Family Structure Research Articles

Parents’ perceptions of cohesion in diverse stepfamilies

AbstractObjectiveThe goal was to assess how cohesive parents perceive their stepfamilies to be and to explain how cohesion relates to aspects of stepfamily structure.BackgroundCohesion is important to study as it can bolster the well‐being of stepfamily members. Prior research has mostly considered relationship qualities as predictors of cohesion. Little is known about differences in cohesion by family structure (i.e., whether parents have a shared child, whether the stepfamily is simple or complex, and in which households the respective children live).MethodWe analyzed data from a sample of Dutch divorced parents (N = 3,056) using linear regression.ResultsParents perceived their stepfamilies as very cohesive. Having a shared child with the current partner was associated with higher perceptions of cohesion, whereas having a stepchild was associated with lower perceptions of cohesion. Non‐ or part‐time residency of parents' biological child from their previous relationship or their potential stepchild was associated with lower perceptions of cohesion. Cohesion was lowest in complex stepfamilies in which parents' biological children and potential stepchildren followed nonaligning residence arrangements.ConclusionAspects of stepfamily structure appear to affect perceptions of stepfamily cohesion. These findings imply that well‐being of stepfamily members in complicated stepfamily structures might be lower.ImplicationsTo understand stepfamily cohesion and design therapeutic approaches for stepfamilies, it is crucial to look beyond relationship qualities and explicitly consider the role of stepfamily structure.

Parenting, family guidance and spiritual education: Proverbs 1:8–9 and its wisdom ethos for children’s moral development

This article seeks to provide a wisdom domain moral analysis of Proverbs 1:8–9 on the role of parents in conveying the significance of parental instruction and the development of wisdom in children. As a process through which young individuals acquire and cultivate essential qualities and values that shape their behavior and moral outlook, children character development encompasses various aspects, including moral, social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions, and it is influenced by a range of factors, including familial upbringing, social interactions, cultural influences, education, and personal experiences. Whilst the origin of parents as agents of moral guardian is not explicitly stated in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (HB/OT), Proverbs 1:8–9 is one of those key passages whose themes underscore the profound significance of family structure and system, and parental responsibility. The verses highlight the spiritual and moral dimensions of family life, promoting a sense of dignity, submission, and personal development within the context of a supportive family structure. The incisive prescriptions of the text offer a journey into self-understanding, self-development, and self-actualization, by reaffirming the family as a pivotal social institution while balancing the roles and responsibilities of parents and children.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article brings together biblical and theological insights from the parental rhetoric of Proverbs 1:8–9 to bear on and help shape the oversight function of parents as agents of children moral development and healthy family life. The verses bridge spiritual wisdom with scientific understanding, presenting a holistic view of how a child grows intellectually, emotionally, and morally.

Parent-child interaction frequency: associations with age, sibling presence, and child health.

Parent-child interaction plays a crucial role in child development. This study investigated associations between the frequency of parent-child-interactions and sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, socio-economic status, family structure, number and age of siblings), physical and psychological symptoms in children, and mental health of parents. The frequencies of 11 different parent-child interactions (shared reading, singing, moving, painting, building, puzzle, playing ball, role games, language games, number games and talking about problems) were assessed in 739 children aged 2-6.5 years-old using a standardised parental questionnaire, within a population-based cohort study in Leipzig, Germany. Physical and psychological symptoms were investigated using the HBSC Symptom-Checklist and parental depression symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire. We applied regression analyses to assess associations between variables. Shared reading was the parent-child interaction reported most frequently, with an average occurrence of several times a week. Number games were reported least frequently, with an average occurrency of every two weeks. Fewer parent-child interactions were significantly associated with higher child age, higher number of siblings, presence of older siblings and a lower level of physical and psychological symptoms. The other variables (sex, SES, living situation, presence of younger siblings or both (younger and older), depression symptoms of parents) were not significantly associated with the frequency of parent-child interactions. The findings show that age of children and number as well as age of siblings at home may shape the frequency of parent-child interaction in preschool children. In addition, the findings suggest that parent-child interaction might be related to the health of children rather than the (mental) health of parents. This study assessed the associations between the frequency of different types of parent-child interactions and sociodemographic as well as health-related parameters in a large sample of children. There still exist sex-specific differences in the frequency of parent-child interactions related to traditional role models of girls and boys. A higher frequency of parent-child interactions is associated with more physical and psychological symptoms in children. Parent-child interactions are less frequent in families with more children, especially when older siblings are present.

Pan-genome wide identification and analysis of the SAMS gene family in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) revealed their intraspecies diversity and potential roles in abiotic stress tolerance

IntroductionS-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a key molecule in plant biology, plays an essential role in stress response and growth regulation. Despite its importance, the SAM synthetase (SAMS) gene family in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) remains poorly understood.MethodsIn this study, the SAMS genes were identified from the sunflower genome. Subsequently, the protein properties, gene structure, chromosomal location, cis-acting elements, collinearity, and phylogeny of the SAMS gene family were analyzed by bioinformatic methods. Finally, the expression patterns of SAMS genes in different tissues, under different hormonal treatment and abiotic stress were analyzed based on transcriptome data and qRT-PCR.ResultsThis study identified 58 SAMS genes across nine cultivated sunflower species, which were phylogenetically classified into seven distinct subgroups. Physicochemical properties and gene structure analysis showed that the SAMS genes are tightly conserved between cultivars. Collinearity analysis revealed segmental duplications as the primary driver of gene family expansion. The codon usage bias analysis suggested that natural selection substantially shapes the codon usage patterns of sunflower SAMS genes, with a bias for G/C-ending high-frequency codons, particularly encoding glycine, leucine, and arginine. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements in promoter regions, implied their potential roles in stress responsiveness. Differential expression patterns for HanSAMS genes were observed in different tissues as well as under hormone treatment or abiotic stress conditions by analyzing RNA-seq data from previous studies and qRT-PCR data in our current study. The majority of genes demonstrated a robust response to BRA and IAA treatments in leaf tissues, with no significant expression change observed in roots, suggesting the response of HanSAMS genes to hormones is tissue-specific. Expression analyses under abiotic stresses demonstrated diverse expression profiles of HanSAMS genes, with HanSAMS5 showing significant upregulation in response to both drought and salt stresses.DiscussionThis comprehensive genomic and expression analysis provides valuable insights into the SAMS gene family in sunflowers, laying a robust foundation for future functional studies and applications in crop improvement for stress resilience.

Familial risk of sinus node dysfunction indicating pacemaker implantation: A nation-wide cohort study.

We aimed to investigate the risk of sinus node dysfunction (SND) indicating cardiac pacing and mortality in first-degree relatives to patients with a pacemaker implanted on this indication and assess the effect of onset-age on disease risk. In this nationwide register-based study we used the Danish civil registration registry to establish family structures and merged data with the Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Pacemaker and ICD registry containing information on all pacemakers implanted due to SND in Denmark. We followed 6,027,090 individuals born after 1954 for 180,775,041 personyears between 1982-2022 among whom 2.477 pacemakers were implanted due to SND. The adjusted rate ratio (RR) of pacemaker-treated SND was 2.9 (2.4-3.6) for individuals having any father, mother or sibling with a pacemaker implanted on this indication compared with the general population (derived cumulative incidence at the age of 68 years: 0.79% and 0.27%, respectively). This risk was inversely proportional to implantation-age in the index person (≤60 years: RR=5.5 (3.4-9.0)). Overall, mortality was similar between individuals having a father, mother or sibling with SND and the general population, but higher for relatives to index-persons with an early onset (≤60 years: RR=1.22 (1.05-1.41)). First-degree relatives to SND patients are at increased risk of SND with risk being inversely associated with implantation-age in the index person. Mortality in first-degree relatives was comparable to the general population, although subgroup findings suggest an increased mortality among individuals with a family history of earlyonset SND.

How Family Structure Can Influence Adolescents’ Eating Habits: An Italian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) 2022 Sample

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is an important period of psychophysical development. In this phase of life people acquire greater self-awareness and adopt behaviors that will later shape their lifestyle in adulthood. This study aimed to assess whether family structure can influence adolescents’ eating habits. Methods: Data were acquired from a survey titled ‘Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children’ (HBSC) given to a representative sample of Tuscan adolescents aged 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age. Participants (3210) filled out a validated questionnaire answering questions about their eating habits and family structure. After adjusting for covariates, some interesting trends were highlighted in the survey results. Results: Adolescents living in single-mother families reported a lower intake of fruits (OR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.55–0.83) and vegetables (OR 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53–0.81) and a higher intake of sugar-added soft drinks (OR 1.33, 95% CI = 1.08–1.64). Living in a mother and stepfather family was associated with a higher intake of sugar-added soft drinks (OR 1.53, 95% CI = 1.02–2.28), whereas living in a father and stepmother family was associated only with a lower intake of fruits (OR 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26–0.87). Participants living with other family types reported a lower intake of vegetables (OR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.47–0.98). Conclusions: The results of this study show a correlation between family structure and adolescents’ eating habits.

From phylogenomics to breeding: Can universal target capture probes be used in the development of SNP markers for kinship analysis?

AbstractPremiseLeveraging DNA markers, particularly single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in parentage analysis, sib‐ship reconstruction, and genomic relatedness analysis can enhance plant breeding efficiency. However, the limited availability of genomic information, confined to the most commonly used species, hinders the broader application of SNPs in species of lower economic interest (e.g., most tree species). We explored the possibility of using universal target capture probes, namely Angiosperms353, to identify SNPs and assess their effectiveness in genomic relatedness analysis.MethodsWe tested the approach in 11 tree species, six of which had a half‐sib family structure. Variants were called within species, and genomic relatedness analysis was conducted in species with two or more families. Scalability via amplicon sequencing was tested by designing primers and testing them in silico.ResultsAdequate SNPs for relatedness analysis were identified in all species. Relatedness values from Angiosperms353‐based SNPs highly correlated with those from thousands of genome‐wide DArTseq SNPs in Cordia africana, one of the species with a family structure. The in silico performance of designed primers demonstrated the potential for scaling up via amplicon sequencing.DiscussionUtilizing universal target capture probes for SNP identification can help overcome the limitations of genomic information availability, thereby enhancing the application of genomic markers in breeding plant species with lower economic interest.

Strengthening social cohesion through the Manyanda tradition in Minangkabau customary society: A cultural insight from West Sumatera, Indonesia

Manyanda tradition, a tradition of taking over social roles after death, in addition to successfully maintaining social continuity in the family structure, is also a potential capital in strengthening social cohesion. However, this context has not been discussed comprehensively in previous studies so it is very important to explain. In addition to responding to the shortcomings of previous studies, this study also aims to explain the mechanisms, factors and implications of the practice of this tradition as a reflection of social cohesion based on customary and religious values. By using a qualitative descriptive case study approach, this study shows three important findings. First, the spontaneity of the community and traditional leaders when hearing the news of death and social activities forty days afterwards. Second, the dominance of spiritual and cultural factors in addition to social and structural factors that encourage the community to preserve this tradition. Third, the Manyanda tradition has implications for strengthening the community’s commitment and belief in the meaning of death, the importance of a replacement figure who takes over social roles and strengthens the tribal identity of the Nagari (local village) community. This study recommends the importance of this tradition to be preserved as the root of social cohesion.

Examining the Influence of Demographic Factors on Problem-Solving Ability: A Study of Gender, Family Structure, and School Characteristics

Problem-solving involves overcoming obstacles that hinder goal attainment and finding optimal solutions to issues. This ability empowers learners to address challenges they encounter effectively. Consequently, problem-solving has become one of the most crucial 21st-century skills for better future adjustment in a complex society. This paper examines gender, family type, school type, and locality as correlates of problem-solving ability. The researchers conducted descriptive research with 1,200 secondary school students from the Thoubal district of Manipur. They used the Problem-solving Ability Test (PSAT), which they constructed based on five dimensions of problem-solving ability, to collect data. The findings reveal that male students significantly outperformed female students in the PSAT. Although students from joint families performed slightly better than those from nuclear families, the difference was insignificant. Additionally, students in private schools significantly outperformed those in government schools. Moreover, students from urban schools substantially outperformed those in rural schools on the PSAT.

Family structure, gender, and subjective well-being: effect of children before and after COVID-19 in Japan

AbstractGrandparents were anticipated to participate in grand-rearing. The COVID-19 pandemic had detached grandparents from rearing grandchildren. The research questions of this study were as follows: How does the change in family relations impact the Subjective well-being (SWB) of grandparents and parents? Using independently collected individual-level panel data over 2016–2023, we examined how family structure influenced SWB before and after COVID-19. We focused on the effects of children, grandchildren, and their gender on grandparents and parents. We found that compared with the happiness level before COVID-19, (1) granddaughters increased their grandmothers’ SWB after COVID-19, (2) both daughters and sons reduced their fathers’ SWB after COVID-19, whereas neither daughters nor sons changed their mothers’ SWB, and (3) the negative effect of sons reduced substantially if their fathers had younger brothers. Learning from interactions with younger brothers in childhood, fathers could avoid the deterioration of relationships with their sons, even when unexpected events possibly changed the lifestyle of the family and their relationship.

The diversity of grandparents in rural China: a new classification based on the shift in grandparents’ ideology and family structure

The heterogeneity of grandparent caregivers in rural China increases the challenges in exploring and assisting this group. To address this, the study used data from 38 in-depth interviews conducted in three diverse Chinese villages, identifying four ideal types of grandparents: leading, sacrificial, reciprocal and reluctant. These types are based on grandparents’ ideologies and family structures, reflecting different stages of societal change. The findings indicate that the diversity of grandparents and their varied caregiving experiences in rural China reflect the transformation trends of rural families and individuals. Additionally, this study introduced a new analytical tool for future research on rural Chinese grandparents.

Learning to care on one's own: Chinese children's caregivers' reflections on family care

AbstractBackgroundThe past few decades have witnessed drastic changes in family structures and the provision of care within the family in China.ObjectiveThe current study investigated how familial caregivers of children (N = 30, Mage = 41.67, SD = 11.32) living in one of the largest urban centers in China learned and taught how to care within the family.MethodNine focus groups were conducted to collect data, and thematic analysis was adopted to analyze the data.ResultsTwo main themes were found: (a) learning to care on one's own and (b) the importance of encouraging one to want to care. The findings indicate that Chinese caregivers received limited direct instruction in learning how to care and were often faced with the challenge of having to self‐teach care. Meanwhile, when teaching care, caregivers focused on the motivation to care (e.g., filial piety) as an important element for learning to practice care.ConclusionThese findings highlight considerations of motivation of care often not mentioned in the Western literature while also indicating the need of society to support teaching and learning the practice of care within the family.ImplicationsThis study highlights the importance of cultural considerations when designing intervention programs to help individuals to develop the ability to care and provides insights exploring how school‐family partnership promotes children's ability to be caring.

Presentation of a Video Animation with a Feminist Approach: An Exploration of Turkish Shadow Play

Istanbul-born visual artist and activist Canan Şenol-CANAN (1970-) created the video animation Ibretnüma-Exemplary (2009), which tells the story of a young girl who moves from an Anatolian village to a big city. The animation addresses themes such as marriage, motherhood, and old age, focusing on the current status of women in Turkish culture. It critiques the oppression created by marriage and family structures and highlights how the female body is reduced to a political and religious commodity in the protagonist's life. It also criticizes the orientalization of female beauty and its use for consumer exploitation, with any subjective evaluations clearly marked as such. The narrative is delivered by a narrator using the fairy-tale storytelling method, rooted in Anatolia's centuries-old oral narrative tradition. The piece dismantles patriarchal ideologies and non-verbal restrictions imposed on women during Türkiye's modernization process, merging an avant-garde and feminist approach in its representation technique. To illustrate the representation of every aspect of the female body, the video employs a varied visual range, incorporating traditional Turkish shadow play, largely sourced from original works and combined with collage elements.

Women’s Dilemma and Social Reflection in Film Narrative: A Case Study of Kim Ji-young, Born 1982

Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 portrays the life experiences of an ordinary woman navigating family, work, and society, exposing the patriarchal structures, female discipline, and reproductive oppression in South Korean society. Adapted from Cho Nam-joo’s novel, the film recounts Ji-young’s struggles in childhood and marriage, along with the mental distress caused by the pressures of balancing career and family. It powerfully illustrates how societal expectations lead women to lose their sense of self, highlighting the exploitation of emotional labor and unpaid housework. Ji-young’s story transcends individual experience, reflecting the broader structural gender inequality embedded in society. Upon release, the film sparked intense social debate, particularly from South Korean men, some of whom petitioned the Blue House to block the screening, accusing it of fueling gender conflict. This opposition reveals the patriarchal structure’s defensive response to challenges and men’s anxiety over losing status and privilege. This paper explores how government pro-natalist policies, under the guise of preserving family structures, further entrench the oppression of women’s reproductive and labor value.

Female Migrant Workers in Conflict with Life and Livelihood Amid COVID-19: Violence and Gendered Crisis

This article explores the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women migrant workers and their families in terms of loss of livelihood resulting in a debt trap while endangering life, responsibility stress, restricted geographic moves, shattered access and scarce support. Employing the quantitative research method, a survey of 122 women migrant workers from five underprivileged districts of West Bengal, India, was conducted. The analysis revealed that there has been a significant variation in women migrant workers’ income level as well as in the level of violence they were exposed to during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic phase. The level of violence also has a negative monotonic relationship with their husbands’ income. The findings of the study also confirm that income, family structure, financial support and so on. significantly influence violence towards women. These findings have implications for developing policies and programmes to ensure the secured employment for and safety of women.

Depression in children: Impact of the father companionship and peer relationship

AbstractReasons for the increased incidence of depression in Chinese children remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study explored the influence of paternal companionship and peer relationships on depression in children based on OLS method using data reported by 2498 children from China (children Mage 10.7; 52.1% girls). We found that both variables could alleviate depression among children, but the effect of peer relationships was significantly greater than that of paternal companionship. This conclusion remains robust after considering gender, age and family structure. Heterogeneity studies have found that paternal companionship significantly impact boys, while peer relationships significantly impact girls. Mechanism analysis demonstrated that both factors can indirectly alleviate depression in children by regulating anxiety. Our research results emphasize the importance of increasing paternal companionship and peer relationships to alleviate depression in children.

Family Influence and Social Conditioning: Exploring Chinese High School Students' Perspectives on Gender Differences

This study examines how family structure and social conditions shape Chinese high school students' perceptions of gender roles and expectations for future gender equality. Conducted through qualitative interviews at a Beijing international school, the research finds that students from egalitarian families tend to have less traditional gender role perceptions, while those from traditional families often reinforce stereotypes. External influences, including peers, societal norms, and media, also significantly impact these views. Despite a general desire for gender equality, many students remain concerned about persistent societal biases. The findings underscore the need for policies that promote gender equality from both family and societal perspectives.

The Theoretical Exploration of Criminal Psychology: Definitions, Formation Mechanisms, and Practical Implications

The study of criminal psychology is an interdisciplinary field that merges psychological and criminological principles. It aims to understand the psychological processes and societal factors that drive criminal behavior. This research explores various definitions of criminal psychology, its formation mechanisms, and the impact of genetics and environment on criminal behavior. It delves into the influence of parenting styles, family structure, and personality traits on criminal behavior. Additionally, the study discusses the importance of criminal psychological portraits and lie detection in criminal investigations. Overall, this research highlights the significance of criminal psychology in enhancing the understanding of criminal behavior and its prevention.

The Impact of Parenting Styles on Adolescents' Mental Health

The family is the primary environment where adolescents transition from being individuals to becoming members of society. During adolescence, the family atmosphere and parenting styles directly affect adolescents' physical and mental development. The family, akin to a small social unit, is the first environment for communication and the initial classroom for socialization. Within the family, various factors, such as parents' occupations, educational backgrounds, economic status, and family structure, play a significant role in shaping parenting styles. Therefore, parents should choose parenting methods based on adolescents' age and characteristics to foster a harmonious atmosphere that promotes adolescents' mental health development.

Why should i be judged? Exploring third party perceptions of workplace incivility against single working mothers

A serious problem in the workplace is incivility, which impacts especially vulnerable groups like single mothers who hold jobs and experience subtle unfair or damaging treatment. As the number of single working mothers continues to rise in today’s workforce, this study aims to clarify third-party perceptions about incivility against them at work and subsequent influences on individuals as well as the organization. Because the analysis is embedded in theories of social role expectations and organizational justice, it explores third-party observers’ perceptions (such as coworkers or supervisors) of whether incivility directed at single working mothers differs from that experienced by their comparison group—professionally equivalent peers who do not share equal caregiver responsibilities. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews to collect rich data from participants who represented several fields. They report their results that third-party observers are less likely to experience vicarious justification of incivility against single working mothers but may be equally unlikely or even more reluctant than in the case of other employees and furthermore find this data account for these differences. The results illustrate the intricate interplay of gender, family structure and work dynamics on workplace outcomes—all leading to lower job satisfaction rates, a high level of stress or even stagnation in career progression for single working mothers. Our findings also extend the workplace incivility literature by demonstrating ways in which single working mothers are particularly vulnerable to this form of mistreatment and a broader need for organizational policies that cultivate an inclusive, supportive environment. Implications for human resource management, organizational culture and policy based on these findings are discussed as it may provide some recommendations for handling incivility in the workplace environment.