Ecological Model Of Human Development Research Articles

An ecological approach to seeking and utilising the views of young people with intellectual disabilities in transition planning

Transition planning using a person-centred approach has, in the main, failed to shape service provision. We offer an alternative based on an ecological understanding of human development linked to public health approaches that prioritise whole system planning. A total of 43 young people with intellectual disabilities, in Bradford, England, who were approaching transition from school or college were recruited to a qualitative study. Their ethnic breakdown was as follows: 16 white British, 24 Pakistani, 2 Bangladeshi and 1 Black African. Each young person was interviewed twice, at recruitment and a year later, to observe any changes in their social networks during transition. Interviews were undertaken with a semi-structured interview schedule and with the pictorial approach of Talking Mats. Both the networks the young people live within, and their sense of what the future might hold for them, are described and linked to Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development. The importance of the family and school is emphasised, as is the absence of engagement in leisure activities and work. Transition planning needs to start with mapping the systems individuals live within, areas of strength should be supported and parts of the system, which are not fit for purpose for these young people, should be prioritised for interventions.

Health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients in northeastern Sicily, Italy: (An ecological perspective).

Parkinson's disease has a negative impact on health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients. Depression, cognitive impairment, coping strategies, dyskinesia, gait disorders and complications of dopaminergic drugs are the variables that most affect health-related quality of life. The ecological model of human development focuses attention on both individual and social environmental factors as targets for health interventions. From this perspective, the aim of this cross-sectional survey was to evaluate the influence of gender, family size and perceived autonomy on health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients in northeastern Sicily, Italy. Ninety Parkinson's disease patients, attending the Movement Disorders Clinic at IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo” (Messina), were consecutively enrolled. The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor subscale (UPDRS-III) scores, the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire-39 Item scores (as a disease-specific measure of health-related quality of life), scores on the Short Form (36) Health Survey Questionnaire (as a generic measure), and answers to a brief checklist were recorded. A total of 85 Parkinson's disease patients (49% males and 51% females; mean age 70.8 ± 8.6 years; mean UPDRS-III 24.15 ± 6.55; mean disease duration 5.52 ± 4.65 years) completed the booklet of questionnaires. In the multivariate regression analysis, we included clinical and social variables as independent predictors of health-related quality of life. Our results suggest a potential compounding effect of ecological intrapersonal and interpersonal levels on health-related quality of life outcomes. Gender, self-evaluated autonomy and family size significantly impacted health-related quality of life. If quality of life is used as an indicator of treatment outcomes, an ecological perspective of the case history will be important to disclose relevant prognostic information and trigger personalized health care interventions.

I. INTRODUCTION

Although comprehensive and ecological approaches to early childhood prevention are commonly advocated, there are few examples of long-term follow-up of such programs. In this monograph, we investigate the medium- and long-term effects of an ecological, community-based prevention project for primary school children and families living in three economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Ontario, Canada. The Better Beginnings, Better Futures (BBBF) project is one of the most ambitious Canadian research projects on the long-term impacts of early childhood prevention programming to date. Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development informed program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Using a quasi-experimental design, the BBBF longitudinal research study involved 601 children and their families who participated in BBBF programs when children were between 4 and 8 years old and 358 children and their families from sociodemographically matched comparison communities. We collected extensive child, parent, family, and community outcome data when children were in Grade 3 (age 8–9), Grade 6 (age 11–12), and Grade 9 (age 14–15). The BBBF mandate was to develop programs that would positively impact all areas of child's development; our findings reflect this ecological approach. We found marked positive effects in social and school functioning domains in Grades 6 and 9 and evidence of fewer emotional and behavioral problems in school across the three grades. Parents from BBBF sites reported greater feelings of social support and more positive ratings of marital satisfaction and general family functioning, especially at the Grade 9 follow-up. Positive neighborhood-level effects were also evident. Economic analyses at Grade 9 showed BBBF participation was associated with government savings of $912 per child. These findings provide evidence that an affordable, ecological, community-based prevention program can promote long-term development of children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and produce monetary benefits to government as soon as 7 years after program completion.

Positive family relationships and religious affiliation as mediators between negative environment and illicit drug symptoms in American Indian adolescents

The present study tests how positive family relationships and religious affiliation mediate between negative familial and social environments, and adolescent illicit drug abuse/dependence symptoms. The theoretical framework is based on an integration of two theories: the ecological model of human development ( Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and the social development model ( Hawkins & Weis, 1985). We used a stratified random sample of 401 American Indian adolescents. A path analysis tested the integrative theoretical model. Findings showed that positive family relationships mediated the negative impact of addicted family members, violence victimization, and negative school environment on illicit drug abuse/dependence symptoms. Religious affiliation mediated the negative effect of deviant peers on positive family relationships. Intervention and prevention efforts may benefit from promoting positive family relationships and religious affiliation to reduce the impact of complex familial and social problems on illicit drug symptoms.

Relational Climate and Effectiveness of Residential Care: Adolescent Perspectives

In Italy, the evaluation of residential care is particularly important in view of: (1) the process of deinstitutionalization; (2) the power of the public authorities to devolve the running of services, including residential communities, to private partners. The literature has stressed the importance of involving multiple stakeholders in the design and implementation of evaluative research. This article summarizes a research plan for the evaluation of child and adolescent residential communities based on the theoretical framework of developmental psychopathology and Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development. A study is presented on the perception that adolescents in care have of the community's relational climate—analyzed by way of everyday routines and communications with adults—and of the effects of the intervention. The results corroborate the hypothesis that the relational climate in a community is a good predictor of the efficacy of residential care.

Personal Projects and Free Traits: Personality and Motivation Reconsidered

AbstractI review a social ecological model of human development that stimulates reconsideration of some traditional views in personality and motivational psychology. I propose that the quality of lives is contingent upon the sustainable pursuit of core personal projects. Project pursuit may occasionally require the suspension of biogenic fixed traits and the adoption of ‘free traits’, and I review some preliminary research on this recent topic. Free traits are culturally scripted patterns of conduct that are strategically crafted to advance projects about which a person cares deeply. Biogenic introverts, for example, may act as extraverts in order to advance projects requiring expressions of enthusiastic assertiveness. This may not only enhance well‐being by promoting successful project pursuit but may also compromise well‐being because of challenges to the autonomic nervous system. The costs of free‐traited behavior can be mitigated by the provision and use of restorative resources. When viewed through this perspective seeming inconsistencies and paradoxes of daily life become less puzzling as well as more intriguing. By tracing these themes through the lives of a hypothetical couple, George and Elizabeth, I hope to provide a stimulant to theory, research, and applications that can both explain and enhance the quality of lives.

Collaboration in the Context of Appalachia

A broad perspective on child development is important to understanding collaboration in special education. Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development provides a backdrop to this case study of collaboration on behalf of Cassie, a 4-year-old child with disabilities in a small West Virginia community. The story of Cassie and her family is used to examine special education in a socio-cultural context. The implications of the research for special education in general and professional development in particular are discussed.

A relação médico-paciente no Programa Saúde da Família: um estudo em três municípios do Estado da Bahia, Brasil

This study discusses the physician-patient relationship under the Family Health Program (FHP) in Bahia State, Brazil. Assuming that the physician-patient relationship is influenced by macro and micro-contextual factors, we linked health surveillance and the ecological model of human development, both influenced by contextualism. The methodological strategies included: a census of FHP physicians in Bahia and direct observation of consultations by 20 physicians in three municipalities (counties). There were significant differences in the implementation of the FHP in the three municipalities, with an impact on the physician-patient relationship. As for orientation of clinical practice, health surveillance has not been incorporated by the physicians observed in this study. According to the micro-contextual analysis, health problems were frequently not treated in a contextualized way. FHP guidelines, when incorporated by the municipalities, produce differences in care as observed in the physician-patient relationship. The health surveillance approach, reported as a tool for collective work, proves efficient for describing, evaluating, and improving the FHP, and this study concludes that it is a powerful conceptual tool for dealing with the physician-patient relationship.

Social Work Interventions in Refugee Camps

ABSTRACTThis article offers findings from qualitative needs assessment of Kosovar refugees in south Albania at approximately one month following their flight from Kosovo (May, 1999). Common themes emerged from the interview data including trauma and the desire for emotional help, lack of information about loved ones, and the need for activities and self-determination in the camps. Framing these findings within an ecological model of human development, we propose a comprehensive approach to social work interventions in refugee camps.

Padrões de interação entre adolescentes e educadores num espaço institucional: resignificando trajetórias de risco

Este trabalho foi o resultado de uma pesquisa-acao realizada numa instituicao para o atendimento a adolescentes em situacao de risco social e pessoal, entre 10 e 18 anos de idade, atraves de observacao participante em dois grupos de vinte participantes ao longo de sete meses. Pretende-se aqui demonstrar, atraves dos resultados e discussao, as mudancas na dinâmica interativa dos adolescentes entre si e com os educadores, no que diz respeito a duas categorias: tipos de interacao e recursos pessoais construidos, a partir de uma breve caracterizacao de suas concepcoes sobre risco-protecao, concepcoes sobre si mesmos e projetos de vida. Privilegiou-se o modelo ecologico do desenvolvimento humano e o modelo multifatorial do risco para a compreensao dos processos sinergisticos e bi-direcionais de co-construcao e co-regulacao. Os resultados apontam para modificacoes significativas efetivadas a partir de uma intervencao da natureza da que foi realizada e a repercussao em direcionamentos positivos no processo desenvolvimental dos adolescentes. Salienta-se a importância de se otimizar e construir espacos de convivencia, oportunizando aos adolescentes engajarem-se em acoes pro-sociais e encontrarem rotas alternativas a suas trajetorias de risco.

O psicólogo ecológico no contexto institucional: uma experiência com meninas vítimas de violência

Este ensaio consiste em um relato da experiência de trabalho de um psicólogo ecológico em uma instituição para meninas vítimas de violência, embasada no Modelo Ecológico de Desenvolvimento Humano. É discutida a integração da prática com a teoria, envolvendo desde aspectos relacionados ao cotidiano da instituição e da história de vida das meninas, até a influência cultural e social dos sistemas ecológicos. Os resultados mostraram que a integração destes aspectos levaram à melhoria da qualidade do trabalho dos profissionais e da vida das meninas atendidas.

Self-Regulation in Democratic Communities

In this article we examine self-regulation as a nonacademic outcome of schooling and assess school- and community-based programs and practices that aim to promote it. From Deweyan and Vygotskian perspectives, self-regulation is conceived broadly as the product of reciprocal person-context relations. It is defined as the planful pursuit of goals that is flexible and promotes individual growth and social change. Self-regulation is characterized by 3 types and levels of person-context interactions: (1) internalization and close personal relations, (2) empowerment and contingent environments, and (3) future orientation and social capital. We examine how self-regulation develops and is supported within and across these types of person-context interactions using Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development. Implications for 2 aspects of social change-cultural enrichment and social transformation for the promotion of democratic communities-are explored.

History and Contribution of Organizational Behavior Management to Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT This article traces the development of the field of organizational behavior management (OBM) from its origins in early behavior modification studies, the development of a technology for modifying staff behavior, to recent developments in the evolution of cultures. An ecological model of staff behavior is outlined using Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological model of human development. The technology used to modify staff behavior is briefly reviewed. In the final section recommendations for managers and researchers are made. Managers should be aware that there is an effective technology for modifying a wide range of staff behaviors that can be implemented both in response to crises and during routine management. Future research on OBM should address three major concerns. First, OBM should broaden the scope of its enquiry beyond the immediate staff and consumer dyad to include analysis of and intervention upon the entire ecosystem within which the consumer's behavior occurs. Second, the issue of integrating theory with practice should be pursued more vigorously through fundamental research on supervisor behavior and through basing interventions on an analysis of the variables maintaining current supervisory behavior. Third, greater attention should be paid to developing training for middle managers as general ist users of the principles of OBM.

Linking Family Processes and Academic Competence among Rural African American Youths

For most of this century, the potential influence of the family on intellectual development has been largely overlooked. This state of affairs is understandable because, when the nation entered the era of universal public education, the major responsibility for educating all children in society was transferred from the home and assigned to a social institution, the school. In the early 1960s and 1970s, the primacy of the school's role in promoting language and cognitive growth began to be challenged. During this period, sociologists (e.g., Majoribanks, 1972) identified a number of childrearing practices that they believed would stimulate cognitive growth in children. Their studies revealed a high correlation between home variables, such as reading to children, and achievement in school. Combined with the classic investigations by Hess and Shipman (1965), which also suggested that parental childrearing behavior could have an impact on cognition, this research led social scientists to reevaluate the role that families play in promoting cognitive growth. According to an ecological model of human development, academic competence among children and adolescents is influenced not only by factors such as teaching practices and social processes in their immediate classroom environments, but also by aspects of their family environments. In the ecological model the family is conceptualized as a context that directly influences child and adolescent behavior by contributing to the development of competencies that increase the likelihood of academic success. The family also plays a mediational role in linking factors such as social class to adolescent academic competence (Bronfenbrenner, 1989; Garbarino, 1982). Factors, such as family financial resources and parental educational attainment, that contribute social class status also affect family relationships and parental involvement in school activities; these family processes in turn are linked to youths' academic competence (Bronfenbrenner, 1989; Garbarino, 1982). To date, the research examining this mediational sequence has linked economic hardship to troubled family relation ships, and troubled family relationships to child and adolescent adjustment problems (Conger et al., 1992, 1993; McLoyd, 1989, 1990). We extend this work by focusing on the links among family financial resources, parents' educational attainment, family processes, and academic competence among African American youths in rural, two-parent families. Little is known about the ways in which the over one million rural African American families facilitate their children's academic competence-measured, for example, y reading and mathematics grades, or by performance on the vocabulary and mathematics subscales of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). McAdoo (1982) has argued that many African Americans view education as the only means to upward mobility, given the restriction of opportunities that exists for them. Research indicating that African American parents living in rural areas named educational attainment as an important developmental goal for their children (Stoneman et al., 1991) supports this position. Ethnic minority researchers have argued that a knowledge base placing development in a broad ecological context is essential for the development of culturally sensitive prevention and intervention efforts targeting children and adolescents (Harrison, Wilson, Pine, Chan, & Buriel, 1990; McLoyd, 1990). In recognition of the emphasis that African American parents place on educational attainment and of the importance of obtaining information that is sensitive to the ecological-cultural context, we focus on the ways in which sociocontextual factors affect academic competence among rural African American youths. In our study we obtained data from mothers, fathers, teachers, and the youths themselves, using multi-method measures and procedures that were designed with the assistance of African American community members. …

Ecological Determinants of Parenting

An ecological model of human development was used to assess the interrelationship between psychological determinants of parenting parental age and parenting skill for a sample of 210 parents. Parents race was found to be significantly related to attitudes toward childrearing knowledge of child development and perceived social support. Punitive attitudes toward childrearing and parental race were significant predictors of the quality of parenting with more punitive and younger parents having less supportive and less nurturant home environments. The subjects were recruited from 3 agencies in the Midwest. Data were collected between March 1984 and March 1985. Each subject was interviewed and a HOME instrument was administered to each one. The HOME is a 45 item interview/observation scale which contains 6 subscales: emotional and verbal responsivity avoidance of restriction and punishment organization of the environment provision of play materials maternal involvement and variety in daily stimulation. The apparent unimportance of parental age as a predictor of parenting raises doubts about the appropriateness of equating chronological age with poor caretaking. The results do not give an indication of the cause-effect relationship between depression knowledge expectations attitudes and perceived social support. Low income participants with relatively little education were high in reported levels of social support.

Causes and Maintenance of Domestic Violence: An Ecological Analysis

Domestic violence, or spouse battering, is analyzed using a four-part theoretical framework based on the ecological model of human development. The analysis focuses on variables that cause and/or maintain domestic violence at the individual, family, social-structural, and sociocultural levels. Limitations of the model are considered, and a detailed case study of a family experiencing domestic violence is presented and discussed to illustrate the potential utility of the framework. Suggestions are offered for future research.

Career development of adolescents: An ecological perspective

Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development is used as a framework for examining the research on the career development of adolescents. The examination of the four contexts - the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem - provides an additionalperspective to the ontogenic (individual) approach that has predominated the research literature in this field. Among the four contexts examined, some research on the influence of microsystem, including family, school,peer group, and workplace is identified. The amount of developmentally based research drops off quickly for the other systems, although there are other pertinent research and social issues for each system. Research and intervention implications of this perspective are indicated.

Long-term effects of two interventions with the aged: An ecological analysis

The short- and long-term results of two intervention programs (Longer & Rodin, 1976; Schulz, 1976), conducted independently with the institutionalized aged, were reviewed. Short-term results were highly similar and positive in direction, but the long-term results diverged markedly. Critical differences between the programs are identified in an attempt to account for this divergence. These differences are then viewed from an ecological perspective. It is shown that enduring intervention effects are associated with systematic alterations in the social ecology of aged residents, whereas short-lived effects result from manipulations by which the social ecology is affected only minimally. An application of Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development suggests some directions in which progress can be made by both researchers and policymakers concerned with development among high-risk populations.