks to extend the FCC literature by also describing socio-ecological factors, such as provider and program characteristics, of these different groups of providers.

Method

Survey data was collected through a national study of FCC providers (N = 888). A person-centered analysis using hierarchical clustering was used to classify providers into groups based on their workplace appraisals and feelings experienced at work.

Results

A person-centered cluster analysis identified four groups. Indicators of interaction quality varied between groups. Group membership was associated with FCC providers' professional commitment, job satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion.

Conclusions

Findings from the current study support calls to increase investment in the support of the FCC workforce by addressing FCC providers’ needs through recognition of differences in workplace appraisals and provider feelings at work. In particular, reducing FCC providers’ emotional exhaustion may be an effective way to increase the quality of their interactions with children and families.

Patterns of family relationships in pediatric oncology: implications for children's adjustment upon treatment completion

OBJECTIVE

Family characteristics influence children's adaptation following a cancer diagnosis. Little is known about the importance of family relationships on children's social and emotional health immediately after treatment completion. In this study, we identify subtypes of family relationships and evaluate how these profiles relate to child adjustment upon treatment completion.

METHODS

Youth (N = 77; ages 7-14) who completed cancer treatment within the past 7 months provided their perceptions of their relationships with their caregivers and siblings. Caregivers and teachers rated participants' internalizing and externalizing symptoms, while participants and caregivers reported on child social and overall functioning. Latent profile analyses identified patterns of family relationships, and we examined associations between these patterns and youth outcomes.

RESULTS

A four-profile solution best characterized families as (1) low closeness/high sibling-only discord (12.4%); (2) low closeness/high discord (6.6%); (3) high closeness/low discord (47.6%); and (4) moderate closeness/moderate discord (33.4%). Family relationship profiles were differentially associated with self, caregiver, and teacher ratings of adaptation. Participants from families characterized by low closeness/high discord reported more difficulties with peer interactions than participants with high closeness/low discord in their families. Caregivers and teachers reported significantly higher externalizing symptoms for participants from low closeness/high discord and low closeness/high sibling discord families in comparison to participants with high closeness/low discord in their family.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the importance of assessing children's perceptions of family relationships in pediatric oncology and providing support to the family during and after treatment. Future directions include assessing how these profiles predict outcomes over time.

Sleep and social relationships in healthy populations: A systematic review

Over the past decade, research linking sleep and social relationships has burgeoned. Researchers across the globe are trying to understand whether the quality and quantity of our social relationships matter for sleep, and vice versa. We conducted a systematic review of the literature, identifying over 200 relevant articles examining sleep and social relationships in healthy populations. Here, we summarize our findings by reviewing 1) links between sleep and broad social ties across the lifespan, and 2) links between sleep and specific social relationships identified in the literature search, including romantic relationships, family relationships, and work relationships. Taken together, the literature provides evidence that the quality and presence of social relationships, especially our closest relationships, play a role in how we sleep. Likewise, sleep appears to influence our social bonds. However, the majority of work is correlational, limiting conclusions about the directionality of these effects. We conclude by synthesizing the findings, considering the limitations of the present literature, and identifying key future directions for this emerging area of research.

Family Matters: Decade Review from Journal of Family and Economic Issues

This article reviews research regarding economic influences on a variety of family matters published in Journal of Family and Economic Issues from 2010 to 2019. As finances permeate nearly every facet of everyday life, scholarly research related to finances and family issues has spanned a wide array of topics. We briefly review research focused on the following 11 areas related to finances and family matters: (a) family formation decisions, (b) gender and relational power in family finances and relationships, (c) finances and fathers, (d) finances and mothers, (e) finances and parenting, (f) finances and elderly family members, (g) finances and couple relationships, (h) supporting family members financially, (i) how economic policy affects family, (j) economic roots of migration by family members, and (k) family financial socialization. As we enter a new decade, emphasis to directions for future research is given and integrated throughout. Recommendations specific to each of these topics are integrated into the discussion of the topic. Additional and more general recommendations for future research are offered as we conclude our review.

Implications of relationships with family, friends, and neighbors for changes in women's well-being in late life

This study examined whether relationships with family, friends, and neighbors (both satisfaction and number in the social network) were associated with older women's well-being concurrently and over two years. Additionally, age differences among older women were explored. Women aged 60+ (N = 224, M_age = 80) were sampled from the Social Integration and Aging Study. Greater family and friend satisfaction were positively associated with well-being; number in network was not. Age-related effects for family and friend relationships suggested potential protective effects for the oldest women. Findings highlight unique facets of older women's relationships, suggesting future directions addressing age and support source.

"Holidays Come, Sundays Come. It is Very Sad to be Alone": Transnational Practices and the Importance of Family for Mexican and Puerto Rican Latinxs Living with HIV in the Continental U.S

Latinxs continue to be overrepresented in the U.S. HIV epidemic. We examined the transnational practices, family relationships, and realities of life of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans living with HIV in the continental U.S. We conducted qualitative interviews with 44 persons of Mexican and Puerto Rican origin participating in HIV care engagement interventions. Framework Analysis guided our data analysis. Among participants, a strong connection to the family was intertwined with transnational practices: communication, travel to their place of origin to maintain family ties, and material and/or emotional support. Separation from their family contributed to social isolation. Many participants lacked emotional support regarding living with HIV. Transnational practices and family relationships were intrinsic to the experiences of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans living with HIV in the continental U.S.; and may help understand the points of reference, health-seeking behaviors, and support sources that influence their health, well-being and engagement in HIV care.

Sibling relationships and civic engagement: A longitudinal study of Chinese young adults

This study examined the longitudinal associations of sibling intimacy and conflict with civic attitudes and behaviours among Chinese young adults. At two time points separated by about 12 months, questionnaire data were collected from 272 Chinese college students (mean age at Time 1 = 19.68 years; 69% female), students who studied in Hong Kong and had at least one sibling. Students rated their intimacy and conflict with their siblings and their parents at Time 1, and their civic attitudes and behaviours at both time points. Hierarchical regression revealed that, controlling for demographic characteristics and parent-child intimacy and conflict, sibling intimacy predicted increases in both civic attitudes and behaviours. Sibling conflict was a non-significant predictor, however. Findings highlighted the roles of siblings in understanding civic development in young adulthood and the utility of targeting sibling intimacy as means to foster young adults' positive attitudes to and active participation in civic activities.

[Association of family typology and dysfunction in families with adolescents from a Mexican population]

Objetivo

Determinar la asociación entre tipología y disfuncionalidad familiar en familias mexicanas con adolescentes.

Diseño

Estudio observacional de tipo transversal.

Emplazamiento y participantes

Cuatrocientas treinta y siete familias con adolescentes inscritos en una escuela secundaria pública de una población mexicana.

Mediciones principales

Determinación de la tipología familiar (Consejo y Consenso Mexicano de Medicina Familiar) y la funcionalidad familiar (APGAR familiar) en adolescentes y sus padres/tutores. Identificación de las familias con percepciones concordantes entre miembros (kappa de Cohen), en las cuales se determinó la asociación entre tipología y percepción de disfuncionalidad familiar (odds ratio [OR]).

Resultados

Los tipos de familias están asociados con la funcionalidad familiar por parentesco, presencia física en el hogar y el nivel de pobreza familiar. Desde la percepción del adolescente, se asocian los tipos: nuclear simple (OR 0,5, IC 95% 0,3-0,8), monoparental extendida (OR 1,9, IC 95% 1,03-3,5), núcleo integrado (OR 0,6, IC 95% 0,4-0,9), pobreza familiar baja (OR 0,5, IC 95% 0,3-0,8) y pobreza familiar alta (OR 5,3, IC 95% 1,5-18,6). Desde la percepción del tutor: la monoparental (OR 1,9, IC 95% 1,09-3,4) y de pobreza familiar alta (OR 2 9, IC 95% 1,1-7,7). Hubo 259 familias con percepción concordante de funcionalidad/disfuncionalidad familiar con un κ = 0,189, determinando que los tipos asociados son: la nuclear simple (OR 0,4, IC 95% 0,2-0,7), monoparental (OR 1,7, IC 95% 0,80-3,8), núcleo integrado (OR 0,5, IC 95% 0,3-0,8), núcleo no integrado (OR 1,9, IC 95% 1,09-3,5) y pobreza familiar alta (OR 13,8, IC 95% 1,7-108,5).

Conclusión

Los tipos de familia con adolescentes asociadas con disfuncionalidad familiar son las monoparentales, las de núcleo no integrado y aquellas con pobreza familiar alta, y como factores de protección, la nuclear simple y con núcleo integrado.

Tic Disorders are Associated With Lower Child and Parent Quality of Life and Worse Family Functioning

OBJECTIVE

Chronic tic disorders occur in approximately 3% of children. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression are common. We evaluated the impact of tic disorders and comorbid symptoms on individual and parent quality of life and family functioning.

METHOD

In two cross-sectional studies children with tic disorders were enrolled at the University of Rochester or the University of South Florida; data were pooled for analyses. Control subjects were enrolled at the University of Rochester. We compared quality of life and function in youth and families with and without tic disorders. We evaluated the associations between comorbid symptoms and individual quality of life and family impact in youth with tic disorders using multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

We enrolled 205 youths with tic disorders and 100 control subjects. Psychosocial (P < 0.0001) and physical (P < 0.0001) quality of life were lower in individuals with tic disorders compared with controls. Severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (P < 0.0001) and depression (P = 0.046) symptoms were associated with lower psychosocial quality of life in youth with tic disorders. Families of youths with tic disorders had worse parent quality of life (P < 0.001) and family functioning (P < 0.001) than control families. Severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (P < 0.0001), obsessive-compulsive disorder (P = 0.0004), and depression (P = 0.01) symptoms were associated with predicted worse family impact.

CONCLUSION

Youths with tic disorders had lower individual and parent quality of life and worse family functioning than controls. The impact of tic disorders on the family may have significant implications for approaches to providing comprehensive care to these families.

Factors Associated with Frailty Syndrome in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome, characterized by a decrease in energy reserve and stress resistance, resulting in an accumulated decline of multiple physiological systems and greater vulnerability. Frailty syndrome has a multifactorial etiology involving a biological basis associated with sociobehavioral factors. We verify the association of frailty syndrome with family functionality level, nutritional status and medication adherence in older adults.

DESIGN

Observational and analytical study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Conducted at ambulatory the university hospital, with patients aged 60 years or older.

MEASUREMENTS

Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Body Mass Index, BMI; the 5-item FRAIL scale was used for frailty screening; family functioning was assessed using the Family APGAR Index, which evaluates Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve; Self-reported medication adherence was measured by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8).

RESULTS

The study involved 308 older adults, with a mean age of 70.40 years, There was an association between frailty and highly dysfunctional family with an OR of 5.9 (95% CI 1.9-18.5)(p<0.05), nutritional risk assessed by BMI, where low weight presented an OR of 2.5 (95% CI 1.1-5.8) and obesity an OR of 2.8 (95% CI 1.1-7.0)(P <0.05) and a nutritional risk assessed by MNA with an OR 6.3(95% CI 1.9-20.4) and low medication adherence with an OR of 8.9 (95% CI, 3.6-21.6)(P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Frailty syndrome is associated with high levels of family dysfunction, nutritional risk and poor medication adherence amongst older people.

Reliability and validity of PROMIS® pediatric family relationships short form in children 8-17 years of age with chronic disease

PURPOSE

Families play a key role in managing pediatric chronic illness. The PROMIS® pediatric family relationships measure was developed primarily within the general pediatric population. We evaluated the Family Relationships short form in the context of pediatric chronic diseases.

METHODS

Children aged 8-17 years with asthma (n = 73), type 1 diabetes (n = 122), or sickle cell disease (n = 80) completed the Family Relationships 8a short form and the PROMIS Pediatric Profile-25's six domains representing physical, mental, and social health. Parents (N = 275) of these children completed the parent versions of the same measures. We evaluated reliability of the Family Relationships measure using Cronbach's alpha and IRT-based marginal reliability, and the standard error of measurement (SEM). Convergent/discriminant validity were assessed from correlations between the Family Relationships domain and the PROMIS-25 domains.

RESULTS

SEM increased for scores above the normative mean of 50. Cronbach's alpha and IRT-estimated marginal reliabilities exceeded 0.80 for children and parents across diseases, except in asthma, where marginal reliability was 0.75 for parents. Scores displayed small to large correlations in the expected directions with social and mental health domains. The largest correlations occurred with parents' proxy reports of children's depressive symptoms in sickle cell disease and asthma, r = - 0.60 (95% CI - 0.74, - 0.48) and r = - 0.58 (95% CI - 0.68, - 0.48) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The Family Relationships 8-item short form demonstrated adequate reliability and convergent/discriminant validity for use in pediatric chronic conditions, though scores above the mean displayed greater uncertainty. Evidence of the measure's reliability and validity in multiple contexts furthers the case for its use.

Qualitative study showed that a culturally tailored parenting programme improved the confidence and skills of Somali immigrants

AIM

Parenting programmes tailored to immigrant parents have been reported to improve the mental health of the children and parents, as well as parents' sense of competence in parenting. However, research on parents' experiences of programmes tailored to their needs is scarce. This qualitative study aimed to describe Somali parents' experiences of how a culturally sensitive programme affected their parenting.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a middle-sized city in Sweden in 2015. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 50 participants two months after they took part in a parenting support programme. Inductive and deductive qualitative content analyses were used.

RESULTS

A light has been shed was a metaphor that emerged from the analysis and that captured the knowledge the parents gained from the parenting system in Sweden. Parents gained confidence in their parenting role and became emotionally aware of their child's social and emotional needs and how to respond to them. Holding the sessions in the participant's native language was important for the parents' participation and acceptance of the programme.

CONCLUSION

Parenting programmes should be tailored to the specific needs of the participants and cultural sensitivity should be factored into programmes to attract immigrant parents.

The role of food in family relationships amongst adolescents with bulimia nervosa: A qualitative study using photo-elicitation

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric disorder, with potentially dangerous complications. Family relationships play an important role in the way the condition develops or is perpetuated. The present study aims to better grasp the role of food in family interactions amongst teenagers with BN. Eleven interviews were carried out with five teenagers with BN aged from 16 to 18 and their parents, using photo-elicitation to carry out the qualitative investigation. A photograph of the table after a family meal, produced by the subject, was used as the basis for discussion. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to process the data. Our results were organised along two axes. The first describes the relationship between parent and child (the sharing of disarray about food between parent and child, food and the issue of children becoming autonomous from parents, food as a catalyser of conflict amongst other stressors). The second showcases relationships in the family as a group (the dining table as a likeness of family functioning, food at a crossroads between sharing and solitude). Our study showed that the dynamics in these families present differences from those of teenagers with anorexia nervosa, which must be taken into account. It confirmed the necessity of a systemic approach in addition to individual therapy (centred on the managing of emotions), and the benefits of creating occasions of family interaction which do not involve food to re-establish communication in the family relationships (including those with siblings).

Family Dynamics in Sleep Health and Hypertension

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Present a conceptual model and review the recent literature on family dynamics, sleep, and hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS

Family dynamics predict hypertension and hypertension risk, in part, due to shared health behaviors. Sleep health behaviors (sleep duration, quality, and efficiency) predict hypertension risk in children and youth and are emerging as a family-level health behavior. Importantly, both family dynamics and sleep are modifiable. Family members influence one another's sleep through their physical presence and through psychological and emotional mechanisms. Family members' sleep patterns may also be coregulated. Negative family dynamics are associated with poor sleep health and predict greater cardiovascular risk. Sleep health behaviors in the family context may also interact with family dynamics to dampen or exacerbate hypertension risk factors in children and youth. This review proposes that promoting sleep health in a family context could be one way to reduce long-term hypertension risk.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and emotion dysregulation among Syrian refugee children and adolescents resettled in Lebanon and Jordan

BACKGROUND

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, many people, including children and adolescents, have fled their homes into neighboring countries. Little research exists on the psychosocial adjustment of refugee children and adolescents resettled in Lebanon and Jordan.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of PTSD and emotion dysregulation in Syrian refugee children and adolescents who resettled in Lebanon and Jordan. It was hypothesized that a combination of pre-trauma variables (age and gender), trauma-specific variables (traumatic events and time spent in host country, and host country), and post-trauma variables (coping strategies, family relationships, and school environment) would be associated with PTSD and emotion dysregulation.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants were 1000 Syrian refugee children and adolescents aged 7-18 years attending formal and non-formal schools representing various governorates in Lebanon and Jordan.

METHODS

The trauma exposure scale, DSM-IV criteria for the assessment of PTSD, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form, Kidcope, Family relationship scales, and school environment scale were administered in an interview format with children and adolescents at school by two trained psychologists. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to predict PTSD whereas hierarchical multiple regression was used to predict emotion dysregulation.

RESULTS

Results indicated that 45.6% of the refugees have developed PTSD with excessive risk for comorbidity with emotion dysregulation. Emotion dysregulation was reported by older refugee children and adolescents. The prevalence of PTSD was higher in refugee children and adolescents who had resettled in Lebanon than for those who had resettled in Jordan. Refugee children and adolescents who were exposed to higher levels of war atrocities evidenced the greatest prevalence of PTSD and emotion dysregulation. PTSD symptomatology and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents varied according to coping styles, family relationships, and school environment. Both decreased significantly with the passage of time spent in host country.

CONCLUSIONS

The results may be used to formulate cognitive-behavioral coping interventions that can lead to optimal developmental outcomes in the posttrauma environment.

Associations Between Early Intervention Home Visits, Family Relationships and Competence for Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Objectives To examine the association between intensity of home visits in early intervention (EI), perceived helpfulness of home visits in EI, and positive family relationships as predictors of maternal competence at age 3, as well as moderating effects of predictors, controlling for child characteristics, family demographics, and negative life events. Methods Data were drawn from the Early Intervention Collaborative Study (EICS), a 24-year longitudinal investigation of approximately 190 families of children with developmental disabilities who participated in EI programs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The primary analytic strategy was multivariable regression modeling. Each independent predictor was tested individually and then all together to build the final model. Interactions between independent predictors were also examined. Results After controlling for child and family characteristics and negative life events, the intensity of home visits was not significantly associated with maternal competence at age 3. However, the helpfulness of home visits (β = 2.94, S.E. = 1.12, p < .01) and positive family relationships (β = 5.11, S.E. = 1.08, p < .001) were associated with higher maternal competence when the child was 3 years old. Conclusions for Practice Recommendations for programs and policy include collecting life course data on families, particularly on their family relationships and experiences in EI and home visiting, assessing family relationships at the beginning of EI using a strengths-based perspective, and closely monitoring the quality of services.

Relationship Between the History of Abuse in the Childhood and Abusive Behaviour Towards Children. Itagüí, Colombia, 2012-2013

INTRODUCTION

One of the experiences that represent the biggest risk for any society is child abuse. Despite the consequences of this form of violence, it tends to be a hidden and little understood phenomenon. The reason why parents mistreat their children has been one of the issues that has raised the most interest in the investigation of this phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how the history of child abuse in adults is related to abusive behaviour directed at their own children.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study, based on a source of secondary information. The study included sociodemographic variables, variables related to violent behaviours directed to other people, pro-social factors and the use of psychoactive substances. From this population, 2 groups were selected, parents who were abusive and parents who were not abusive towards their own children. In both groups the frequency of different factors that could explain the probability of abusive behaviour of the adults towards their children was evaluated. We analysed the association between aggressive behaviour against one's own children and having a history of child abuse. As a measure of association, the OR was used with its respective 95% confidence interval and P-value<.05.

RESULTS

187 adults were included, 63.1% were women. The median [IQR] age was 38 [24-52] years. The abusive behaviour of the parents towards their children was associated with: the female sex (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.13-4.40), partner's aggression (OR=3.28; 95%CI, 1.58-6.80), aggression towards other people outside the family (OR=2.66; 95%CI, 1.05-6.74), pro-social behaviour (OR=0.32; 95%CI, 0.14-0.73), and dysfunctional behavioural traits (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.11-4.52). There was no association with the history of child abuse (OR=1.54; 95%CI, 0.59-4.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The history of abuse in the parents' childhood was not associated with abusive behaviour towards their children. Other forms of partner's violence and non-family violence were associated, suggesting that child abuse in the study population was related to other expressions of family and social violence.

Content validity of the PROMIS® pediatric family relationships measure for children with chronic illness

BACKGROUND

Families play a critical role in supporting the health and well-being of children with chronic illnesses, who face a lifetime of responsibility for self-management of their condition. Our goal was to investigate whether the novel Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) Pediatric Family Relationships measure, developed primarily within the general pediatric population, reflects the experiences of family relationships for chronically ill children and their parents.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with children (aged 8-17) with common chronic conditions: asthma (n = 6), type 1 diabetes (n = 5), or sickle cell disease (n = 5), and separately with one of their parents (n = 16). Interviews were recorded, and two team members independently coded the written transcripts facilitated by Nvivo 10. The systematic content analysis used a combination of: 1) pre-specified themes corresponding to the six facets of the domain identified during measure development and reflected in the content of the items (i.e., Sense of Family; Love and Caring; Value and Acceptance; Trust, Dependability, and Support; Communication; Enjoyment), as well as 2) open-coding, allowing participants to define important concepts (i.e., disease impact).

RESULTS

Family relationships were conceptualized in a similar way to the general population, as evidenced by child and parent responses to open-ended questions about family relationships and to specific probes that corresponded with the item content in the Family Relationship 8-item short form. Children spontaneously discussed the impact of their disease on family relationships less often than parents did. Although participants described how living with a chronic illness positively and negatively impacted aspects of family relationships, nearly all participants believed their responses to the PROMIS® Family Relationships items would not change if they (or their child) did not have a chronic illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Among a sample of families of children with one of 3 chronic illnesses, participants described family relationships in a way that was consistent with the facets of the PROMIS® Family Relationship domain. This study adds to the content validity of the measure for children with chronic illness.

Developmental Change and Correlates of Autonomy in Asian American Adolescents

Although establishing a sense of autonomy has been long thought to be a fundamental developmental task, there are still gaps in literature in terms of how autonomy changes over time and interacts with other important factors in adolescents' lives. In the present study, 158 (60% female; 74% second generation) Asian Americans were followed throughout high school and surveyed for self-reported autonomy, parent-child closeness, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms each year. Hierarchical linear modeling investigated whether autonomy changed over time, whether yearly changes in autonomy were related to changes in parent-child closeness, and whether both constructs were associated with adjustment. The results indicated that, although autonomy did not linearly increase over the high school years, intra-individual increases in autonomy were associated with increases in father-child closeness. Effects of mother-child closeness were similar, but only approached statistical significance. Autonomy and closeness to mother were each positively associated with self-esteem, and their interactive effect on depressive symptoms was also significant, which suggests that both autonomy and relatedness with mother are important for Asian American adolescents' psychological well-being.

Personality, school, and family: What is their role in adolescents' subjective well-being

This article presents a multidimensional approach to subjective well-being in adolescence. Multiple factors regarding personality, family, and school are examined in relation to Greek adolescents' subjective well-being. The participants of the study were 714 adolescents and their parents (302 boys and 412 girls) attending Junior High School (average age = 14.6, SD = .05) and High School (average age = 17.4, SD = .07). The results showed that specific personality, family, and school factors can be used as predictors of subjective well-being. This study is largely explorative in an effort to enrich a limited database regarding adolescents' subjective well-being and as an impetus to research in-depth the specific domain. The findings are significant since not only do they provide an insight into adolescents' subjective well-being but they also have potential implications for the better practice of school psychologists.

The Complexity of Family Reactions to Identity among Homeless and College Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Young Adults

Familial responses to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people's identities range on a spectrum from rejection to acceptance and these reactions strongly impact family relationships and young adult well-being. Less is known, however, about how family members' reactions may differ based on young people's contexts of socioeconomic status. Through a qualitative, life course analysis of in-depth interview data from 46 LGBTQ college students and LGBTQ homeless young adults, our study highlights the diverse, contextual nuances of young people's "linked lives" within their families. We find that the context of socioeconomic status influenced how a young person managed family rejection. Conversely, processes of familial acceptance were also connected to life course transitions that worked in some cases to enhance LGBTQ young adults' family relationships. Finally, the intricacy of familial reactions to a young person's LGBTQ identity transcended socioeconomic contexts as many respondents shared similar experiences of rejection and acceptance. These findings have implications for understanding how young people manage family relationships across different contexts of socioeconomic status and how these experiences can shape their life course trajectories. Results from this study can inform LGBTQ youth service providers by tailoring intervention programs that account for contextual social diversity.

Women who had positive relationships with their own mothers reported good attachments to their first child before and after birth

AIM

Bowlby's attachment intergenerational transmission theory suggests that a woman's attachment to her parents, particularly her mother, plays an important role in her future parenting. We studied whether there was any association between pregnant women's attachment to their baby before and after birth and their relationships with their mothers.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was carried out in 2015 on 201 first-time mothers recruited in the maternity ward of the level two Misericordia e Dolce Hospital in Prato, Italy. At 32 weeks of pregnancy, the women filled in the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory and their spontaneous attachment behaviour towards their newborn infants were observed in the nursery during the first two days after childbirth.

RESULTS

Having a good relationship with their own mothers was a positive predictor for the women's prenatal attachment to their baby and caregiving and attachment behaviour to their newborn infants. In addition, the mothers' prenatal attachment positively predicted their behavioural attachment pattern after birth.

CONCLUSION

We found that women who had positive relationships with their own mothers also had positive attachments to their unborn babies and in the period immediately after birth. Our findings supported Bowlby's attachment intergenerational transmission theory.

Impact of pediatric cancer on family relationships

Little is known about the impact of cancer on family relationships from the perspective of the pediatric cancer patient and their sibling(s). This study assessed and compared children's experiences of family relationships in patients receiving active cancer therapy, those who have completed therapy, and siblings. A cross‐sectional study of children with cancer and their siblings aged 8–17 years old was conducted. Children completed the PROMIS Pediatric Family Relationships short form and the Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Peer Relationships short forms. The Mann–Whitney test assessed differences in Family Relationships scores between therapy groups, while the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test assessed differences between patients and siblings. An actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to assess how patient and sibling variables were associated with their own and each others’ family relationships. Two hundred and sixty‐five children completed the assessments. Siblings of patients on‐therapy had worse family relationships than patients on‐therapy (P = 0.015). Family relationships of patients off‐therapy did not differ from their siblings or the patients on‐therapy. Family relationships scores did not differ between the sibling cohorts. The APIM found patient family relationships were impaired when their own peer relationships decreased and when either their own or their siblings had increased depressive symptoms. Sibling family relationships were impaired when their own depression increased, and when the patient counterpart was female, younger age, had less depressive symptoms, more anxiety or a diagnosis of leukemia/lymphoma (compared to solid tumor). Based on these findings, increased psychosocial resources for patients and siblings of children undergoing cancer therapy may be warranted.

"We would never forget who we are": resettlement, cultural negotiation, and family relationships among Somali Bantu refugees

Somali refugees are resettling in large numbers in the US, but little is known about the Somali Bantu, an ethnic minority within this population. Refugee youth mental health is linked to the functioning of the larger family unit. Understanding how the process of culturally adjusting to life after resettlement relates to family functioning can help identify what kind of interventions might strengthen families and lead to better mental health outcomes for youth. This paper seeks to address the following research questions: (1) How do different groups of Somali Bantu refugees describe their experiences of culturally adapting to life in the US?; and (2) How, if at all, do processes of cultural adaptation in a new country affect Somali Bantu family functioning? We conducted 14 focus groups with a total of 81 Somali Bantu refugees in New England. Authors analyzed focus groups using principles of thematic analysis to develop codes and an overarching theoretical model about the relationship between cultural adaptation, parent-child relationships, and family functioning. Views and expectations of parent-child relationships were compared between Somali Bantu youth and adults. Cultural negotiation was dependent upon broader sociocultural contexts in the United States that were most salient to the experience of the individual. Adult and youth participants had conflicting views around negotiating Somali Bantu culture, which often led to strained parent-child relationships. In contrast, youth sibling relationships were strengthened, as they turned to each other for support in navigating the process of cultural adaptation.

Children's family experiences: development of the PROMIS® pediatric family relationships measures

PURPOSE

To describe the development of pediatric family relationships measures, with versions for child self-report (8-17 years) and parent-report for children 5-17 years old. Measures were created for integration into the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®).

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews with 10 experts, 24 children, and 8 parents were conducted to elicit and clarify essential elements of family relationships. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify item concepts representative of each element. The concepts were transformed into items that were iteratively revised based on cognitive interviews (n = 43 children) and item translatability review. Psychometric studies involving 2846 children and 2262 parents were conducted to further refine and validate the instruments.

RESULTS

Qualitative procedures supported the development of content valid Family Relationships item banks. Final child- and parent-report item banks each contain 47 items. Unidimensional item banks were calibrated using IRT-modeling to estimate item parameters representative of the US population and to enable computerized adaptive test administration. Four- and eight-item short forms were constructed for standard fixed format administration. All instruments have strong internal consistency, retest-reliability, and provide precise estimates of various levels of family relationship quality. Preliminary evidence of the instruments' validity was provided by known-group comparisons and convergence with legacy measures.

CONCLUSION

The PROMIS pediatric Family Relationships measures can be applied in research focused on determinants, outcomes, and the protective effects of children's subjective family relationship experiences.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Stepfamily Relationship Quality and Adolescent Physical Health

PURPOSE

Approximately one third of youth are estimated to live with a biological parent and stepparent before reaching adulthood. Additional research is warranted whereby stepfamily processes are identified that drive variation in youth adjustment, particularly physical health. We examined stepfather-child, mother-child, and stepcouple relationship quality as predictors of levels and changes in adolescent physical health over time.

METHODS

We used a nationally representative sample of 1,233 adolescents living in biological mother-stepfather families from waves I (1994-1995) and II (1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We incorporated measures of stepfather-child, mother-child, and stepcouple relationship quality, as well as adolescent reports of 10 physical health symptoms at waves I and II. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between wave I stepfamily relationships and adolescent physical symptoms at waves I and II. We used a zero-inflated negative binomial model to establish the validity of wave II adolescent physical symptoms as a predictor of an index of diagnosed chronic illnesses by wave IV (ages 26-32 years).

RESULTS

Stepfather-child and mother-child relationship quality were negatively correlated with concurrent levels of adolescent physical symptoms. Stepfather-child relationship quality was negatively associated with change in adolescent physical symptoms over time. Adolescents with higher levels of physical symptoms at wave II were more likely to report chronic illnesses by adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Stepfather-child relationship quality is a robust predictor of adolescent physical health throughout adolescence and is linked to chronic illness diagnoses in young adulthood. Future research should explore further the mechanisms that underlie this association.