Family Situation Research Articles

The uncounted and unseen challenges of refugee foster families in Kampala, Uganda

Uganda is known for its open-door policies towards refugees, currently hosting over 1.5 million refugees, 60–65% of whom are children. National self-reliance strategies grant refugees who live in urban settings freedom of movement and employment and expect them to be mostly self-sufficient in exchange. Families within the refugee community are fostering unaccompanied refugee children, as this is considered the best solution for them by the Ugandan state and international organisations. We used ethnographic and quantitative methods, including in-depth interviews, questionnaires and participant observation, to assess the living situation of refugee foster families in Kampala. Our sample included 52 foster families who were caring for a total of 289 children. The findings raised four overarching themes: (1) Circumstances and reasoning for fostering unaccompanied children; (2) Formalisation of explicit foster registration; (3) Differences in care and living conditions; and (4) Ambiguous organisational support. Fostering was either direct by family members or friends, or indirect through the intervention of a church or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) implementing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) but has never followed national processes to formalise fostering or adoption. Based on the self-reliance policies, refugee foster families in Kampala do not receive adequate support or supervision from any institution, and fostered children remain acutely vulnerable, especially since the economic crises related to Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. We argue that the lack of recognition and financial and emotional support for foster families hinders community-based solutions. These conditions, coupled with the lack of proper supervision and control, encourage less altruistic fostering and more abusive and exploitative treatment of unaccompanied children.

Nurse Managers' Perceptions of Family and Community Nurse Practitioners Joining Primary Care Teams in Spain: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to explore and describe nurse managers' perceptions of family and community nurse practitioners' impact on primary care teams and public health. A descriptive qualitative study was carried out. The participants were recruited by means of convenience sampling during the months of April and May 2023. 20 nurse managers from different autonomous communities in Spain were interviewed. The data were analyzed following a thematic analysis method using ATLAS.ti nine software. Two main themes and sub-themes were drawn from the data analysis: (1) Nurse managers' view of primary care: (a) The driving force of primary care and (b) Resistance to the integration of family and community nurse practitioners; (2) Proposals for improvement in light of the Family and Community Nurse Practitioner's unique situation. These specialists are highly qualified professionals in primary care teams, whose expertise is evident in how they deliver community and health education activities, empower patients, and lead the training of new specialists.

On the effectiveness of a new advisory service for parents of children in need of care: a controlled study

On the effectiveness of a new advisory service for parents of children in need of care: a controlled study Abstract: Background: Families with children in need of care are exposed to great stress. This results in risks that often lead to a poor living and care situation for families. To support them, an innovative regionally anchored support service is being developed by so-called Family Health Partners (FGP) as part of the NEST research project. Aim/Objective: The primary endpoint of the study is the quality of life of the families. Secondary outcomes are resilience factors and associated measures as well as access to care services. Methods: The effectiveness of the FGP will be tested in a controlled study with four measurement times (baseline, after 6, 12 and 18 months) between January 2022 and April 2024. A total of 204 families with children in need of care were recruited for an intervention and control group. Multilevel models are used to analyze the longitudinal data. Results: Between T0 and T1 there are statistically significant improvements in the intervention group, especially in daily and social stress in the family, in mental health and resilience. In addition, knowledge about general benefit rights as well as specific support and relief offers for caring parents has increased. Conclusions: The results of the first two measurement times indicate that a positive change in quality of life, resilience and health literacy can be achieved through the FGP.

Committed and Responsible: Single Fathers in Swedish Dailies

ABSTRACT This article investigates representations of single fathers in major Swedish newspapers 2010–2020, the gendered meanings of these constructions, and how they relate to gendered and socio-historically specific situations of single parents in Sweden. In newspapers, the term “single father” is broadly used to reference different familial situations, ranging from “only parent” to “co-parent.” There is no vilification of single fathers as a group or as individuals, which stands out in international comparison but is consistent with dominant discourses on single parenthood – and fathers – in Sweden. Single fathers are represented as successfully combining breadwinning and caregiving, flexible in their management of time-with-children, and reflexive regarding their parenthood. Overall, newspapers construct (good) single fathers as spending substantial time with their children and demonstrating “temporal conscience.” Seen against demographic statistics, two results stand out: first, that there are so few single fathers in the dailies, and second, that there is an overrepresentation of fathers with sole residential custody, and of fathers who share residential custody equally with a mother. These representations result in an exaggerated picture of single fathers’ time and engagement with children, which speaks to national father-friendly and gender-equality-oriented family policy and ideals of fatherhood.

Entrepreneurship and Rural Development in Morocco: A Comparative Analysis of Female and Male Entrepreneurs in the Fes-Meknes Region

Rural entrepreneurship is a growing field of research, with a focus on understanding and promoting entrepreneurial activities in rural areas. It is important to examine the differences between male and female entrepreneurs in these rural settings. This study explores the relationship between entrepreneurship and rural development in Morocco, focusing on the differences between male and female entrepreneurs. The Fes-Meknes region conducted the research, surveying 200 individuals, including 120 male and 80 female entrepreneurs, using econometric analysis. The study aimed to compare male and female entrepreneurs' socioeconomic characteristics, business attributes, technological factors, and entrepreneurial behaviors, as well as their impact on rural development. Key variables included education, household income, family situation, financial resources, investment grants, business sector, revenue, legal structure, target market, digital technology usage, and management style. The results of the analysis showed significant differences between male and female entrepreneurs in various aspects, such as education level, household income, family situation, access to financial resources, business sector involvement, legal structure, years in operation, and target market preferences. Additionally, the study found that male entrepreneurs tended to utilize digital technologies more extensively and benefit more from entrepreneurship training compared to their female counterparts. However, female entrepreneurs demonstrated a higher propensity for contributing to rural development initiatives through their businesses, particularly in agribusiness-related activities. The study emphasizes the need for tailored policy interventions to address gender-specific entrepreneurship dynamics in rural areas, thereby promoting sustainable development and economic growth.

The relationship between the BMI value of children and the financial situation of families, as well as the age of children

Aim: The research aimed to establish whether the family’s financial situation had an impact on the BMI values of the children studied, to determine the link between the family’s financial situation, the child’s age and the frequency children were given selected foodstuffs, as well as to verify whether the frequency of consumption of selected foodstuffs has an impact on children’s BMI values. Methods: BMI values were calculated for each child. Dietary habits were studied using a developed proprietary questionnaire. The questionnaire contained a list of products from 12 food groups, wherein vegetables and fruit were analysed separately, but without a division into those rich in vitamin C and carotene. Results: Analysis of the study group according to financial situation showed, to name a few, that the median consumption of fish, cold meats and potatoes among children from families declaring their financial situation as average was lower than that in the remaining groups. Children with a good financial situation consumed eggs and poultry statistically significantly more often than those with an average financial situation, and significantly less often - cakes and biscuits. Children over 11 years old consumed ready sauces (ketchup, mayonnaise) more often than younger children. Conclusion: The consumption of particular foodstuffs was affected by the families’ financial situation and the age of children. Children from families with an average financial situation consumed vegetables less often than the remaining children. Despite there being no effect of the frequency of particular foodstuffs consumption on BMI, one in five people were overweight. It is crucial that the healthy lifestyles and proper diet programmes are implemented in educational establishments.

Health, Insurance, and Social Capital’s Impact on Housing Debt and Assets Using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Technique

China’s current real estate market transactions are relatively subdued; hence, finding means to repower the engine for further development becomes vital. However, few studies investigated the relationships between family non-economic factors, assets, and housing debt. This study highlights the impact of family members’ health, insurance, and social capital’s impact on housing debt and assets. The family-size data from the China House Finance Survey are analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation model. The results indicate that family members’ poor health and uninsured endowment insurance individuals negatively affect housing debt and family assets. In contrast, the impact of medical insurance is insignificant. Besides, social capital substantially and positively impacts assets and debts. The labor supply and the proportion of kids have a negligible impact. Hence, this study recommends that loan-offering enterprises may change their marketing targets according to family situations, such as health status and insurance coverage. The government might promote endowment insurance and strengthen higher education to revitalize the real estate industry.

Religious Characteristics of Nurses Who Refer Patients to Chaplains at a Catholic Hospital in the Northwestern USA.

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between nurse religiosity and decision to consult spiritual care services at a hospital in the western USA. An anonymous survey was distributed to assess nurses' reports of whether they would request spiritual care services across different scenarios. Out of 171 nurses approached to participate in this survey, fifty-one nurses completed the survey and half of respondents considered themselves religious. Compared to non-religious nurses, religious nurses reported greater likelihood to contact a chaplain across a variety of patient and family scenarios, including when a patient has a new diagnosis, is anxious or depressed, or has a challenging family situation.

Living with Mental Illness.

Objective: The situation of patient's relatives is still not broadly studied in psychiatry. Their needs are often overlooked. Method: We developed a digital questionnaire concerning the patient's sociodemographic, disease-related, and family-related data and had the patient's therapist fill it out. The patients included (N = 1766) were persons hospitalized on a selected date. Results: One-third of patients had at least one relative with mental illness, prior treatment, or need for treatment. The main diagnoses in relatives were affective, substance use, and somatoform disorders, often in concordance with their index patient. Teenage patients had the most affected relatives. The therapists of the minors included were better informed about their familial situation, whereas the therapists of the 30-59-year-olds knew the least. Conclusions: The comparably lower rate of affected relatives in adults stems most likely from underassessment and needs further investigation.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Experiences of Minor Children With Parental Cancer-A Family-Based Multilevel Analysis of Determinants.

Children in families with parental cancer may experience emotional, social or physical problems. The aims are to analyze child, parent and family-based determinants of children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and their experiences of parental cancer. As part of a mixed-methods, multicenter, prospective, interventional non-randomized study "Family-SCOUT," a family-centered intervention in the form of care and case management was developed. Children's HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10) was assessed at baseline (study inclusion). Descriptive analyses and family cluster-adjusted linear mixed models were performed. Qualitative coding of children's experiences reported in an open-ended text field of the questionnaire was performed. Four hundred and seventy-two families with 472 parents with cancer and 649 children were included in the study of which N=346 were analyzed. The average age of the children was 12.8years. 48% of the children were female. Family cluster-adjusted mixed linear model showed significant associations between children's HRQoL (dependent variable) and children's age (-0.44, p=0.023, 95%-CI=-0.82 to -0.06) and between families (ICCnull model=0.377, Pseudo-R2=0.443). Children experienced changes in the family situation, such as daily routines and communication among all family members, death of a parent, COVID-19-related difficulties, and supportive social relationships. Child, parent and family-based factors appear to be related to children's HRQoL. Research on children's HRQoL and experiences in the context of parental cancer underscores the need for a multidimensional and family-based approach to support these children.

A Child with a Parent Serving a Prison Sentence and its Impact on the School Environment

The school environment is where a child spends the second most amount of time (after the family environment). Leskova (2018, p. 52) claims that “the school and the school environment also play an irreplaceable role in the formation of a child.” Professional authors are largely inclined to claim that having a parent in VTOS has a negative impact on a child’s school results. „The stress caused by a parent being in prison or in VTOS can affect a child’s school performance. Strong emotions and the actions associated with them can result in problems in the classroom and social isolation“ (Children of Incarcerated Parents Toolkit, 2022, p. 6). This problem is then the subject of social work, and as Planka et al. (2024, p. 1) state, we use the means of social policy in the school system, which leads “by providing for the social needs of the population and creating conditions for improving the living conditions of individuals and groups.” Having a parent VTOS can affect the child in several areas: l Mental health. The child loses physical contact with the parent, which can be reflected on the psychological side of the individual. Children may experience different feelings such as guilt and sadness. As a result, mental problems in the form of depression and anxiety are created. l Social relations. These relationships can be influenced by the family environment as well as the school environment. In the family environment, the whole family suffers and the child can sense instability in the home environment. Discrimination and ridicule from classmates can occur at school l School achievements. The previous two areas can affect the school area. The family situation can lead to absence from school or failure to fulfill school duties. According to Slavin (2000, In: Mcmahon, 2002, p. 5 ), “children with incarcerated parents are at increased risk of poor school performance, dropping out of school, gang involvement, early pregnancy and drug abuse.” In some cases, the departure of a parent to VTOS can have the opposite, i.e., positive effect on the child. Some children, as well as families, are relieved after the departure of a parent or family member to VTOS. However, as Planka and colleagues (2024, p. 119) point out, whether the situation has improved or deteriorated after the parent’s departure, there must always be communication between the child, the family and the parent in VTOS. “Communication as a process of mutual understanding plays a huge role in all aspects of life - private life, the work environment and interpersonal relationships.” Matejkowski, Johnson and Severson (2014, [cit. 2024-05-22]) add that this fact can also leave children with clinical problems, such as depression and anxiety, problems with attention, disruptive behavior, poor results at school, disruption at home and a reduced likelihood of dealing with anxiety and stress in the future.

How psychological perceptions and family dynamics shape necessity- and opportunity-based female entrepreneurship: the role of gender equality

Purpose This paper aims to explore how psychological perceptions and family situations drive women into necessity- or opportunity-based female entrepreneurship (NBFE or OBFE) and the moderating role of gender equality. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts multilevel logistic regression analysis to examine relationships based on a sample of 6,843 women across eight developing countries drawn from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Findings The findings suggest that capability and opportunity perceptions positively affect NBFE and OBFE. Family responsibility burden positively affects NBFE and has a U-shaped relationship with OBFE. Household income negatively affects NBFE but positively affects OBFE. Gender equality weakens the U-shaped relationship between family responsibility burden and OBFE but strengthens the positive relationship between capability perception and NBFE and between opportunity perception and NBFE. Research limitations/implications The study highlights the need for targeted policies and support that consider the distinct antecedents and mechanisms of NBFE and OBFE, as well as the importance of promoting gender equality and entrepreneurial education to empower women in their entrepreneurial endeavors. A limitation of this study is the reliance on older data from the GEM, which may not fully capture the current dynamics of developing societies. While the study provides valuable insights, future research should incorporate more recent data to enhance the applicability of the results. Originality/value This study deepens the understanding of antecedents of NBFE and OBFE, breaking through the existing literature that neglects the heterogeneity of female entrepreneurship (FE).

Unraveling gender differences in entrepreneurial exits: The role of human capital and family situation during an unprecedented crisis

This study applies a gender role perspective to delve into disparities in entrepreneurial exit decisions during unprecedented crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper examines how human capital and family dynamics—encompassing family income and size—interact with evolving social roles and responsibilities. Using multinomial estimation techniques and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey data from Chile, our findings reveal that women entrepreneurs display a higher likelihood of business exits compared to their male counterparts. Further analysis with moderating variables shows that the gender coefficient is not significant and unveils a non-linear pattern tied to educational backgrounds. Specifically, women with elementary education are prone to discontinuing businesses due to the COVID-19 crisis, with a similar—though weaker—tendency observed among women with tertiary education. Women with medium education levels do not significantly differ from men in terms of business closures due to COVID-19. Additionally, family size disproportionately affects women, amplifying the likelihood of business exits during the COVID-19 crisis compared to men. The paper offers actionable insights for researchers and policymakers, emphasizing the pressing need to augment women's entrepreneurial resilience in the face of unforeseen crises.

Incidence and Correlates of Husband-Perpetrated Rape Among Currently Married Women in Nigeria.

Husband-perpetrated rape (HPR), which implies every form of unwilling sex with a husband as a result of force, threat or drug, is rarely discussed or reported, and it has been quite understudied in Nigeria. Hence, this study answers two questions: What is the incidence of HPR, and what are the correlates among currently married women in Nigeria? Descriptive and multi-level logistic regression tools are used to analyze data from a sub-sample of 1,583 currently married women (16 years and above) surveyed in a larger survey conducted in mid-2022. The results suggest that the national incidence rate of HPR among currently married women in Nigeria is 20%. Although any married woman could experience HPR anywhere, the main correlates that are likely to elevate the risk in Nigeria are childhood sexual abuse experience (OR = 3.9, p < .001, 95% CI [2.9, 5.2]), membership in Yoruba ethnic group (OR = 2.7, p < .001, [1.7, 4.3]), and having husbands who smoke (OR = 2.4, p < .001, [1.7, 3.4]). Other minor risk factors are minority ethnic groups membership (OR = 2.1, p < .01, [1.4, 3.3]), husband's substance use (OR = 1.7, p < .001, [1.3, 2.2]), childhood family situation wherein parents separated/divorced (OR = 1.8, p < .01, [1.3, 2.6]) and membership of the Igbo ethnic group (OR = 1.7, p < .05, [1.1, 2.8]). Therefore, to reduce HPR experience in Nigeria, appropriate organs should design and implement an invigorated child protection law targeting childhood sexual abuse reduction. An aggressive campaign against smoking and substance consumption among married men is also imperative. Also, a sustained campaign against HPR using multiple media all over Nigeria is crucial.

The impact of COVID-19 and the ERS on superannuation savings in Australia

COVID-19 has had a significant economic impact on Australia, and consequently on the superannuation savings of many individuals. To examine COVID-19’s heterogeneous effects across different industries and demographic groups, the impact on superannuation was assessed for 12 representative cameos using a range of Australian data, including Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), ATO, ABS and APRA sources. The marginal impacts of sudden job loss, investment losses, investment switching and participation in the Early Release of Superannuation (ERS) scheme were each investigated in turn. The cameos highlight that some demographic cohorts faced several compounding challenges. For example, many ERS applicants were already facing financial hardship, were more likely to be younger, and faced a higher risk of unemployment. This highlights that COVID-19 has impacted different cohorts in different ways, depending on age, employment status and industry, and family situation, among other factors. JEL Classification: D14, D15, J26, J32

Doing welfare in German secondary schools—How students’ welfare receipt becomes visible in teacher-student interactions and how teachers perceive these students

AbstractWelfare recipients (e.g., “Bürgergeld”) generally are subject to negative stereotyping, but it is unclear whether students’ welfare receipt plays a role in teacher-student interactions, and if so, what. We conducted eight focus groups with 27 teachers and analyzed them using grounded theory to investigate how teachers characterize welfare-related teacher-student interactions. In addition, we examined how teachers perceive these students and the role of stereotypes in these perceptions. Welfare receipt becomes apparent mostly in bureaucratic care interactions in which teachers support corresponding students in financing school participation possibilities. The familial financial situation meets the school’s participation requirements in these teacher-student interactions. Teachers’ feeling of responsibility for this support varies. Most teachers perceive poverty-related shame among students in these interactions, while others do not. Accordingly, the need for a sensitive approach in these interactions is assessed differently. Teachers mentioned hardly any perspectives on the students themselves but on parents receiving welfare (e.g., low educational responsibility) and assumed parents pass on this behavior to their children. In some cases, this leads to negative educational expectations toward corresponding students, which could implicitly influence teaching-related teacher-student interactions. The results provide initial indications for subsequent negative self-perceptions of students on welfare about their social situation at school.

The current rituality of catholic death in Catalonia, a world of meanings

This article sheds light on the current Catholic experience of mourning and death in Catalonia by means of theoretical-interpretative contributions from the field of rituality and the sensitive dimension. It focuses on a method of analysis that emphasizes the deep meanings and sensory dimension of the logic of the death ritual itself. Using multiple narratives and autoethnography, it describes the sequence of actions and sensations related to the drama experienced and channels the pain that is progressively expressed in the different phases of the ritual. The effectiveness of the ritual lies in the experience of non-presence, remoteness or emptiness. Even though the perspectives of the participants are different and there are a variety of family situations, the symbolic and sensitive dimension of the ritual works for everyone by sequencing their actions and experiences throughout the process.

Childcare in Spain: Strategies and Socioeconomic Determinants

With 39.6 % of children under three years of age at nursery school in the school year of 2018-2019, Spain exceeded the 33 % recommended by the European Commission in 2002. Notwithstanding this figure, childcare for this age range from 0 to 3 years is neither free of charge nor universal, and the formal public offer varies considerably across the country. Faced with this limited accessibility, families resort to various strategies based on the available resources in order to manage their childcare needs. However, the existing data on these schemes are meagre and do not represent all the options. Also lacking is information about how families shape their strategies and the factors that influence their adoption of them. In this number of Perspectives Demogràfiques, which is published by the Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), we draw on the latest data available from the Spanish Fertility Survey (2018) to explore the sociodemographic profiles of mothers with children aged three years and under, and the childcare strategies they adopt. The results suggest that managing childcare requires a combination of several options, thus making it relevant to speak of care strategies. Although formal care is a fundamental resource, it is not always able to respond fully to family needs. Meanwhile, the strategies adopted vary in accordance with the characteristics of mothers, for example their family situation, relationship with the labour market, and whether or not they are immigrants, all of which demonstrates the importance of adapting approaches to care in keeping with each specific situation.

What Matters to Patients: Community-Engaged Design for Healthcare-Related Serious Games

Narrative-based serious games are accessible, engaging technologies that connect users’ lived experiences to pedagogy. Despite having patient-centered goals, most narrative-based serious games are not designed alongside patients and communities, limiting their likelihood of acceptance, uptake, and impact. Literature reveals that many serious games intended for patients merely evaluate efficacy with end-users after game deployment and with a lack of consistent participatory design. This work aims to describe a patient-centered participatory approach to game development to teach self-advocacy skills to patients newly diagnosed with cancer. First, characters were developed based on panels that included patient advocates, cancer survivors, clinicians, and researchers. Second, storyline development created realistic story arcs, decision-points, and consequences based on qualitative interviews with patients, patient advocates, and cancer survivors. Third, game evaluation metrics (e.g., 1st vs. 3rd person perspective, game fail states that incentivize replaying the game, and provision of implicit or explicit feedback) were developed based on accessibility, usability, and patient preferences. Based on patients’ insights, we implemented changes accordingly to maximize the game’s efficacy and collected qualitative data on patients’ assessment of the game’s accessibility, relevance, and impact. During initial game development, patient and advocate feedback built relatable characters with a particular focus on providing sensitive information (e.g., palliative care) and inclusive storylines (e.g., diverse family situations). Following a prototype, patients and advocates suggested refinements to characters and additional storylines, including common and/or distressing experiences related to pain management, family dynamics, financial struggles, and disrespect from healthcare providers. Participants in a randomized trial of the game (N=34) found the scenarios relevant and realistic. Patients reported increased comfort speaking up, seeking support, and interacting with their families and healthcare team after playing the game. Our process demonstrates the essential role patients can inhabit in the development of narrative serious games, particularly in how patient input permeated every aspect of Strong Together's development, from initial design to evaluation. Such integration allows for adjustments to address patient concerns and refine patient-relevant metrics.

Participation in formal adult education and family life—a gendered story

Abstract Previous literature on adult education (AE) has focused on various aspects of social inequalities, and although many acknowledge the critical role of gender, the mechanisms influencing gender differences in participation are rarely to the fore. Specifically, women report family responsibilities as the main reason for not enrolling in AE. This article examines whether family responsibilities, measured as the age and number of children, act as motivators or barriers to formal AE participation differently among men and women with varying time and monetary resources, that is, partnership status and relative income, in two societies with high formal AE enrolment rates; Finland and Great Britain. The results from Finnish registers and Understanding Society for 1998–2019 demonstrate clearly that family responsibilities related to having young children in the household restrict women from participating in formal AE to a greater extent than men in both countries. Further, while Finnish society enables individuals who traditionally have fewer resources to attend formal AE, that is, single parents and larger families, in Britain, formal AE is mainly taken up by individuals without children or those in stable family situations. The results highlight the importance of institutions in providing equal access to further educational qualifications.