Close Family Relationships Research Articles

Virtual Grandparenting: Identifying Barriers to Supportive Video Chat between Grandparents and Grandchildren

Many grandparents today are physically separated from their families. Given that maintaining close family relationships (with both adult children and grandchildren) is associated with increased physical, mental, and emotional health across generations, it is important to determine how families can maintain close relationships with grandparents when physically separated. Technology offers one potential support: the proliferation of video chat. Recent work suggests that the frequency of video chat and the variety of behaviors engaged in during video calls predicts family closeness and enjoyment of using this communication method, regardless of the physical distance between parties. However, the frequency of grandparent-grandchild video chat varies across families. Here, we explore how demographic, physical (e.g., distance), technological (e.g., number of devices and barriers), and social factors (e.g., children are distracted) predicted: (1) whether or not video chat was used by grandparent-grandchild dyads, and (2) the frequency of video chat in the families using the technology. This work suggests that geographical distance, having met in person, and the number of devices owned were positive predictors of grandparents and grandchildren having ever video chatted. However, the factors associated with the frequency of video chat were different in the parent and grandparent models and included grandparents’ comfort with technology and the type of device used by the parent and child. These findings not only have implications for supporting grandparent-grandchild relationships but also for all family members separated by distance, immigration, incarceration, health emergencies, and displacement.

Application of a joint latent space item response model to clustering stressful life events and the Beck Depression Inventory-II: results from Korean epidemiological survey data.

According to previous findings, stressful life events (SLEs) and their subtypes are associated with depressive symptoms. However, few studies have explored potential models for these events and incidental symptoms of depression. Participants (3,966 men; 5,709 women) were recruited from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center cohort. SLEs were measured using a 47-item Life Experiences Survey (LES) with a standardized protocol. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Joint latent space item response models were applied by gender and age group (<50 vs. ≥50 years old). Among the LES items, death or illness of close relatives, legal problems, sexual difficulties, family relationships, and social relationships shared latent positions with major depressive symptoms regardless of gender or age. We also observed a gender-specific domain: occupational and family-related items. By projecting LES and BDI-II data onto the same interaction map for each subgroup, we could specify the associations between specific LES items and depressive symptoms.

Judging ‘Close Family Relations’ in Irregular Migration: The Production of Legal, National and Familial Orders in Finnish Courts

Judging ‘Close Family Relations’ in Irregular Migration: The Production of Legal, National and Familial Orders in Finnish Courts

Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Geopolitics, Health, Economics, Education and Sociocultural Events.

The number of active cases of COVID-19 and deaths is markedly escalating. The pandemic had affected almost every aspect of our lives including geopolitics, health, economics, education, and sociocultural events. However, besides the negative impacts of the pandemic, there are some positive impacts as well, such as improving our awareness of the daily hygienic practices, emphasizing digital inequality, and increasing global collaboration in combating the crisis by intensifying scientific research to establish a promising vaccine. Other positive impacts are the activation and use of online education, also raising awareness about close family relationships and much more. This review addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on various important aspects of life.

Information system design for alumni of Ma Chung University's information systems study program

The Alumni Information System is needed to help and make it easier to manage alumni data, a forum for communication between alumni and study programs, alumni and lecturers, alumni with alumni themselves, and alumni with their younger siblings (active students). So this research was made to help solve the problems of the Ma Chung University Information Systems Study Program to manage data and maintain close familial relationships between alumni and study programs.

Where do our music preferences come from? Family influences on music across childhood, adolescence and early adulthood

While much is known about the influence of peers and parents in developing musical memories and preferences, the wider family context has not yet been considered. We present novel empirical evidence from surveys (N = 100) with young adults and interviews (N = 15) and surveys (N = 24) with young adults and their influencers, which sheds light on how family dynamics influence the development of music listening, habits and preferences. Close family relationships were associated with more shared musical experiences, positive musical memories and greater tolerance for different musical styles, with little evidence for conflict between parents and adolescents. Many memorable experiences in early adolescence were shared with parents, and parents’ own preferences were passed on. Other family members also played important roles, sometimes substituting for parents, and friends were also influential as surrogate siblings. Family in a broader sense thus influences enculturation and provides a supportive shared context for musical development.

Villelmina Amaxia Viri sui Fredelici. Identification Strategies in Middle Age Piedmontese Rolls

Johannes filius Petri: this naming strategy represents one of the main medieval ways of designating people, especially in administrative documents of a fiscal nature. In fact, a person is certainly someone’s daughter or son and a woman is a man’s daughter or wife. Women, in particular, are often not even referred to by a first name but only as wives, daughters and mothers of males. In a 14th Century Turin (Northwestern Italy) judicial roll, alternative strategies have been identified and they not only indicate close family relationship, but also other medieval roles such as amasia. This paper inquiries the indirect denomination of this judicial source and compares the formulas used for men and women.

Learning Innovations and Strengthening Student Character Through Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on Indonesia’s education system. Learning has had to be conducted remotely to prevent students from contracting COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to determine the innovations implemented by teachers so that learning could continue and to find out how student character can be strengthened through distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative approach was taken, using a case study design. Data were collected through interviews with informants. The results showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, learning was carried out in online networks by utilizing technology. ZOOM and WhatsApp were the applications most often used in the learning process. It was also found that the character of students can be strengthened through distance learning. For example, some teachers suggested that students pray together with their close family and other relatives. Teachers also encouraged students to help with the house chores of the family.&#x0D; Keywords: pandemic, COVID-19, learning, innovation, technology, character, students

Interrogating the validity of cumulative indices of environmental and genetic risk for negative developmental outcomes.

Indices of cumulative risk (CR) have long been used in developmental research to encode the number of risk factors a child or adolescent experiences that may impede optimal developmental outcomes. Initial contributions concentrated on indices of cumulative environmental risk; more recently, indices of cumulative genetic risk have been employed. In this article, regression analytic methods are proposed for interrogating strongly the validity of risk indices by testing optimality of compositing weights, enabling more informative modeling of effects of CR indices. Reanalyses of data from two studies are reported. One study involved 10 environmental risk factors predicting Verbal IQ in 215 four-year-old children. The second study included an index of genetic CR in a G×E interaction investigation of 281 target participants assessed at age 15 years and then again at age 31 years for observed hostility during videotaped interactions with close family relations. Principles to guide evaluation of results of statistical modeling are presented, and implications of results for research and theory are discussed. The ultimate goals of this paper are to develop stronger tests of conjectures involving CR indices and to promote methods for improving replicability of results across studies.

Would I have your support? Family network features and past support exchanges associated with anticipated support for a substance problem

ABSTRACT Objective Assessment of social processes underlying anticipation for recovery-related support from family in the event of a substance problem. We drew from literature on social support, substance use, and social networks to develop a path model connecting emotionally close family relationships, closeness among members in the wider family network (density), previous emotional support exchanges, and anticipated support. Subjects and Methods We used a sample from the 2019 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (284 adults; 57% female; 94% white; 46.26% living in rural areas) and employed generalized structural equation modeling with logistic regression equations for our binary dependent variable (anticipated support). Results Denser family networks were associated with individuals’ close relations with family (b = .18, p < .001), close family relations were associated with support received by (b = .25, p < .05) and given to (b = .47, p < .001) family, and only support given to family increased the odds of anticipated support (IRR = 4.32, CI = 1.13, 16.48). Conclusions Family-wide dynamics are important for understanding how support exchange relates to anticipated support. Prioritizing efforts to strengthen family relationships and improve the likelihood that at-risk individuals, especially in rural areas, can overcome substance problems is important.

Family Support for Psychological Health of the Elderly

With the increasing number of elderly people, of course, there will be more and more complex problems that must be faced by these elderly people. Elderly people are no longer independent or dependent on others, unable to carry out activities on their own, need caregivers, have cognitive and functional decline, have complex psychosocial problems, and have multiple diseases. This study aims to provide an overview of the form of support and its impact on the health of the elderly by providing an overview through literature review research. Research data was obtained through literature study and hermeneutics. Family support can provide great hope for elderly people to continue to instill many positive things and reduce the negative possibilities experienced by them. Ways to provide support to the elderly can be: taking family members for walks, hanging out with friends, being with them throughout the day, and respecting one another. The benefits of providing the above are that there is an increasingly close family relationship, trusted by elderly parents, to be asked for any help, not awkward in expressing any opinion. This has an impact on the emotional stability of the elderly in living their lives.

Pernikahan Nasbiyah Sayyid dan Syarifah (Studi Living Hadits di Kampung Arab, Kademangan, Bondowoso)

In the Arab village of Bondowoso, precisely on the streets of HOS Cokroaminoto and KH. Asy'ari still maintains the custom of nasbiyah marriage. The focus of the research in this study is: what is the meaning of marriage according to the Alawite Arabs; why do 'alawiyyin Arabs in the past make a tradition of 'alawiyyin' Arab marriages; how the Alawite Arabs maintain the tradition of marriage between Alawite Arabs; and what are the views of the Alawite Arabs on the hadiths that prioritize their religious aspects. The results of this study are 1) Marriage is a physical and spiritual bond between a man and a woman to fulfill the purpose of married life as husband and wife by fulfilling the requirements and pillars that have been determined by Islamic law. 2) nasab is a descendant, so nasbiyah marriage is a marriage carried out by sayyid (Arabic man) and Syarifah (Arabic woman) to maintain the descendants that continue to the Prophet Muhammad. 3) it has become a tradition for Arabs to marry fellow Arabs as well, namely the Alawite group, besides that this tradition usually occurs because of the element of matchmaking by both parties, there is even a close family relationship between the bride and groom. 4) the view of the Arab Alawiyyin on the hadith prioritizes the religious aspect, if the lineage is good then the religion will be good too.

What doesn't kill you makes you “smarter”: The long-term association between exposure to epidemic and cognition

Emerging epidemics have devastating impacts on people's lives and livelihoods. However, acting as a severe health shock, exposure to an epidemic may induce positive changes in health behaviors among survivors, thereby leading to long-lasting improvement in population health. This study examined the long-term association between exposure to the 2002–2004 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak and middle-aged and older Chinese adults' cognition assessed in 2011–2015. Drawing on data from the 2011–2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we found that community exposure to the outbreak was associated with significantly higher scores on episodic memory, after adjusting for demographic characteristics, adulthood socioeconomic status and health, and community socioeconomic conditions. No such a significant association was found for mental intactness. Mediation analysis showed that community exposure to the epidemic was associated with increased participation in social activities, maintaining close family relationships with adult children and grandchildren, and increased participation in regular physical exercise, all of which were positively associated with cognitive functioning in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. These findings suggest that positive post-epidemic behavioral changes are possible and may have long-term health benefits for survivors.

Maternal stress during pregnancy and children’s diet: Evidence from a population of low socioeconomic status

ObjectivesThis study examined the relationship between maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy and children’s food preferences and diet in a population of low socioeconomic status. MethodsIndices of exposure to stress were constructed based on retrospective self-reported experience of stressful events during pregnancy (e.g., death of close family member, relationship difficulties, legal issues, health issues, financial issues, or other potentially stressful event[s]). Data were collected for >200 mothers of a low socioeconomic status with a child age 2 to 12 y. Data on mothers’ body mass index, current exposure to stress, current diet, and diet during pregnancy were collected at the same time, as well as data on children’s food preferences and current diet as reported by the mothers. Indices of the healthiness of food preferences and diet were constructed and used as outcome variables. ResultsMaternal exposure to stress during pregnancy significantly predicts children’s food and taste preferences, as well as their diet, in regression models controlling for maternal diet, current maternal stress, and demographic characteristics of both the child and mother. Higher average stress during pregnancy is linked with significantly less healthy food preferences and diet, as well as with weaker preferences for sour and bitter foods. This relationship is observed across different age groups. ConclusionsMaternal exposure to stress during pregnancy could have long-term detrimental effects on dietary outcomes and thereby on health conditions related to diet. Prenatal care and preconception counseling could be critical to develop preventive strategies to improve public health.

Caregiver strain in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndromes

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) progress relentlessly and lead to a need for care. Caregiving is often burdensome. Little is known about the course of caregiver burden (CB) in PSP and CBS patients. Longitudinal analysis of CB in family members caring for PSP and CBS patients. Single-center longitudinal pilot study in 68 newly diagnosed patients with probable PSP and CBS (52 Richardson’s syndrome; 1 progressive gait freezing of PSP; 15 CBS). Demographic, educational, occupational parameters, family status, motor functions (UPDRSIII, Hoehn and Yahr Score, Tinetti) and neuropsychological performance (CERAD Plus, Frontal Assessment Battery) were assessed, as well as behavioral and neuropsychiatric impairments (Frontal Behavioral Inventory, Neuropsychiatric Inventory), activities of daily living (ADL) and caregiver burden using the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), in most patients also the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Patients were followed up every 6 months for up to 2 years. Caregivers reported mild to moderate CB at baseline, which increased by 25–30% in 2 years and was significantly greater in PSP than in CBS. Risk for mental health problems increased over time, especially in female caregivers (depression). Important patient-related factors were apathy, aspontaneity, depression, irritability, disorganization, poor judgment, impairment of language, impairments in ADL, a high educational level of the patient and close family relationship. Behavioral symptoms and impaired ADL are the main patient-related factors of CB in PSP and CBS. CB can be severe and needs to be assessed repeatedly from the time of diagnosis to provide comprehensive support.

Structural and Functional Aspects of Social Relationships and Episodic Memory: Between-Person and Within-Person Associations in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Objectives: A growing body of research has documented associations between social relationships and cognitive function, while findings are less clear regarding specific aspects of social relationships that are relevant to change in cognitive function. Furthermore, it is unclear whether associations differ at the between-person and within-person levels. Method: The present study used 8-year longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine the role of structural (partnered/married, number of social network partners, and contact frequency) as well as functional (support, strain, and loneliness) aspects of social relationships for episodic memory at the between-person and within-person levels. Analyses are based on up to 3 waves of data from 19,297 participants (mean age at baseline = 66 years, SD = 10, range = 50–104; 58% women). Control variables include age at baseline, gender, education, functional health, and depressive symptoms. Results: Findings showed that at the between-person level, most structural and functional aspects were related to levels of memory performance, with participants with higher numbers of social network members, more frequent contact, and more positive experiences outperforming others. An exception was a higher number of family (child or relative) relationships. At the within-person level, on occasions where participants had a higher number of close family relationships than usual, had more social contact than usual, and felt less lonely than usual, they also showed higher than usual episodic memory performance. Finally, negative effects of social strain and loneliness on episodic memory performance at the between-person level were moderated by social network size, indicating that effects were more negative among individuals with larger social networks. Discussion: Both structural and functional aspects of social relationships contribute to between-person differences in levels and fluctuations of episodic memory performance. Ups and downs of relationships to relatives, social contact, and feelings of loneliness contribute to ups and downs of episodic memory. Potential mechanisms underlying these associations are discussed.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Insomnia Symptoms Among the Chinese General Public After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Epidemic Was Initially Controlled.

IntroductionThe prevalence rate and related factors of insomnia remained unknown after the COVID-19 epidemic had been under control. Therefore, we conducted this survey to investigate the prevalence rate and related factors of insomnia symptoms in the Chinese general public after the COVID-19 had been initially control.MethodsAn online survey was conducted among Chinese citizens through the JD Health APP. The questionnaire was used for collecting demographic data and self-designed questions related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Insomnia Severity Index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Somatic Symptom Scale-8 and Impact of Events Scale-Revised were used for measuring psychological symptoms. To examine the associations of sociodemographic and psychological factors with insomnia symptoms, a binary logistic regression was used.ResultsIn total, there were 14,894 eligible participants, and 4601 (30.9%) participants were found to have insomnia symptoms. The regression model revealed that a higher risk of insomnia symptoms was associated with being over the age of 40 years, having history of psychiatric disorders, smoking, having infected friends or colleagues, having depressive or somatic symptoms, experiencing psychological distress and feeling estranged from family members. Meanwhile a lower risk of insomnia symptoms was associated with being female, having closer family relationships, not feeling alienated from others and being satisfied with the available information.ConclusionIn our study, 30.9% of the participants in the general public reported insomnia symptoms after the COVID-19 epidemic had been initially controlled. When providing precise interventions for insomnia, extra attention should be paid to the individuals who are male, elderly and smokers, and those with psychiatric disorder history, with infected friends or colleagues, with psychological symptoms and with poor social support.

Abstract MP02: Diet Quality Comparisons In Hispanic/Latino Siblings And The Role Of Social And Environmental Determinants: Results From The Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study Of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)

Introduction: Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States are disproportionately burdened by obesity. Siblings are important determinants of each other’s health behaviors, particularly in Hispanic/Latino families whose cultural values are distinctive for stressing close and supportive family relationships. However, no study in Hispanic/Latino youth has examined how overall diet quality correlates between siblings. Objective: To determine how well Hispanic/Latino siblings’ diet quality correlates with each other and whether social and environmental factors explain potential differences. Methods: Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds from the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) with at least one sibling enrolled in the study were examined ( n =749). The Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) was calculated from two 24-hour recalls to assess overall diet quality. All analyses used mixed effect models with HEI-2010 score as the outcome. Individual and family-level socio-demographic variables were fixed effects, and family and intercept were random effects. Correlations between siblings’ diet quality were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All models were examined stratified by age and sex, and the ICCs were compared across groups using Fisher’s z-transformation. Diet-related social and environmental measures were added as fixed effects in a secondary analysis. Results: Overall HEI-2010 score was 53.7. The ICC for siblings’ HEI-2010 score was 0.31, indicating slight correlation. Separate examination of the twelve HEI-2010 components showed that siblings’ intake of empty calories and sodium had the highest correlation (ICC=0.31), while intake of total protein foods had the lowest correlation (ICC=0.13). Siblings who were born &lt;3 years apart (vs. ≥3 years apart) or all male or female (vs. of different sexes) had stronger correlations in overall diet quality (ICC=0.45 vs. 0.21 and 0.39 vs. 0.19, respectively, p&lt;0.05). Individuals who reported greater peer support for fruit and vegetable intake or more frequent use of healthy school vending machines/the school salad bar than their siblings had higher HEI-2010 scores (β=1.79 [95% CI: 0.38, 2.76]) and β=1.57 [95% CI: 0.38, 2.76], respectively). Individuals who reported greater away from home food consumption than their siblings had lower HEI-2010 scores (β=-1.12 [95% CI: -2.06, -0.18]). Frequenting unhealthy school vendors did not explain differences in siblings’ diet quality. Conclusions: Overall diet quality scores of Hispanic/Latino siblings in this study were modestly correlated, with stronger correlations among siblings closer in age and of concordant sex. Differences in peer support and foods consumed outside the home may explain differences in siblings’ diet quality. Future studies should examine additional psychosocial determinants of siblings’ diets.

Spiritual Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, people and families experienced a new and sudden situation that forced them to stay in their homes for a long period (February 25- May 26). In this context, many people found themselves in great difficulty, not only because of the fear of contagion or the economic problems deriving from the closure of production activities but also because the virus profoundly changed the way of life in society. The “Social distancing” concept became central in all personal relationships, including close family relationships. In this situation, our paper seeks to understand the role of spirituality and religiosity in reacting to this difficult situation and in particular on the physical and psychological health of the people involved. The data we present here are part of a multidisciplinary research with a quantitative theoretical framework. As the data was collected during the first Italian lockdown, a total of 1,250 adults from all over Italy participated in the on-line questionnaire. Among the main results it emerged that the participants perceived lower levels of spiritual well-being and mental health than the pre-pandemic situation with a significant gender difference; in fact, women perceived lower mental health than men. At the same time, it is evident that spirituality and religious practices are a protective factor connected not only with psychological and mental but also physical health. Finally, it appears evident that the family is a protective factor with respect to mental health, even in a period so full of stress factors, those who did not live alone and especially those who had to take care of small children reported higher perceived mental health and a greater ability to activate coping resources.

Population genomic analyses of schistosome parasites highlight critical challenges facing endgame elimination efforts

Schistosomiasis persists in Asian regions despite aggressive elimination measures. To identify factors enabling continued parasite transmission, we performed reduced representation genome sequencing on Schistosoma japonicum miracidia collected across multiple years from transmission hotspots in Sichuan, China. We discovered strong geographic structure, suggesting that local, rather than imported, reservoirs are key sources of persistent infections in the region. At the village level, parasites collected after referral for praziquantel treatment are closely related to local pre-treatment populations. Schistosomes within villages are also highly related, suggesting that only a few parasites from a limited number of hosts drive re-infection. The close familial relationships among miracidia from different human hosts also implicate short transmission routes among humans. At the individual host level, genetic evidence indicates that multiple humans retained infections following referral for treatment. Our findings suggest that end-game schistosomiasis control measures should focus on completely extirpating local parasite reservoirs and confirming successful treatment of infected human hosts.