Quality Of Family Relationships Research Articles

Better family relationships––higher well-being: The connection between relationship quality and health related resources

Family relationships form very important social relationships. They provide the social context enabling the development for a healthy personality and fostering social competencies and the capacity for social adjustment. Several constructs constitute a complex sample of health beneficial attributes, such as resilience, sense of coherence, self-compassion and others, that haven't been investigated in connection with perceived quality of family relationships and collective family efficacy. In three studies we investigated, if perceived quality of family relationships – assessed with a relatively new measure: the Evaluation of Social Systems Scale – was associated with these advantageous health-related qualities, additionally confirming EVOS’ construct validity. In study 1 (N = 207) and 2 (N = 305) university students filled out several paper-pencil-questionnaire whereas in study 3 (N = 528) a heterogeneous sample took part in an online-survey. Controlling for participants’ age and sex, better family relationships were associated with reduced psychological distress (r = −.30 to −.37), more satisfaction with life (r = 0.40), stronger resilience (r = 0.37), sense of coherence (r = 0.37), self-compassion (r = 0.33), optimism (r = 0.32), general self-efficacy (r = 0.27), and self-esteem (r = 0.34). Results highlight the importance of the family environment not only for psychological health and quality of life, but also for individual adaptation and well-being. In future research, this should be especially addressed in designing and providing preventative interventions for families.

Multicenter randomized controlled trial on the comparison of multi-family therapy (MFT) and systemic single-family therapy (SFT) in young patients with anorexia nervosa: study protocol of the THERAFAMBEST study

BackgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric illness that begins most of the time during adolescence. An early and efficacious intervention is crucial to minimize the risk of the illness becoming chronic and to limit the occurrence of comorbidities. There is a global consensus on optimal treatment for adolescents suffering from AN: international guidelines recommend single-family therapy that involves the patient and his/her family. Several family therapy approaches have been developed to date. However, these approaches, which imply a direct questioning of intrafamilial dynamics, are not suitable for all patients and families, and the rates of dropout or poor response to treatment remain quite high. A modality of family therapy has been adapted to AN, known as multi-family therapy (MFT), which consists in bringing together several families whose children suffers from the same illness. Objectives of the present randomized clinical trial are to evaluate whether the implementation of MFT in a multi-disciplinary treatment program for adolescents with AN is at least as efficacious as the use of systemic single-family therapy (SFT), with respect to the evolution of body mass index and other clinical outcomes 12 and 18 months after the start of treatment. A cost-efficiency analysis will also be conducted.MethodsOne hundred fifty patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Patients and their families will receive 10 sessions of therapy spread over 12 months. Body weight, eating disorder and other psychopathology-related symptoms, quality of family relationships, and family satisfaction with treatment will be evaluated during the treatment and at an 18 months follow-up. A cost-efficiency analysis will also be carried out.DiscussionWe hypothesize that MFT is at least as efficacious as SFT, but at a lesser cost. The identification of possible preferential indications for each technique could help the improvement of therapeutic indications for adolescents suffering from AN and contribute to the earliness of intervention, which is associated with a better outcome.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03350594. Registered on 22 November 2017. IDRCB number 2016-A00818-43.

Quality of family life in the north of Kosovo and Metohija

This paper provides an analysis of family and everyday life of twonuclear Serbian families living in the territory of the municipalityof Severna Kosovska Mitrovica. The families in question belong tothe working class and low-middle class respectively, the former beingurban, the latter rural. The paper aims at viewing, by means ofthe method of qualitative analysis – case study and problem-centredinterview, mutual interdependence between the quality offamily relations, living space standard, and the overall quality oflife in the area concerned.

Actor-Partner Interdependence of Compassion toward Others with Qualities of Marital Relationship and Parent-Child Relationships in Chinese Families.

Considering the nature of compassion and cultural and times characteristics of Chinese families, individuals' general dispositional compassion toward others may have potential benefits for relationship qualities in Chinese families. In this study, we explored how men's and women's compassion related to their own (actor effects) and the partners' (partner effects) marital relationship and parent-child relationships, respectively, using the Actor-Partner Interdependent Model. Participants were from a cross-sectional sample of 534 Chinese heterosexual married couples (females' mean age=37.20, SD=4.28; males' mean age=40.29, SD=5.39) whose biological children were pupils (mean age=9.28, SD=1.11). Results revealed that: (a) within marital relationships, couple members' actor effects and partner effects were found both significant; but (b) within parent-child relationships, couple members' actor effects were significant, whereas only mothers' partner effect of compassion on father-child relationship was significant. These findings support the benefits of couple members' individual compassion with respect to family relationship quality in contemporary China. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.

Family Relationships as Risks and Buffers in the Link between Parent-to-Child Physical Violence and Adolescent-to-Parent Physical Violence

The present study examined the extent to which beneficial and hazardous family relationships altered the link between childhood exposure to parent-to-child physical violence and self-reported adolescent-to-parent physical violence (APV). As moderating factors, current levels of family cohesion, family conflict, and interparental violence were assessed. Based on data from 2490 ninth graders who took part in a large school survey in the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany, multilevel linear probability models with interaction terms were conducted, using Stata 14.2. In case of significant interactions, values at 1 standard deviation above and below the mean level of each moderator were used to calculate the simple slopes. Regression results indicated that physical APV was positively related to parent-to-child physical violence. Family cohesion buffered detrimental effects of parent-to-child physical violence on physical APV, while family conflict exacerbated this link. Specifically, parent-to-child physical violence had weaker effects on physical APV for students who reported greater levels of family cohesion, while stronger effects were observed for students who reported greater levels of family conflict. Gender was not found to influence the strength of the moderating relationships. Both hazardous and beneficial family relationships alter the way childhood exposure to parental physical violence relates to adolescents’ physical aggression toward parents. For intervention purposes, special attention should be given to potential buffering resources, such as cohesive family relationships. In sum, quality of family relationships deserve greater attention in discourse about lasting, adverse effects of childhood exposure to physical violence on adolescent-to-parent physical violence.

The Influence of Treatment Engagement on Positive Outcomes in the Context of a School-Based Intervention for Students with Externalizing Behavior Problems

We examined the stability of and cross-influences between externalizing behaviors and intervention engagement among children participating in a randomized clinical trial of an intervention for disruptive behavioral youth. Analyses also accounted for the influence of caregiver depression, family relationship quality, and sociodemographic factors (race, income) on the relationship between behaviors and intervention engagement. Analyses were based on 118 children participating in the Coping Power intervention. Composite variables were created to represent externalizing behaviors and intervention engagement constructs. Associations between these composite variables were examined over 24 treatment sessions. Findings indicated a regressive relationship among externalizing behaviors, i.e., baseline externalizing behaviors were positively associated with immediate follow-up behaviors. There were also dynamic relationships observed among engagement constructs. Notably, engagement with in-session activities during sessions 1-8 was positively associated with out-of-session activity engagement during the same treatment time period. Engagement with out-of-session activities during sessions 1-8 was positively associated with in-session activity engagement during sessions 9-16, indicating a complete mediation between early and middle in-session engagement through the mechanism of early out-of-session engagement. A crosslag relationship was observed: middle in-session engagement was negatively associated with externalizing behaviors at immediate follow-up. Finally, an interaction of race by income on immediate follow-up externalizing behaviors was observed, such that Black children's externalizing behaviors remain static regardless of income level while White children's behaviors decreased with higher income. Our findings support the contention that focusing on intervention engagement may be especially important in prevention interventions.

Feeding Tubes in Children With Neurologic Impairment: An Opportunity for Shared Decision-making.

The use of feeding tubes is common in children with neurologic impairment. Benefits after tube placement include improvements in nutritional status, drooling, secretion management, constipation,1 and ease of caregiver medication administration and feeding.2 A systematic review of the literature in which family experience is described after gastrostomy tube placement revealed both positive and negative outcomes in a variety of domains, including the child’s health and quality of life, parental stress, and family relationships.3 The effect of feeding tube placement on reflux-related outcomes, including aspiration and pneumonia (common issues in this population), remains unclear. In this issue of Pediatrics , Nelson et al4 examine survival and acute health care use after feeding tube placement in a population-based cohort study of children with neurologic impairment. By using an impressively comprehensive and complete health administration data set from the province of Ontario between 1993 and 2015, the authors looked at health care use for an equal time period before and after feeding tube placement with a minimum time of … Address correspondence to K. Jane Lee, MD, MA, Special Needs Complex Care Program, 999 N. 92nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53226. E-mail: kjlee{at}mcw.edu

The Family of People with Multiple Sclerosis: The Process of Family Stress Adaptation

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects everyday functioning of individuals with MS, and their family dynamics. Furthermore, MS is a chronic disease with unpredictable course imposing a stressful experience on the entire family. Changes in family functioning patterns are necessary so that they can appropriately respond to complex demands imposed by the disease. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate predictive values of family resources in the encounter with stressful life events and family adaptation. These data are required to provide adequate family support systems. Methods: The sample consisted of 62 people with MS. The following instruments were used: Family Adaptation Scale, Family Social Support Index, Financial Well-Being Scale, and Family Problem Solving Communication Scale. Results: The results of this research indicate that subjective assessment of the quality of family relationships, measures of the quality of family communication (β = 0.353, P < 0.001), and measures of perceived family social support (β = 0.272, P < 0.05) are the only predictors of successful family adaptation. Conclusions: The results infer that the processes essential for successful adaptation of people with MS occurs within their nuclear family. Therefore, adaptation to accidental crisis created by MS onset can be promoted by strengthening support and communication within the nuclear family.

The Quality of Family Relationships, Diabetes Self-Care, and Health Outcomes in Older Adults.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between family support, diabetes self-care, and health outcomes in older, community-dwelling adults. Using the theoretical framework of the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Theory and a cross-sectional design, 60 participants completed questionnaires related to diabetes self-care activities of the individual, supportive and nonsupportive diabetes behaviors of the family, and the quality of family relations. Participants indicated that diabetes self-care behaviors were performed frequently, with exercise reported as the least-performed behavior. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the quality of family relations as measured by the Family Relationship Index contributed significantly (26.0%) to the variability in A1C levels (R 2 = 0.260, F(1, 40) = 14.037, P = 0.001). Neither family supportive behavior nor the quality of family relations contributed to diabetes self-care. It is recommended that health care providers include family members to assess diabetes family support and family relationships in the care of older adults with diabetes.

Family functioning among adolescents with narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder with no cure with onset typically during adolescence. Caring for an adolescent with a lifelong medical condition can negatively impact family structure, cohesion, relationships, and overall functioning. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate family functioning in a cohort of adolescents with narcolepsy using the PedsQL Family Impact Module. The secondary objective was to compare family functioning in adolescents with narcolepsy to adolescents with chronic pain based on published data. This was a cross-sectional study of adolescents (aged 10 to 18 years) with narcolepsy. The narcolepsy group was recruited from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. Family functioning was assessed by the PedsQL family impact module total scores, which was completed by the patient's caregiver. The PedsQL family impact module yields a total scale which encompasses parent health-related quality of life, daily activities, family relationships, communication, and worry subscales. Lower scores suggest poorer family functioning. Secondary data analyses were used to compare participants' family functioning to a cohort of adolescents with chronic pain. Thirty adolescents with narcolepsy participated (mean age=13.8 ± 2.2 years, 76.7% male). Family functioning was impaired in this cohort of adolescents with narcolepsy and similar to adolescents with chronic pain (64.0 ± 19.8 versus 64.7 ± 19.5; P=0.849). Family functioning is impaired in adolescents with narcolepsy. Clinical teams should assess family functioning at routine clinic visits by asking about concerns and challenges related to caring for an adolescent with narcolepsy and providing resources and support as needed.

Kvalitet porodičnih odnosa i samoefikasnost dece osnovnoškolskog uzrasta

The family is the basic unit of the society, which has an impact on all domains of children's development and functioning. Bearing in mind the significance of the family for the development of the child, this research pays attention to family factors that can affect the self-efficacy of elementary school children. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between the quality of family relationships and the self-efficacy of children of elementary school age. The research involved 40 primary school pupils, ages 14 , (20 boys, 20 girls). The used instruments were FACE-IV and SEQ-C. The results showed that the subcategories of family cohesiveness and adaptability do not represent a statistically significant predictor of self-efficacy among children. Also, it has been confirmed that there is no statistically significant positive correlation between the degree of self-efficacy and the sub-scales of self-efficacy with balanced cohesion, balanced flexibility and networking. Finally, the research did not confirm the existence of a statistically significant negative correlation between the degree of self-efficacy and the sub-scale of self-efficacy with dissociation, rigidity and chaotic relations on the sample of primary school children. The obtained findings are explained in accordance with relevant empirical research. It is recommended that the relationships between these variables should be examined on larger sample, including other factors that influence the self-efficacy of elementary school children.

Chinese Adolescents’ Relationships with Mothers, Fathers, and Siblings: Associations With Youth's Internalising and Externalising Problems

AbstractThe associations between Chinese adolescents’ family (maternal, paternal, and sibling) relationship qualities and their adjustment were examined among 540 Chinese families over a one-year period. Path analysis revealed that father-offspring positivity was associated with lower levels of internalising problems, whereas mother-offspring conflict predicted youths’ depressive symptoms and loneliness. Controlling for parent-offspring relationships, sibling intimacy inversely predicted youths’ internalising and externalising problems, whereas sibling conflict predicted youths’ loneliness. Multigroup comparisons revealed that youth gender moderated the associations between maternal conflict and youths’ depressive symptoms, as well as sibling intimacy and youths’ loneliness. Overall, results highlight the importance of family systems for Chinese youths’ mental health and the need to study sibling relationships in future studies of Chinese families.

Reconsidering Family Closeness: A Review and Call for Research on Family Distancing

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this essay is to illustrate the opportunity communication scholars have in defining and illuminating the process of family distancing. With this in mind, we begin by challenging three common misconceptions about the enduring quality of family relationships before forwarding an initial model of family distancing based on existing literature. Finally, we call for new research that addresses family distancing in multiple contexts.

RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AMONG SPOUSES AND EX-SPOUSES OF VETERANS WITH DEMENTIA AS CAREGIVING CONTEXT

Factors that place military veterans at increased risk for dementia – such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, or substance use – may also increase their risk of divorce or marital distress further complicating the caregiving context. The current paper examines known correlates and novel indicators of relationship quality to better understand marital satisfaction/distress in 27 married or divorced spousal caregivers and 18 community-dwelling veterans with dementia who completed a baseline assessment as part of an ongoing pilot study. Individuals with dementia (IWD) were 72.5 years and scored M = 16.8 (SD = 5.9) on the MOCA; caregivers were M = 69.8 years old, and had been married for M = 44 years (SD = 15.1). Caregiver scores on domains of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (dyadic consensus, affectional expression, dyadic satisfaction, and dyadic cohesion) were highly correlated ranging from .525 to .912 (ps <.01), and total scores were significantly correlated with quality of life (.429, p = .029) and the IWD’s depressive symptoms (-.478, p = .013). For IWD’s, the mutuality scale was significantly related to their perceived dyadic satisfaction (.637, p = .003) and had a higher concordance with their caregivers ratings of mutuality (.463, p = .046); whereas ratings of marital or dyadic satisfaction between spouses had no association (.002, p = .994). Family relationship quality – and relationship type – are known to impact outcomes, such as frequency of challenging or responsive behaviors, for individuals with dementia. Understanding these factors is necessary to inform dyadic intervention approaches.

Family relations and relationships with peers as determinants of self-esteem in adolescents

Objective - The aim of this study was to examine to what extent the quality of family relationships (attachment to mother, attachment to father, family cohesion) and relationships with peers (attachment to peers and social acceptance) predict global self-esteem of boys and girls in adolescence. Materials and methods - The sample included 221 high school students aged 14-18 years old. Attachments to parents and peers were assessed using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. Family cohesion was measured with the Family Cohesion Scale of the Colorado Self-Report Measure of Family Functioning. Adolescent perceptions of global self-worth and social acceptance among peers were measured using the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Results - The results showed that girls are more attached to their peers than boys. Boys and girls did not differ in their attachment to mother and father, perception of family cohesion, self-conceptions of global self-worth and social acceptance. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted on the results for the boys’ and girls’ samples with adolescent global self-esteem as a criterion variable and measures of attachment to peers, social acceptance, family cohesion, attachment to mother and attachment to father as predictor variables. The results revealed that attachment to the same-sex parent and peer acceptance significantly contribute to boys’ and girls’ global self-esteem. Conclusion - The findings of this study point to the importance of approval from significant others (family and peer group) in different socialization contexts for fostering global self-esteem in adolescents.

What Happens to Retirement Plans, and Does This Affect Retirement Satisfaction?

This study examines the role of planning and plan fulfillment for retirement satisfaction using a dynamic resource theory approach. A 3-year qualitative longitudinal design was deployed with interviews conducted first on the cusp of retirement, then 1 and 2 years after retirement. The final sample comprised 41 individuals from England, 40 from Italy, and 30 from the United States. Realizing plans was found to be linked to retirement satisfaction. However, many retirees adjusted well to retirement without planning in advance, or when plans were thwarted, and sometimes retirement did not live up to expectations despite fulfillment of plans. Psychological resources and resilience were key dimensions of satisfaction regardless of planning. Retirement satisfaction was also associated with social integration, adoption of new social roles, and opportunities to be active within and beyond the private sphere, such as volunteering or participating in leisure oriented clubs or activities. Regardless of planning, the quality of family relationships was a particularly important element for retirement satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

Trajectories of marital, parent-child, and sibling conflict during pediatric cancer treatment.

The stress of having a child with cancer can impact the quality of relationships within the family. The current study describes the longitudinal trajectory of marital, parent-child, and sibling conflict beginning around the time of diagnosis through the first year of treatment. We examined the average level of marital, parent-child, and sibling conflict at each monthly time point in the first year of treatment; the proportion of families that fall into the distressed range of marital, parent-child, and sibling conflict at each time point; the typical trajectory of conflict during the first year of treatment and whether there are differences in trajectories across families. A total of 160 families of children newly diagnosed with cancer (Mage = 5.6 years; range = 2-18 years) participated in a short-term prospective longitudinal study. Primary caregivers provided monthly reports of marital, parent-child, and sibling conflict. Using multilevel modeling (MLM), most families showed stability in quality of family relationships, although considerable between-family variability was observed. For married couples, 25-36% of couples were in the distressed range at one time point over the first year of treatment. For married couples, more distress occurred at earlier months, particularly month 3. For parent-child and sibling dyads, the most difficult time periods were during later months. Implications for development of interventions that target at-risk family relationships are discussed. Identifying processes that predict between-family variability in trajectories of family relationships is an important next step, particularly for the marital relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record

Family, Belonging and Meaning in Life Among Semi-rural Kenyans

To date, most research on families in sub-Saharan Africa focus on the various risks associated with family life—transmission of HIV, violence, human rights abuses, and over-population. Substantially less research explores how family membership supports human life and flourishing. In this study we use data from two different cross-sectional studies to investigate whether family functioning, among females (n = 1789), and conflict tactics, among males (n = 263), predict meaning in life. We hypothesized that better family functioning would predict more social support, which would in turn mediate the association between family functioning and meaning in life. Among males, we hypothesized that less violent conflict and more negotiation-based conflict would predict less loneliness, which in turn would predict more meaning in life. In both samples, family relationship quality predicted meaning in life, and were mediated by measures of social belonging. Among females, better family functioning significantly predicted more meaning in life, an association mediated by more social support. Among males, less violent conflict and more negotiation-based conflict predicted less loneliness. While there was no direct association between negotiation-based conflict and meaning in life, there was an indirect association through lower loneliness. The general picture from both samples is that family dynamics provide the opportunity to belong for both women and men, and that this opportunity for social belonging can predict more meaning in life. Further research is required to understand the cultural construction of meaning, and how this can be enhanced by family identification, and conflict tactics. Efforts to strengthen families to reduce risks associated with family life may draw upon the inherent drive towards meaning common across cultures and income levels.

Family, Marital, and Friend Relationships and Diabetics Psychological Quality of Life

For diabetics, the mental health facets of quality of life are often comorbid with the development and progression of the disease. Compared to the general population, depressive and anxiety symptoms (D/A) are higher among diabetics. Further, several factors associated with higher D/A (e.g., obesity-promoting behaviors and neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses) cause the development of diabetes, progression of the disease, and insulin resistance. In the general population, social relationship quality is consistently linked to D/A with lower quality linked to more D/A. However, among diabetics, little is known about how social relationships are linked to D/A. In the present study, we test how diabetic patients’ marital (n = 121), family, and friendship relationship quality (n = 160) are linked to their self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms using a series of univariate and multivariate regression models (Table 1). Findings indicate a consistent link across relationships and A/D but especially marital and family relationships in multivariate models. These relationships are linked to patient‗s quality of life and potentially subsequent physiological and behavioral factors associated with blood glucose regulation. Therefore, as practitioners alter standard care practices to improve patient‗s quality of life, they should consider assessing social factors in addition to individual factors.Table 1.Unstandardized parameter estimates (standard errors), 95% confidence intervals, and p-values for the univariate and multivariate regression models testing marital, family, and friendship quality influence on two outcome variables: (1) depressive and (2) anxiety symptoms.Depressive Symptoms ModelsModel 1Model 2Model 3Model 4VariableB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueMarital Quality1.75(.89).00,3.51.05------------.70(.91)-1.11, 2.513.44Family Quality------3.07(.68)1.72,4.42&amp;lt; .001------2.32(.97).40, 4.25.02Friendship Quality------------2.89(.87)1.18,4.61.0011.40(1.19)-.96, 3.76.24Anxiety Symptom ModelsModel 5Model 6Model 7Model 8VariableB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueB(SE)95% CIp-valueMarital Quality1.88(.56).76, 3.00.001------------1.19(.58).04, 2.34.04Family Quality------2.17(.47)1.24, 3.10&amp;lt;.001------1.37(.62).15, 2.59.03Friendship Quality------------2.48(.59)1.31, 3.65&amp;lt;.0011.16(.76)-.34, 2.66.13 Disclosure P.N.E. Roberson: None. M. Miller: Employee; Self; Amputee Coalition. K.M. Raspovic: None. J. La Fontaine: None. F. Fincham: None. D. Wukich: None.

Adolescents' Self-Perception of Morality, Competence, and Sociability and their Interplay with Quality of Family, Friend, and School Relationships: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study.

Morality, competence, and sociability have been conceptualized as fundamental dimensions on which individuals ground their evaluation of themselves and of other people and groups. In this study, we examined the interplay between self-perceived morality, competence, and sociability and relationship quality within the core social contexts with which adolescents have extensive daily interactions (family, friends, and school). Participants were 916 (51.4% girls; Mage = 15.64 years) adolescents involved in a three-wave longitudinal study with annual assessments. The results of cross-lagged analyses indicated that (a) self-perceived morality was more important than self-perceived competence and sociability in strengthening family, friend, and school relationships; and (b) high-quality friendships led to increasing levels of self-perceived morality over time. Overall, this evidence advances our theoretical understanding of the primacy of morality from a self-perspective approach and highlights the developmental importance of friends.