Family Priorities Research Articles

The impact of forced displacement on the wellbeing of Syrian refugee children living in Jordan

Abstract Introduction The Syrian Civil War is one of the most significant humanitarian crises in modern times. Since 2011, over 5 million Syrians have fled the country in search of safety. Around 650,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Jordan, 48% of whom are children. The impact of forced displacement on children's wellbeing is poorly understood and requires further investigation. Methods This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional qualitative study consisting of 85 semi-structured interviews, conducted with Syrian refugees living in Jordan in 2017, to understand the impact of forced displacement on child refugees' wellbeing. A four-member research team developed a new Code Structure and analyzed the data thematically. Results Education, social integration, behavioral change and mental health, the effect of father's absence, and child marriage, were key areas of consideration. Children not being in school was found to play a big role in child wellbeing because many families had to choose between subsistence and education, with children required to work to earn money for their families. Many parents were afraid to let children out of the house other than for school, resulting in minimal social integration outside the school setting. Children's behavioral changes correlate with the father's absence, and girls were at higher risk of child marriage due to the living conditions of the families. Conclusions Education was a major priority for families, but some children were unable to attend school. A novel finding from this research is that many children faced limited social integration outside of school, significantly affecting wellbeing. Thus, providing school buses, prior English classes, as well as the provision of safe spaces where children can socially interact outside of school, needs to be prioritized. Financial difficulty also needs to be addressed so that children are not pushed into child marriage or made to work for their families' survival. Key messages Safe spaces that parents trust should be provided where children can socially interact outside the school setting. Financial difficulty needs to be addressed so that children are not forced to work for their families’ survival.

Swedish parents' experiences of their role in treatment for children with congenital limb reduction deficiency: Decision-making and treatment support.

BackgroundParents of children with congenital limb reduction deficiency have an essential role in making treatment decisions during their child's first years of life. Treatment options usually concern surgical and/or prosthetic treatment. To tailor treatment options to fit different family values and priorities, the family‐centred approach indicates the importance of understanding the parental role in partnership with health care professionals. The aim of this study was to describe parents' experiences of their role in decision‐making and treatment for children with congenital limb reduction deficiency.MethodsA descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 17 parents (12 mothers and 5 fathers) of children with upper and/or lower limb deficiency (mean age 5.9 years). The interview data were analysed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.ResultsTwo major themes emerged from the data. The first theme, being a decision maker for someone else, was described as an ambivalent parental role, including collaboration within the family and with health care professionals. The second theme, becoming and being a treatment supporter in the child's everyday life, was made up of four categories: being a supporter of the child in everyday activities, mentoring the child to handle encounters with others, becoming a coordinator of information and being an ‘extended arm’ of the health care provision for the child.ConclusionsThis study enhances our understanding of the parental role in decision‐making and treatment for children with congenital limb reduction deficiency. The results may contribute to the continued development of the family‐centred service approach by providing guidelines for treatment programmes, with the goal of improving decision support and broadening the support for parents during treatment for these children.

The Long and Winding Road: A Systematic Literature Review Conceptualising Pathways for Hypertension Care and Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Background: Hypertension control is poor everywhere, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). An effective response requires understanding factors acting at each stage on the patients’ pathway through the health system from entry or first contact with the health system, through to treatment initiation and follow up. This systematic review aimed to identify barriers to and facilitators of hypertension control along this pathway and, respectively, ways to overcome or strengthen them. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL Plus, and Africa-Wide Information (1980-April 2019) were searched for studies of hypertensive adults in LMICs reporting details of at least 2 adequately described health system contacts. Data were extracted and analysed by 2 reviewers. Themes were developed using NVivo in patient-related (sociodemographic, knowledge and health beliefs, health status and co-morbidities, trade-offs), social (social relationships and traditions) and health system domains (resources and processes). Results are reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: From 2584 identified records, 30 were included in the narrative synthesis. At entry, ‘health systems resources and processes’ and ‘knowledge and beliefs about hypertension’ dominated while ‘social relations and traditions’ and ‘comorbidities’ assume greater importance subsequently, with patients making ‘trade-offs’ with family priorities during follow up. Socio-demographic factors play a role, but to a lesser extent than other factors. Context matters. Conclusion: Understanding the changing barriers to hypertension control along the patient journey is necessary to develop a comprehensive and efficient response to this persisting problem.

Can camp get you into a better secondary school? A field experiment of targeted instruction in Kenya

Access to quality secondary schooling can be life-changing for students in developing contexts. In Kenya, entrance to such schools was historically determined by performance on a high-stakes exam. Understandably then, preparation for this exam is a high priority for Kenyan families and educators. To increase the share of students entering these schools, some educational providers offer targeted instruction for students they believe have a chance of securing a spot. We use a randomized control trial to evaluate the impact of these “symposia” programs—week-long, sleep-away camps where eighth grade students receive a burst of academic instruction from teachers selected based on merit. While similar models have been tested in the U.S., less is known about this type of intervention in developing settings. We find these programs were not particularly effective for the average nominated student relative to a typical week of school. However, we find large, positive effects among students attending schools from which few students are nominated for symposia. We provide suggestive evidence that this was because students from lowrepresentation schools had less pre-camp practice test resources outside of school. The results have implications for program design and the growing literature on the effectiveness of appropriately targeted individualized instruction.

P106 The Family Meal Project: Assessing the Relationship Between Family Priorities and Routines to Their Child's Eating Preferences

<h3>Background</h3> Parent-child interactions pose significant influences on their child's dietary behaviors. Family priorities and routines may increase the child's healthy eating preferences. However, few studies analyze how family experience affects child dietary preferences. <h3>Objective</h3> To examine parents' report of family priorities and routines in relation to their child's dietary preferences. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Seven families, including 12 parents and their children (n = 14), aged 2-11, participated in a 6-week family-focused intervention that incorporated parent-child interaction activities and healthy mealtime coaching. Participants were assessed at baseline and at post-intervention with validated questionnaires. Families were predominantly Hispanic/Latino (82%) with married parents (80%), and had 2 or more children (82%). <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Parental program activities were used to assess family priorities and routines. Priorities were ranked from 1-16, ranging from most to least important. Family routines were assessed to indicate whether routine meal planning decisions were healthy/unhealthy. Children completed questionnaires selecting pictures of healthy/unhealthy foods to assess dietary preferences. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and correlations tests were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results were considered significant at <i>P</i> < .05. <h3>Results</h3> At baseline, approximately 42% of parents scored 75% or higher for practicing "healthy" family routines during meal planning. Healthy child dietary preferences had significant negative correlations with parents who reported high priorities of "Completing HW" (r = −0.66, <i>P</i> = .026) and "Getting to school on time" (r = −0.85, <i>P</i> = .001). Healthy family routines such as "Having meals together", "Stop eating when full", and "Saving leftovers" had significant positive correlations to high-ranked, nutrition-related family priorities such as "Healthy dinner" (r = 0.67, <i>P</i> = .009), "Eating meals together" (r = 0.58, <i>P</i> = .028), and "Positive family food-interactions" (r = 0.72, <i>P</i> = .006). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Overall, most parents emphasized nutrition-related priorities for their families; however, less than 50% of parents currently practiced "healthy" family routines. Nutrition-related priorities and routines indicated healthier choices for the child. Positive parent-child interactions, including the practice of healthy, nutrition-related priorities and routines may significantly impact the child's dietary preferences. Further research is needed with larger sample sizes to confirm these findings.

Meanings and attitudes regarding education and household spending priorities of the new middle-class families in Brazil

This study investigates how meanings ascribed to education influence lower-income parents on investing (or not) in their children’s education, and how this in turn influences family expenditures and consumption priorities. Based on 62 ethnographic interviews with individuals who had ascended from poverty to the lower fractions of the Brazilian urban middle-class, we examine differences within a relatively homogeneous fraction in terms of social status and income. Three distinct groups emerged: (1) parents who live in the favelas (slums) and see school as an agent to keep children away from deviant behaviours, (2) parents who live in the favelas and invest in education as an enabler of upwards social mobility, and (3) parents from less affluent suburbs who pay for private education to keep their children from interacting with bad influences outside the territory. Even in socially segregated territories, meanings were shaped less by parents’ amount and composition of cultural and economic capitals, and more by their own experiences with the educational system and access to positive role models (or lack thereof). It appears that the meanings attached to education end up defining family expenditures, family budget and important consumption trade-offs. In addition, our findings reveal a subtle, fine-grained mechanism of distinction based on school choice among the class fraction’s members. We draw on Wilson’s social isolation theory to show how parents of similar economic and cultural capital, and who were socialized in a similar cultural milieu, ascribe different meanings to education, and the resulting differences in household consumption patterns. We thus offer insights on the different reproduction mechanisms at play within an economically disadvantaged social fraction that had moved from poverty to the lower urban middle-class in Brazil.

Diversified acquisitions in family firms: Restricted vs. extended family priorities

Through diversified acquisitions, family firms are able to grow their business in previously untapped markets. In the long term, diversification can enhance extended socioemotional wealth (SEW) priorities, as it reduces business risk and supports the goal of passing businesses on to future generations. However, diversified acquisitions may threaten restricted SEW priorities due to short-term financial and social constraints. Prior studies, therefore, show conflicting results regarding the likelihood of diversified acquisitions in family firms. With the aim of reconciling contradictory findings in the literature, we analyse how distinct configurations of family firms based on family ownership, family management, and family firm life cycle stage affect the likelihood of diversified acquisitions. Using on a hand-collected dataset including 404 strategic acquisitions made by 211 German family firms between 2010 and 2016, our study reveals that high family ownership is linked to a long-term perspective on and respectively extended SEW preferences in acquisition decisions, leading to a higher probability of a diversified acquisition. This effect is weakened in cases of high family management and particularly strong in cases of first-generation family firms. In later generations, family-dominated top management teams decrease the probability of diversified acquisitions, indicating that in these family configurations, a preference for pursuing short-term respectively restricted SEW goals is dominant.

Applying the Developmental Systems Approach to Inclusive Community-Based Early Intervention Programs: Process and Practice.

A developmentally oriented framework is presented designed to establish or enhance the quality of inclusive community-based early intervention systems. This conceptually and empirically integrated developmental approach supports a comprehensive family-centered model. Outlined is a process that coordinates children's goals with family priorities, identifies developmental pathways most likely to influence those goals, guides the selection of objectives and intervention activities, and provides an approach for evaluation and problem solving. Principles of relationships, comprehensiveness, and continuity are central to this framework and address the general problem of "what to implement" in inclusive community-based early childhood programs.

Family Values and Practices in the Discourse of Tatars and Russians in Tatarstan

Introduction. Now that family values ​​are both the most significant and the most debated ones, the issue of the socio-cultural foundations of the corresponding norms and actions is of particular importance. Based on exploratory research, the article considers the most general nature of the influence of the ethnic factor on family values, statuses, and practices of the Tatars and Russians living in Tatarstan, and identifies the place of the family in the system of their life priorities. Materials and Methods. The study adopted the value-oriented approach and certain provisions of the theory of transformation of a traditional society into a modern one. It was based on the texts of 30 in-depth interviews given by the families of urban and rural Tatars and Russians living in the region. Most of the interviews were conducted in two-generation family homes, which made it possible to create a confidential atmosphere of conversation, and to imagine how the family members really interact, as well as to cover several generations of interviewees thus increasing their number. Results. The performed analysis of the texts has revealed that, while the family tops the hierarchy of values ​​of both Tatars and Russians, there have been differences in the content of family values ​​and in their interrelation with other ones. Among the Tatars, all other value orientations are linked the family, solution of economic problems being an integrating factor, and extended kinship relations being significant. For ethnic Russians, work, self-development, and hobbies have a separate and independent meaning; the family tends to be united by the ideas of friendship and mutual understanding, while close kindred ties are mainly maintained with the nuclear family. Discussion and Conclusion. The study made it possible to draw conclusions and assumptions about the common features and differences in family values ​​and practices of the Tatars and Russians living in Tatarstan, due to the ethno-confessional specifics of cultures and the peculiarities of their social dynamics. Prospects for the study of family priorities are associated with further research into the interaction of the culturally related norms and values of the ethnic communities. This may become a basis for the development of their mutual understanding and cooperation.

Paul Turgeon taking the helm at MFG

Keith Arnold is stepping down as CEO of Dalton, Georgia–based MFG Chemical to focus on “personal and family priorities.” He will be replaced by Paul Turgeon, who has served on the company’s board since 2017. Turgeon formed BWA Water Additives with partners in 2006, selling the company in 2011. Arnold, who oversaw the acquisition of Gulf Bayport Chemicals, a maleic anhydride derivatives maker in Pasadena, Texas, will remain on MFG’s board.

Демографічні передумови інноваційного розвитку людських ресурсів в Україні

In the paper were analyzed the demographic prerequisites for innovative development of human resources. Demographic factors of influence and indicators of the demographic situation conditions were resulted. The analysis of the current state and dynamics of the demographic situation in Ukraine as a whole and in the territorial dimension, including indicators of population, its sex and age structure, births and deaths, natural and migratory population movements, etc. was conducted. The main demographic challenges were identified. These challenges include: the general tendency to decrease the number of the existing population, uneven distribution of the population in terms of territories, growth of the share of the population of the older age group, significant predominance of mortality rates over birth rates, low total fertility rate and average life expectancy compared to the European Union countries, high rates of migratory outflow of population outside Ukraine and to more developed territories of the state. A number of financial, economic, organizational, administrative and informational levers for improving the demographic situation in Ukraine were substantiated. They take into account optimization of the social protection system, introduction of effective youth policy in the state, development of social and cultural-recreational infrastructure, increase of efficiency of medical branch functioning, promotion of a healthy way of life and disease prevention, assistance of raising of age limits of inclusion in active working and social life, explanatory work focused on understanding the priorities of family and humanistic values, development of the education system for all age groups in the skills of using the latest information and communication technologies, improving the quality of jobs, building a lifelong learning system.

The best possible start: A qualitative study on the experiences of parents of young children with or at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

BackgroundThe developmental outcomes and life course trajectories of young children with or at-risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) can be optimized when individual and family needs are identified early and met with family-centered early intervention (EI) services. However, little is known about access to and quality of EI services with this high-needs population. MethodTwenty-five biological or adoptive parents of children with or at high risk for FASD, living in the greater area of Seattle, Washington participated in this qualitative study. Three focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants described their experience with EI, as well as other supports and challenges faced in their child's first three years of life. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using phenomenological methods. Themes that were consistent across participant groups emerged from the data, as well as themes that showed differences among participant experiences. ResultsCommon EI supports and needs between biological and adoptive parent groups were identified. In addition, perspectives and needs unique to each parent group were revealed. Themes were identified and organized into three categories: (1) child needs; (2) parent needs and priorities; and (3) EI capacity. When parents talked about their child's cognitive, physical, communication or adaptive development, they all discussed how EI was meeting those needs. In contrast, when parents expressed concern for their child's social-emotional development, a description of how EI was supporting these needs was missing from the conversation. Parents appreciated when EI providers were truthful, provided anticipatory guidance, and connected them with supports for their own social-emotional well-being. Yet there were unmet needs for respite care, and parents expressed that support for basic needs related to child or family survival was not consistently recognized as a top priority for families. This high-risk group of young children and their parents also encountered a multitude of transitions in their child's early years and later. Parents wanted more support navigating these transitions as they entered or moved through different systems of care. ConclusionsParents appreciated and endorsed the importance of EI with its provision of individualized, family-centered supports and resources. Examination of the gaps and unmet needs that are common and distinct underscore the importance of an FASD-informed approach to EI. Study findings provide insight into areas for which EI enhancements could be developed in order to tailor supports for the complex needs of this diverse population of children and parents.

The data mining analysis to determine the priorities of families who receiving assistance

Government has made efforts to improve the level of social life as an object of national development either by providing direct cash assistance or a program to create jobs. Fund distributed to the society is not small, so the distribution must be done properly. The data mining is a method of extracting data to find the hidden patterns of the data. In this research, the data are processed by using K-Means and C4.5 algorithm. The aim of this research is to classify the society into three clusters based on economic conditions using the K-means algorithm, the three clusters are pre-prosperous families, pre-prosperous families 1 and pre-prosperous families 2. Moreover, the C4.5 algorithm is used to make a decision tree model in determining which priority family gets assistance.

“Being Stuck between Two Worlds” – Identity Configurations of Occupational and Family Identities

ABSTRACTMost research on identity has focused on either identity processes or identity content, neglecting how individuals structure their identities. We investigated how individuals negotiated their sometimes conflicting multiple identifications of work and family into different types of workable identity configurations. We also examined differences across configurations in the gender distribution, degree of conflict, and life satisfaction. Through a mixed methods approach, a community sample of 124 young Swedish adults (50% women, Mage 33.29 years) were interviewed about work and family priorities and completed a rating scale measure of life satisfaction. The qualitative analyses showed six different types of identity configurations, the most common being Family first, followed by Everything is important, Struggling to prioritize, Now family comes first, Inability to prioritize, and Work first. The quantitative analyses showed few gender differences across configurations, but there were differences in conflict and life satisfaction between configurations. The findings from this study reflect the complex and dynamic ways identity is structured within a cultural context.

Family-Based Consent and Motivation for Cadaveric Organ Donation in China: An Ethical Exploration1.

This essay indicates that Confucian family-based ethics is by no means a stumbling block to organ donation in China. We contend that China should not change to an opt-out consent system in order to enhance donation because a “hard” opt-out system is unethical, and a “soft” opt-out system is unhelpful. We argue that the recently-introduced familist model of motivation for organ donation in mainland China can provide a proper incentive for donation. This model, and the family priority right that this model supports, is ethically justifiable in terms of Confucian family-based ethics.

Considering the Effect of Income Fluctuations in Cultural and Non-cultural Priority of Urban and Rural Families via Copula Function

Considering the Effect of Income Fluctuations in Cultural and Non-cultural Priority of Urban and Rural Families via Copula Function

Writing a good anticipatory care plan for a child with severe disability

There are increasing numbers of children with severe disability and life limiting conditions living longer in the community. In order for them to have high quality end of life care and choice of place of death there need to be discussions with the child and family about how the child may deteriorate and the pros and cons of the different possible interventions taking into account the priorities and views of the family and the child themselves. Families and professionals are reluctant to talk about the death of a child and there is always uncertainty. Parallel planning for best and worst case scenarios can be helpful and offering families a useful medical emergency care plan for their child is a positive way to start to plan for deterioration and life threatening events. The emergency care plan can include the resuscitation plan and the child and family priorities of care and leads on to further discussions about choices in end of life care including place of death and funeral plans.

Promoting the safety of children and young people with intellectual disability: Perspectives and actions of families and professionals

BackgroundChildren and young people with intellectual disability experience high rates of abuse and neglect. In this Australian study, both children and young people with disability and their supporters shared their perspectives on safety and harm. This paper discusses how family members and professionals perceived and responded to priorities that had been separately identified by children and young people. MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with six family members and ten disability support professionals working in a range of contexts. Data was coded and thematically analysed. ResultsParticipants identified strategies that children and young people used when they felt unsafe, and tensions they regularly faced that made it difficult for them to be safe. Both family members and support professional perceived a need to build confidence and capability, embed support, and act on behalf of children and young people. Relationships were a priority for families, while professionals focused more on skill development. Systems were seen to play a causative role in impairing the capacity of children and young people to stay safe, through overly bureaucratic risk orientation, using too many staff young people didn't know, and poor understanding of disability-related needs in mainstream settings. ConclusionsThe key role of supporters in building capability and advocating for children and young people is affirmed, along with the need for accessible, evidence-informed education around safety and positive relationship building, and ways to promote the agency of children and young people.

Priorities for Services in Young Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Their Family Members: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

BackgroundOptimal design of clinical programs for patients with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (men aged ≤ 50 years, women aged ≤ 55 years) requires an understanding of their priorities. We aimed to explore patient and family priorities for services in clinical programs. MethodsWe co-designed this study with a Patient Partner Committee using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In Phase I, we conducted semistructured interviews with participants from the Study to Avoid Cardiovascular Events in British Columbia (SAVE BC) (n = 15). In Phase II, we designed a questionnaire based on Phase I data and distributed it to all current SAVE BC participants. We collected close-ended responses (n = 116) and stratified data using participant category (index, family member), age, sex, and number of clinic visits. ResultsWe identified 4 major priorities for services in clinical programs: social support (weight: 62.6%), patient education (weight: 83.5%), mental health (weight: 50.7%), and lifestyle changes (85.1%). To address these priorities, participants wanted ASCVD clinical programs to enable recruitment of their family members, establish a comprehensive education component (with research updates in research programs), deliver mental health screening and support after myocardial infarction, and provide longitudinal sessions to support maintenance of lifestyle modifications. These services were identified in Phase I and verified in Phase II. ConclusionWe identified 4 priorities for services in clinical programs designed for patients with premature ASCVD and their families. Further research should be done to elucidate their outcomes and most effective methods to provide these services.

Exploring family business decline with socioemotional wealth perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine how family and business priorities influence organisational decline and turnaround in a family business.Design/methodology/approachFollowing critical realism as philosophical orientation, this research is based on an exploratory single case study.FindingsThis research identified specific socioemotional wealth priorities driving this organisation decline and turnaround. The study also determined how the family and business dynamic leads to decisions that first trigger the organisational decline and then explain the successful implementation of turnaround strategies.Research limitation/implicationsFindings of this research provide limited and contingent theoretical generalisation. Accordingly, replication and further quantitative research is required for a better understanding of this phenomenon.Practical implicationsManagers can benefit from this paper by noting which behaviour could lead to organisational decline and which factors could lead to a turnaround. Similarly, managers can learn about the importance of the alignment of socioemotional wealth priorities as a critical response factor to determine whether to follow exit strategies or turnaround (succession) actions.Originality valueThe study contributes to the organisational decline literature and family business literature. It advances the understanding of how family businesses should balance family and business priorities to avoid organisational decline and identify strategies successfully implemented for turning around.