Family Chaos Research Articles

Changes in family chaos and family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a longitudinal study.

The purpose of this article was to explore how family chaos, parenting processes, parent-child relationship qualities, and sibling relationship qualities changed before versus the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included one parent and two adolescent-aged children from 682 families (2,046 participants). Parents and youth participating in an ongoing longitudinal study in five Midwestern states in the United States completed an additional web-based assessment of family processes and family relationship qualities during the May-June 2020 pandemic-related shutdowns. A series of two-wave latent change score models indicated that family chaos increased with the onset of pandemic-related shutdowns and that the level of chaos within a family during the shutdowns had implications for changes in several parenting processes and family relationship qualities. Specifically, higher levels of family chaos during the pandemic mitigated observed increases in parental knowledge and were associated with declines in parental autonomy granting. Family chaos during pandemic-related shutdowns also was associated with increases in maternal-child conflict, paternal-child conflict, and sibling conflict as well as decreases in paternal-child intimacy, sibling intimacy, and sibling disclosure. Overall, consistent with a family stress perspective, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased strain and commotion within many households, and these changes had implications for multiple family relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

“We took turns”: How do child victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse perceive and experience their siblings?

ObjectiveIntrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) is a traumatic experience that occurs within the family system. Although it is recognized with respect to its widespread epidemiology, dynamic and adverse consequences, little is known about the sibling subsystem. The current study was designed to examine the way child victims of IFCSA experience and perceive their siblings. MethodA thematic analysis was carried out on 60 forensic interviews with children aged 10–14 who were sexually abused by a parental figure. Each child had at least one sibling and referred to his or her siblings during the interview in the context of the abuse they experienced. It is important to note that in all cases more than one sibling was being abused by the parent. ResultsThe children’s narratives provided a unique glance into three interrelated domains in their lives: the “normal” routine in which no abusive incidents occurred, the abusive routine in which the abuse occurred, and the disclosure process. These three domains identified two family profiles. The first described IFCSA that occurred in the family context, where the perpetrator ruled in terror and the sibling unit became unified, despite the consequences. The second was a profile of family chaos in which the abusive parents acted alongside abusive siblings and the sibling unit was often damaged with the children sharing their loneliness in this tumultuous setting. ConclusionsThe current study spotlights the central role that the sibling subsystem has in the context of IFCSA. Furthermore, the conclusions point to an urgent need to promote efforts to support non-abused and abused siblings following disclosure.

Relationship problems, agreement and bias in perceptions of partners' parental responsiveness, and family functioning.

The current study examined whether couples' relationship problems negatively influenced perceptions of partners' parenting and, in turn, undermined family functioning. Couples (N = 96) completed assessments of relationship problems and family chaos before participating in a family play activity with their 4- to 5-year-old child. Parents reported on their own and their partner's responsiveness toward their child and how much the interaction was a positive and connected family experience. Objective observers also rated each parent's responsiveness toward their child. Parents completed measures assessing family chaos 1 year later. Perceptions of partners' parental responsiveness were significantly associated with both partners' self-reported and observers' ratings of partners' parental responsiveness, but such levels of relative agreement were modest. After accounting for agreement, perceptions of parental responsiveness was shaped by 2 sources of bias: (a) Parents who felt that they were less versus more responsive to their child viewed their partners as less versus more responsive as a parent (assumed similarity), and (b) parents who experienced greater relationship problems perceived their partner to be less responsive as a parent (relationship bias). Perceiving partners to be a less responsive parent, in turn, predicted (a) feeling less connected as a family during the interaction and residual increases in family chaos 1 year later. The results indicate that couples' relationship problems spill over to bias perceptions of parenting, which interferes with couples' ability to provide a connected, stable, and secure family environment. The results highlight that perceptual processes are important in understanding and addressing the ways couples' problems spill over across family subsystems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A perception-based study to explore COVID-19 pandemic stress and its factors in Bangladesh

Background and aimsWorldwide the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated sufferings of mental health and behaviour attitudes of people. Many countries, including Bangladesh, reported suicide as extreme consequences of the psychological burden influenced by COVID-19. The present study explores human stress and its factor influenced by COVID-19 in Bangladesh, which significantly affect the quality of life. MethodsAn online-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 651 adult Bangladeshi populations by capturing socio-demographic information, possible human stress, and consequences of the pandemic. A set of statistical tools such as Pearson's Correlation Matrix (PCM), T-test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were applied to identify the relationship between different factors and influential factors increasing human stress. ResultsMore than 83% of the participants are facing COVID-19 related mental stress, which results in short temper, sleep disorder, and family chaos. PCA and HCA outcomes indicated a significant relationship between the respondents' opinions and human stress factors, which harmonized with the country's existing scenario. PCM results enlighten the relationship between human stress factors and found financial hardship, cutting back daily spending, and food crisis are interconnected together causes stress. Also, hampering students' formal education and future career plans significantly contribute to mental stress. ConclusionBased on the above findings, it's crucial to introduce a time-oriented strategy and implement precaution monitoring plans for Bangladesh. The rescue plan will help people to manage the pandemic and improve mental health to fight against psychological challenges related to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Hypno Family Melalui Metode Psychodrama Untuk Mengoptimalkan Potensi Dalam Menjalankan Peran Sebagai Anggota Keluarga

This research is motivated by a large number of human psychological problems that have an impact on economic problems, environmental problems, crime issues, family chaos, political problems, and security issues or vice versa. The purpose of this study is to improve maturity in attitude and thinking with a responsibility to optimize the potential in carrying out roles in the family. This research method is research and development (R&D). The subjects of this study were several students at various campuses in Yogyakarta. The results showed that the implementation model of the Hypno family through the psychodrama method includes: (1) digging up data related to family perceptions; (2) digging up data on negative perceptions of family members followed by acceptance therapy; (3) tells about changes in the attitude of family members; (4) forming and strengthening character using Asmaul Husna. Hypno family through the psychodrama method can optimize the potential in carrying out the role of family members. This can be seen from the affective assessment by making observations and reinforced by interviews with each participant. Each participant felt a real change in the family.

Does Adolescent Digital Technology Use Detract from the Parent-Adolescent Relationship?

A population-representative sample of young adolescents (N=2,104, mean age 12.4) reported on digital technology use and relationships in 2015. A subsample (N=388) completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment in 2016-2017 via mobile phone. Across the 2,104 adolescents, those who reported more social networking site engagement were more likely to live in families characterized by more family chaos and to report that their online experiences resulted in problems with their parents. However, when the subsample of adolescents was followed daily, there was little consistent evidence that adolescents' quantity of daily digital technology use detracted from the amount of time they spend interacting with close others (including parents) nor that adolescent daily technology use was associated with more negative or less positive parent-adolescent interactions.

Predictors and Acceptability of Shared Physical Activity Participation in Parent–Child Dyads

ABSTRACT Shared physical activity (PA) in children and their parents is an approach to increase PA participation for both children and adults. Understanding variables associated with shared PA is essential to inform effective, tailored PA interventions for families. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors and to assess the acceptability of shared PA in parent–child dyads. Each parent–child dyad (n = 31; mean ± SD age, parents: 38.0 ± 6.6 yr, children: 5.9 ± 1.7 yr) was guided through five standardized PAs (brisk walking, jumping games, body-weight exercises, dancing, and tag games) at a research fitness center. Parents reported demographic characteristics and PA-related variables (i.e., PA self-efficacy, family chaos, and annual household income). One week later, parents (n = 28) reported their dyad’s weekly minutes spent in shared PA. A forward selection procedure was used to determine the optimal regression model for predicting minutes of shared PA. McNemar’s tests were used to determine the dyad’s acceptability of each shared PA. Lower family chaos (β = −19.41, P = 0.034), higher parent body mass index (β = 7.65, P = 0.003), and higher annual household income (β = 11.85, P = 0.023) predicted minutes of shared PA. Jumping games, body-weight exercises, dancing, and tag games were not acceptable for parent–child dyads to participate in together (P < 0.05). Brisk walking was an acceptable shared PA (P = 0.125). Lower family chaos, higher parent body mass index, and higher annual household income predicted shared PA. Brisk walking was an acceptable PA for parent–child dyads to participate outside of a research laboratory setting. These results can aid future PA programs that include children and parents together.

Psychosocial Moderators and Outcomes of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial for Child Asthma.

Psychosocial factors play a role in child asthma morbidity and disparities, but their impact on asthma intervention effectiveness is less understood. This study examined how child, parent, and family psychosocial factors moderated asthma response to, and changed in response to, 2 community asthma interventions among urban minority youth. Asthma Action at Erie was a randomized comparative effectiveness trial examining a community health worker (CHW) home intervention versus certified asthma educator (AE-C) services for children aged 5-16 with uncontrolled asthma (N = 223; mean age = 9.37, SD = 3.02; 85.2% Hispanic). Asthma control was assessed via the Asthma Control Test (ACT)/childhood ACT and activity limitation. Baseline child/parent depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, family chaos, and social support were examined as treatment moderators. We also tested intervention effects on psychosocial outcomes. For parents with higher baseline depression symptoms, youth in the CHW group had greater ACT improvement by 24 months (7.49 points) versus AE-C (4.76 points) and 51% reduction in days of limitation by 6 months versus AE-C (ß = -0.118; p = .0145). For higher parent PTSD symptoms, youth in CHW had 68% fewer days of limitation at 24 months versus AE-C (ß = -0.091; p = .0102). Psychosocial outcomes did not vary by group, but parent depression, parent and child PTSD symptoms, and social support improved for all. CHW intervention was associated with improved asthma control among families with higher parent strain. Findings have implications for utilizing tailored CHW home interventions to optimize asthma outcomes in at-risk families.

Parent training in non-violent resistance for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a controlled outcome study.

Current forms of parent training for childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often insufficient. Many families drop out of the training, and treatment gains are often not maintained. Nonviolent resistance parent training (NVR) focuses on helping parents resist the child's negative behaviors without escalating the problem. NVR helps parents to fulfill an anchoring function, supporting the child through presence, self-regulation, structure, and support network. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy of NVR in the treatment of childhood ADHD. Participants were Israeli parents of children with primary ADHD diagnosis (N = 101; 5-13years old; 79% male participants) randomly assigned to either 12-session NVR (N = 50) or waiting list (N = 51). Measures were administered before and after treatment and at a 4-month follow-up. ADHD outcomes included the Conners and Child Behavior Checklist. Parenting outcomes included parental helplessness, emotional regulation, anchoring function, and family chaos. Participants in the NVR condition reported significant improvements in the child's internalizing, externalizing, and ADHD symptoms, as well as improvement in paternal and maternal helplessness and anchoring. Participants in the control condition did not report changes in the child's symptoms or the parents' condition. The results at follow-up revealed maintenance of change in the child's externalizing and internalizing symptoms, but failure to maintain gains in ADHD core symptoms. Maternal helplessness and anchoring, as well as family chaos continued to improve at follow-up. Dropout rates in the treatment group were low (5%), and fathers' engagement was close to 100%. NVR is an efficient treatment for childhood ADHD, with benefits extending beyond the child's symptoms to the entire family. NVR's special focus on parental distress may have contributed to low dropout, high paternal engagement, and maintenance of change.

Supplemental Material for Changes in Family Chaos and Family Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study

Supplemental Material for Changes in Family Chaos and Family Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study

Socioeconomic status and sleep in adolescence: The role of family chaos.

Low socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with poor sleep in youth, yet mechanisms underlying this association are not well-understood. The present study examined greater chaos as a mediator of associations between low SES and 2 indices of poor sleep. Two hundred fifty-two adolescents (53% girls; 66% White/European American, 34% Black/African American) participated in the 3-wave longitudinal study. The sample was socioeconomically diverse. At age 16, parents reported on 2 indices of SES: family income and perceived economic well-being. Adolescents reported on chaos within their family at age 17 and on 2 key sleep-wake processes-sleep quality and daytime sleepiness-at age 18. Family chaos functioned as a mediating or intervening variable in longitudinal associations between lower SES and both poorer sleep quality and greater daytime sleepiness. The findings suggest the potential utility of targeting family level processes that exemplify chaos, such as unpredictability, noise, and interruptions, to improve sleep among adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Forgiveness and Family Functioning among Young Adults from Divorced and Married Families

ABSTRACT Forgiveness is a response strategy capable of countering the escalation of conflicts and it represents therefore a valuable resource for managing critical individual and family transitions. Among others, parental divorce is a stressful event that requires the reorganization of the entire family. This study, which involved 95 Italian young adults with divorced or married parents, analyzed the relationship between family functioning and forgiveness. Results showed significant associations between variables in divorced families, but not in the intact ones. Specifically, in the divorce context forgiveness was positively associated with family cohesion and flexibility and negatively with family disengagement and chaos.

Research on success stories of family businesses and proposal of a CANVAS business model

Today the family business occupies a very important place in the economy of each country to generate the most jobs and contributing to gross domestic product in a very high percentage. The objective of this research is to present relevant information of successful companies that have prevailed for over 1400 years and passed from generation to generation with unique businesses and chaos and power struggles between family, and a proposal of methods and models of business. The results show the oldest family businesses with the world and its orders, competitive advantages and business secrets. Evidence of the family chaos are presented. CANVAS business model supported with the book of Alexander & Pigneur, it has been adopted by incubators Mexico, includes every part of a business plan focuses on infrasctructure, supply, customer and economic model.

Keeping it together for the kids: New mothers’ descriptions of the impact of intimate partner violence on parenting

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 3 US women with the effects of IPV detectable for several generations. While IPV is known to have significant impacts on maternal-child outcomes, little is known about the mother's perspectives of the interplay between perinatal IPV exposure, parenting styles, and safety strategies. MethodsThis secondary analysis of semi-structured, longitudinal qualitative interview data explored with pregnant women their histories of IPV, their parenting practices, and safety strategies. Data were derived from a randomized controlled trial, DOVE, with 22 interviews from 11 women collected during pregnancy and 12 or 24 months postpartum. ResultsData were analyzed using constant comparative analysis resulting in three themes: “broken spirit," "I want better for my kids and me,” and “safety planning as an element of parenting.” Women described at baseline having a "broken spirit” due to their experiences with household and family chaos and childhood abuse. However, when mothers ended the abusive relationship, they described a better life and several strategies to protect themselves and their children. During their final interviews, mothers discussed how their lives improved after ending the relationship as well as safety planning strategies they employed like looking for “red flags” in potential partners, struggles with finding trustworthy childcare, and stockpiling money should they choose to end the relationship. ConclusionThese rich data add new information about how mothers of very young children navigate difficult parenting and safety decisions in the context of lifetime traumatic events and provide insights relevant for practice and research with this highly-vulnerable group of IPV survivors.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Cognitive Abilities in Extreme Poverty.

To improve global human capital, an understanding of the interplay of endowment across the full range of socioeconomic status (SES) is needed. Relevant data, however, are absent in the nations with the most abject poverty (Tucker-Drob & Bates, 2016), where the lowest heritability and strong effects of SES are predicted. Here we report the first study of biopsychosocial gene-environment interaction in extreme poverty. In a sub-Saharan sample of early teenage twins (N = 3192), we observed substantial (~30-40%) genetic influence on cognitive abilities. Surprisingly, shared environmental influences were similar to those found in adolescents growing in Western affluent countries (25-28%). G × SES moderation was estimated at a` = .06 (p = .355). Family chaos did not moderate genetic effects but did moderate shared environment influence. Heritability of cognitive abilities in extreme poverty appears comparable to Western data. Reduced family chaos may be a modifiable factor promoting cognitive development.

Brief Report: Reductions in Parenting Stress in the Context of PEERS-A Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Social skills intervention is an evidence-based practice for enhancing communication and interpersonal skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participation in the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), a manualized social skills intervention for adolescents with ASD, is associated with improved social skills and peer interactions, as well as decreased autism symptoms. Participation in PEERS® has also been linked to increased parent self-efficacy and decreased family chaos. The present study examined parenting stress in the context of PEERS®. Following participation in PEERS®, parents reported lower levels of parenting stress associated with adolescent mood and social isolation. These findings provide further evidence of the family-wide benefits of adolescent-focused social skills intervention.

Family Chaos and Asthma Control.

Asthma is a highly prevalent childhood chronic disease, with particularly high rates among poor and minority youth. Psychosocial factors have been linked to asthma severity but remain poorly understood. This study examined (1) relationships between parent and child depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, family functioning, and child asthma control in a sample of urban minority youth with uncontrolled asthma and (2) family functioning as a pathway linking parent depression and asthma outcomes. Data were drawn from the baseline cohort of a randomized trial testing community interventions for children aged 5 to 16 with uncontrolled asthma (N = 223; mean age = 9.37, SD = 3.02; 85.2% Hispanic). Asthma control was defined by using the Asthma Control Test and Childhood Asthma Control Test, activity limitation, and previous-12-month asthma severity. Psychosocial measures included parent and child depression and PTSD symptoms, family chaos, and parent social support. Parent and child depression symptoms, but not PTSD, were associated with worse asthma control (β = -.20 [SE = 0.06] and β = -.12 [SE = -.03]; P < .001). Family chaos corresponded to worse asthma control, even when controlling for parent and child depression (β = -.33; [SE = 0.15]; P < .05), and was a mediator of the parent depression-asthma path. Emotional triggers of asthma also mediated the parent depression-asthma relationship. Findings highlight family chaos as a mechanism underlying the relationship between parent depression and child asthma control. Addressing parent and child depression, family routines, and predictability may optimize asthma outcomes.

PSIKOANALISIS TOKOH REMAJA DALAM NOVEL MISTERI CINTA SEGI LIMA KARYA S.MARA GD

Teenagers figure in MCSL novels have psychological problems due to family chaos and divorce, they behave deviantly. This paper discusses the psychology of adolescent figures in the MCSL by applying Freud's psychoanalytic theories. Psychoanalytic theory is used to find out how deviations occur in characters and what causes them. The difference seen is in the way they react to the id and anxiety’s pressure. Not all teens react negatively or aggressively to the problems they face. Parenting style and closeness between family members determines the output of behavior that is raised by adolescents as a reaction to the problems they face. Adolescents with good parenting and closeness, to the parents, can refrain them from aggressiveness actions. S. Mara GD., as a novel writer, proved to be very capable of developing the personality of adolescents figures in his novel in real terms. The aesthetic and mimetic intelligence in the MCSL novel is shown by presenting teen figures who are psychologically real.

Predictors and Acceptability of Shared Physical Activity in Parent-Child Dyads

PURPOSE: To identify significant predictors and assess the acceptability of shared physical activity (PA) in young children and their parents. METHODS: Twenty-eight parent-child dyads (mean±SD; age, parents: 38.0±6.6, children: 6.0±1.7) completed sessions in a fitness center that included five different shared PAs (brisk walking, dancing, tag games, body-weight exercises, and jumping games) and were instructed to try to complete at least one PA per day in the following week at home. One week later, parents reported their dyad’s participation in the shared PAs. Parents reported demographic characteristics, family chaos, parent PA self-efficacy, parental PA self-efficacy for their child, and average min/week of shared PA. A forward stepwise regression was used to determine the optimal model to predict the total number of minutes parent-child dyads spent completing each PA together at home. McNemar’s test was used to determine differences between perceived acceptability and completion of the five PAs as a dyad during shared time. RESULTS: Lower family chaos (B=-19.41, p=0.034), higher parent body mass index (BMI) (B=7.65, p=0.003), and higher annual household income (B=11.85, p=0.023) significantly predicted minutes of shared PA at home. The proportion of parents who perceived brisk walking as an acceptable PA was not different (p=0.125) than those who briskly walked with their child. The proportion of parents who perceived jumping games, body-weight exercises, dancing, and tag games as acceptable PAs was greater than those who completed these PAs with their child (all, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Shared PA participation may be higher when participants have lower family chaos, higher parental BMI, and higher annual household income. Brisk walking could be considered in future family-based PA programs since it was perceived as acceptable and was completed in the home environment, whereas the other shared PAs were perceived as acceptable but not completed at home.

Adolescent sleep quality mediates family chaos and adolescent mental health: A daily diary-based study.

The aim of the current study was to examine adolescents' sleep duration and quality as potential mediators of the association between chaotic and disorganized family environments and adolescent anxiety and depressive symptoms. A total of 193 adolescent (ages 14-17; Mage = 15.7 years old, SD = .94; 54.4% female; 71% White) and parent dyads completed baseline, online surveys, and adolescents also completed online 7-day, twice-daily sleep diaries. Parents (Mage = 47.6 years old, SD = 5.4; 80% female) reported on levels of family chaos, socioeconomic status (SES), and school start times, whereas adolescents completed daily reports of their sleep duration and quality (morning diary) and their anxiety and depressive symptoms (evening diary). At the within-person level, daily fluctuations in both sleep duration and quality were significantly linked to corresponding daily fluctuations in anxiety and depressive symptoms. At the between-person level, adjusting for parenting quality; adolescents' age, gender, daytime napping, school start time; and the family's SES, we found that adolescent sleep quality mediated the association between family chaos and disorganization and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The current study illuminates the potential influence that family chaos and disorganization play in adolescents' sleep and mental health symptomatology and underscores the need to assess the family context to support better adolescent health and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).