Family Stress Model Research Articles

Examining the Links Between Challenging Behaviors in Youth with ASD and Parental Stress, Mental Health, and Involvement: Applying an Adaptation of the Family Stress Model to Families of Youth with ASD.

Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses unique challenges that may impact parents' mental health and parenting experiences. The current study analyzed self-report data from 77 parents of youth with ASD. A serial multiple mediation model revealed that parenting stress (SIPA) and parental mental health (BAI and BDI-II) appears to be impacted by challenging adolescent behaviors (SSIS-PBs) and, in turn, affect parental involvement (PRQ), controlling for social skills (SSIS-SSs). Further, the study explored the malleability of parents' mental health over the course of a social skills intervention, and provides modest evidence that parent depressive symptoms decline across intervention. This study illustrates the importance of considering the entire family system in research on youth with ASD.

REFLECTIONS OF YOUNG ADULTS ON THE LOSS OF A PARENT IN ADOLESCENCE

This study explores the reflections of young adults on the experience of parental loss in adolescence. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling and personal connections from Montreal and New Jersey. Personal interviews based on in-depth, open-ended questions were used to examine how parentally bereaved children and their families were affected in the short term and into early adulthood. The use of resources, coping strategies helpful to the participants, and adaptation to the death were also explored. The findings of the study are discussed through the lens of the Double ABC-X model of family stress and adaptation. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) pile-up of stressors aggravates grieving; (b) benefits of social support; (c) coping strategies used by the participants; (d) adaptation to the loss of a parent — personal growth and maturation. Implications for future research and practitioners working with this population are discussed.

Validation Study of the Portuguese Version of the Family Problem Solving Communication (FPSC) Index

Within family stress theories, the way in which families communicate about their hardships and issues is crucial for the family’s stress management and functioning. In the current study, we sought to validate the Portuguese version of the Family Problem Solving Communication (FPSC) Index and examine its psychometric properties. Developed within the context of the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation, the FPSC is a ten-item self-report measure that assesses the family communication patterns that are likely to play a role in the family’s coping with hardships and difficulties. The participants were 332 individuals between 18 and 76 years who completed the FPSC and self-report measures of family hardiness and family functioning. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the original FPSC bifactorial structure, indicating the presence of two dimensions, Affirmative Communication and Incendiary Communication. Correlations between the scale’s total score and its dimensions with the measures of family hardiness and family functioning attested to its convergent validity. Furthermore, the index demonstrated respectable to very good internal consistency and temporal stability. In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the FPSC is a valid and reliable instrument that can support the development of future empirical studies focused on family problem solving communication, especially with regard to family adaptation in different contexts of adversity.

The relationships among family income, parental depression, and adolescent aggression in South Korea: A latent growth mediation model

Although the Family Stress Model is well-established with many examples, there is relatively little information about South Korean families, which are known for greater bonding between parents and adolescents. The current study examined whether changes in parents' depression would mediate the relationship between income dynamics and youth development changes in South Korea. The participants were 561 families who had completed the Korean Welfare Panel Study at three time points that covered the full span from elementary to high school. A latent growth mediation model was used, and the results indicated that 1) family income was associated with parental depression and youth aggression over time and 2) early parental depression fully mediated the relationship between early family income and subsequent youth aggression rates over time. These findings have major implications for policies and interventions with regard to low-income South Korean families.

The Family Stress Model as it Applies to Custodial Grandfamilies: A Cross Validation.

There is scant research on how the parenting practices of custodial grandmothers affect the psychological adjustment of grandchildren in their care. Yet, the findings from a handful of prior studies suggest the relevance of the Family Stress Model (FSM) to these caregivers. The present study further tested the FSM with baseline data from 343 custodial grandmothers (Mage= 58.5 years) enrolled in a clinical trial of the efficacy of interventions for improving the well-being of their families. Not only was this "help-seeking" sample atypical of prior FSM studies, but also unique to the present study was our addition of multiple parenting practices, self-reported and clinical ratings of grandmothers' distress, and reports of grandchildren's internalizing and externalizing difficulties from grandchildren and grandmothers. Mplus 7.31 was used to test a model where the effect of grandmother distress on grandchildren's internalizing and externalizing difficulties was hypothesized to be indirect through five distinct parenting practices. The findings regarding both the measurement and structural models fit the observed data well, and invariance was largely found across grandchildren's gender and age (4-7 vs. 8-12). Although grandchildren's self-reported internalizing and externalizing difficulties were unrelated to grandmothers' distress and parenting practices, the grandmothers' reports of these outcomes were generally related to their own distress and parenting practices as hypothesized. However, considerable variation was found across the five parenting practices in terms of their relationships to the other FSM constructs. We conclude that data from multiple informants and measures of assorted parenting practices are essential to future research and practice.

Why Do Working-Class Kids Do Worse in School? An Empirical Test of Two Theories of Educational Disadvantage

There are a large number of studies which show social class differentials in educational test scores and results from an early age. Cultural explanations based on working-class ‘resistance’ to learning activities or class differences in ‘cultural capital’ are often put forward to explain differentials in educational test scores. In this article we first discuss why these processes cannot account for the pattern of class differences, given the empirical patterns observed before setting out and then testing two alternative theories that purport to explain class differences in educational performance: the family investment model (FIM) and the family stress model (FSM). Empirical expectations from these theories are defined and then tested using data from four waves of the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative sample of children from the United Kingdom. Structural equation models with mediation are used to quantify the direct and indirect effects of social class acting via cognitive ability and child psychological adjustment. Our models account for between 81 and 93 per cent of the effect of social class on teacher assessments of child educational performance. Approximately two-thirds of the effect of social class on educational performance at age 7 years are mediated by differential child cognitive ability and 15 per cent by psychological adjustment. The mechanisms in the FIM and FSM models strongly interact suggesting that a hybrid model may be more useful. Processes central to the FSM but acting through the child’s cognitive ability are key in determining educational differentials across social class groups.

Grandchildren's Depressive Symptoms and Perceptions of Family Functioning: Protective and Influencing Factors.

A recent increase in children living with grandparents places more children at increased risk for emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems. This study used the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation to examine how children's living situation, parental monitoring, child's resourcefulness, and perceived support affect depressive symptoms and perceived family functioning. Of participants, 36% ( n = 56) lived with their parents only, 44% ( n = 69) lived with a grandmother as their primary caregiver, and 20% ( n = 31) lived in a multigenerational household. Results indicate parental monitoring and support affected perceptions of family functioning. Subjective support and resourcefulness affected depressive symptoms. No effects were found from living situation and demographic factors. Resourcefulness had the strongest effect on depressive symptoms, with a 3-point decrease in symptoms for each incremental increase in resourcefulness. This study provides insight into factors influencing children's depressive symptoms and perceived family functioning, and provides direction for the development of future interventions.

Role of Family Stressors on Rural Low-Income Children’s Behaviors

Exposure to multiple stressors and lack of access to resources place rural children at high risk for adverse consequences. Family Stress Model guided this study to examine relations between two stressors- food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms, and behavior problems among younger and older rural children. To test associations between food insecurity, maternal depressive symptoms, and behavior problems among younger and older rural low-income children. Cross-sectional data from 370 low-income rural families across 13 states was analyzed using structural equation modeling and multiple group analyses. Mothers’ education level, household income, marital/partner status, and participation in SNAP served as covariates. Among younger children, maternal depressive symptoms partially mediated the relation between food insecurity and child externalizing behaviors, while among older children, maternal depressive symptoms completely mediated the relation between food insecurity and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Stress manifested directly from, or indirectly through, maternal depressive symptoms and from food insecurity was related to behavior problems among younger and older rural children; however, the relations varied by age of children. Programs and policies that prevent or lessen both food insecurity and maternal depression may help to lessen problem behaviors among on rural children. Longitudinal studies are needed to rigorously examine causation and directionality among food insecurity, maternal depression and rural child behavior problems, while accounting for influences of child, caregiver and family characteristics.

Testing a Military Family Stress Model.

The current study examines a military family stress model, evaluating associations between deployment-related stressors (i.e., deployment length/number, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) and parent, child, parenting, and dyadic adjustment among families in which a parent had previously deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in the recent conflicts. Married families (N=293) with at least one child between the ages of 4 and 12 were recruited from a Midwestern state. Service members were from the Reserve Component (National Guard or Reserves); fathers (N=253) and/or mothers had deployed (N=45) to the recent conflicts in the Middle East. Multiple-method (observations of parenting and couple interactions; questionnaires) and multiple informant measures were gathered online and in the homes of participants, from parents, children, and teachers. Findings demonstrated associations between mothers' and fathers' PTSD symptoms and a latent variable of child adjustment comprising teacher, parent, and child report. Mothers' but not fathers' PTSD symptoms were also associated with dyadic adjustment and parenting practices; parenting practices were in turn associated with child adjustment. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for military family stress research and interventions to support and strengthen parents and families after deployment.

Money Matters in Marriage: Financial Concerns, Warmth, and Hostility Among Military Couples

The effects of military couples’ (N = 219) financial management concerns on marital quality were investigated using an actor-partner interdependence model based on the family stress model. The influence of the mediating role of warm and hostile marital interactions was also investigated after accounting for multiple indicators of the military context, which are usually significant in the lives of military families. Individuals with higher levels of concern about financial management expressed less warmth and more hostility towards their partner. In turn, individuals exhibiting higher levels of warmth had spouses who reported greater marital quality.

Food insecurity and depression among single mothers in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study is centered on household food insecurity and depression among single mothers in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State. This study made use of the theories of both Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Family Stress Model as its theoretical framework. The study adopted a survey and co-relational study design. In doing this, a sample size of 246 single mothers was selected using the snowball sampling technique. The questionnaire was the main source of primary data collection. The descriptive statistics of percentages, frequency, mean and standard deviation were the basic analytical tool used for the analysis of socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, while the inferential statistics of binary regression logistics and spearman correlation coefficient served as the tool for determining the relationship between variables. The findings of this study revealed that single mothers were disproportionally affected by food insecurity situations such as insufficient food, poor nutritional abilities, skipping meals, etc. Also, socio-demographic characteristics of single mothers have a relationship with food insecurity status of single mothers, and finally, food insecurity status of mothers play a role in single mothers’ depression. As such, food insecurity does not only have psychological effect on mothers but also on their health status and the wellbeing of their children. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that there should be concerted efforts by the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to empower single mothers so as to reduce the economic burden characterized by food insecurity on them. Keywords: Food insecurity, Single Mothers, Depression, Family Stress theory, Maternal health

Quality of life among U.S. Army spouses during the Iraq war

ABSTRACTDuring the course of previous military conflicts, attention has been focused on separations experienced by service members and their loved ones. This study utilized the ABC-X model of Family Stress and Resiliency Theory to provide information about specific family and parental stressors, family coping, appraisal of stress and coping abilities, and quality of life for spouses at various stages of a recent military deployment. Three groups of spouses differed primarily for levels of family stress and quality of life. In addition to comparative analysis, path analyses were conducted for each group to determine the influence of stressors, coping, wellbeing, and sense of coherence on quality of life. The model for the group of spouses with service members deployed longest accounted for the greatest amount of variability in quality of life. Implications for family counseling, social work practice, and community policy have been provided.

STRES KELUARGA: MODEL DAN PENGUKURANNYA

Family is the smallest unit in the community that has a very strong influence into our life. If the family experiences stress, it will affect the system in the family itself. Dr. Thomas H. Holmes and Dr. Richard H. Rahe give a definition of stress -a complicated condition or situation which can endanger people and has exceeded the resources of the individual to cope. Furthermore, they also develop a stress measuring scale called "Social Readjusment Rating Scale". Family stress model was then developed with more complex explanation by McCubbin and Patterson (1980), known as the Model T double ABCX.

Adaptation in families of children with Down syndrome in East Asian countries: an integrative review.

The purpose of this integrative literature review was to understand the experiences of East Asian families of children with Down syndrome and identify factors affecting their adaptation in the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. Socio-cultural factors influence how well families adapt following the birth of a child with Down syndrome. Existing literature in this area has focused primarily on families from Western cultures. This is problematic because nurses care for families from all over the world. Therefore, the focus of this review is on families of children with Down syndrome living in East Asia, where Confucianism is dominant. Integrative literature review. Online databases (i.e. PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO) and a public search engine (i.e. Google Scholar) were used along with manual searches of reference lists and major journals. Studies were limited to original publications written in English and published between 1990-2014. Two authors independently performed integrative review processes proposed by Whittemore and Knafl and a quality assessment using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Like families in Western cultures, some East Asian families of children with Down syndrome adapted well and even thrived while others struggled. Various socio-cultural factors, including some associated with Confucianism, played a role in how individuals, dyads and families adapted. An understanding of socio-cultural influences can help nurses implement culturally sensitive family-centred interventions with families of children with Down syndrome. It may also facilitate policy changes concerning resources for these families.

Latino parent acculturation stress: Longitudinal effects on family functioning and youth emotional and behavioral health.

Latino parents can experience acculturation stressors, and according to the Family Stress Model (FSM), parent stress can influence youth mental health and substance use by negatively affecting family functioning. To understand how acculturation stressors come together and unfold over time to influence youth mental health and substance use outcomes, the current study investigated the trajectory of a latent parent acculturation stress factor and its influence on youth mental health and substance use via parent-and youth-reported family functioning. Data came from a 6-wave, school-based survey with 302 recent (<5 years) immigrant Latino parents (74% mothers, Mage = 41.09 years) and their adolescents (47% female, Mage = 14.51 years). Parents' reports of discrimination, negative context of reception, and acculturative stress loaded onto a latent factor of acculturation stress at each of the first 4 time points. Earlier levels of and increases in parent acculturation stress predicted worse youth-reported family functioning. Additionally, earlier levels of parent acculturation stress predicted worse parent-reported family functioning and increases in parent acculturation stress predicted better parent-reported family functioning. While youth-reported positive family functioning predicted higher self-esteem, lower symptoms of depression, and lower aggressive and rule-breaking behavior in youth, parent-reported family positive functioning predicted lower youth alcohol and cigarette use. Findings highlight the need for Latino youth preventive interventions to target parent acculturation stress and family functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record

Effects of the Web and Phone-Based Family Intervention on Family Adaptation in Families of Young Children with Down Syndrome in Korea

Background: Some families adapt well and even thrive while others deteriorate. In particular, parents of young children with Down syndrome have greater difficulties to adapt to the unexpected birth of their child. Therefore, early family intervention to help them establish new family balance is needed. Objectives: The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of the Web & Phone-based Family Intervention, based on the Resiliency Model of Family stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation and Calgary Family Intervention Model, for parents of young children with Down syndrome, and (2) to assess the potential of the family intervention for improving parental and family adaptation. Methods: One group pre and post mixed-methods were utilized. Parents of young children who were less than 3 years old participated in the study. They were allowed to navigate a website developed specifically for young children with Down syndrome including up-to-date information regarding etiology of Down syndrome, medical treatment, nurturing, formal/informal family resources and participate in phone interviews once a week for 6 weeks. Parents completed demographic and family functioning surveys before and after the intervention. Results: Eight parents enrolled and completed this ongoing study. More than 70% of parents perceived web and phone-based intervention to be reliable and helpful. Seventy-five percent of parents were willing to encourage other parents to participate in this family intervention. Parents reported improved results on nine out of thirteen family functioning sub-categories. Qualitative data showed that parents perceived the intervention as meaningful. Conclusion: The early family intervention utilizing website navigation and phone interviews is feasible for helping parents understand the life of their child with Down syndrome and effective for developing new coping strategies. The program may help families to establish a new level of family adaptation. Health care providers including community nurses can effectively utilize website navigation and phone interviews as part of early family intervention.

Effects of Economic Hardship and Cultural Challenge on Family Processes among the Multicultural Couples: Application of the Family Stress Model Caused by Economic Pressure

Effects of Economic Hardship and Cultural Challenge on Family Processes among the Multicultural Couples: Application of the Family Stress Model Caused by Economic Pressure

A Phenomenological Study on the Grandchild Caregiving Experiences in Middle Class Family : Application of Contextual Model of Family Stress

A Phenomenological Study on the Grandchild Caregiving Experiences in Middle Class Family : Application of Contextual Model of Family Stress

Boundary Ambiguity and Ambivalence in Military Family Reintegration

Although more than 2 million service members have experienced deployment since 2001, predictors of postdeployment family functioning remain unclear. Utilizing the Contextual Model of Family Stress (Boss, 2002), this study examined military‐related factors (e.g., rank, component, combat exposure, postdeployment time at home, cumulative length of deployments), boundary ambiguity, and family‐ and deployment‐related ambivalence as predictors of family functioning during reintegration. Service members (N = 228) from multiple branches of the U.S. military participated in a national survey related to family relationships and support programming. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that service members from lower ranks, who were home for longer periods of time, and who endorsed higher degrees of boundary ambiguity and family‐related ambivalence reported poorer family functioning. Results emphasize the relevance of boundary ambiguity and family‐related ambivalence to the reintegration process and can inform prevention and intervention efforts that promote family well‐being in the military population during the critical postdeployment period.

Parents' Perceived Discrimination and Adolescent Adjustment in Chinese American Families: Mediating Family Processes

Parental discriminatory experiences can have significant implications for adolescent adjustment. This study examined family processes linking parental perceived discrimination to adolescent depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors by using the family stress model and incorporating family systems theory. Participants were 444 Chinese American adolescents (Mage.wave1 =13.03) and their parents residing in Northern California. Testing of actor-partner interdependent models showed a significant indirect effect from earlier paternal (but not maternal) perceived discrimination to later adolescent adjustment through paternal depressive symptoms and maternal hostility toward adolescents. The results highlight the importance of including both parents and examining actor and partner effects to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how maternal and paternal perceived discrimination differentially and indirectly relate to adolescent adjustment.