Family Life Situation Research Articles

The use of BCAP in Finland: toward correct classification rate

Objective Further validation of Brief Child Abuse Potential (BCAP) inventory, for setting the correct classification rate. Methods Data collection from potential abusers (n = 47), visiting in the hospital clinic meant for parents having special needs due to problems with alcohol and drugs connected to other evidence-based risk factors of child abuse. The risk level was compared between these 47 parents and previously collected data from 450 parents, representing general population. Results There were no differences between likely abusers and the general population. Among both groups, 6% had elevated abuse risk and there were no differences in appearance of dimensions including in the abuse scale. Conclusions Assuming child abuse based on known risk factors is not enough, when setting the correct classification rate. We need more accurate knowledge about the abuse, and the family life situation in general. However, assessing risk factors of child maltreatment systematically with the BCAP, can still serve as a fruitful basis of assessing parents’ needs and worries as the basis for providing support what they need.

Social-Emotional Problems Among 3-Year-Olds Are Associated With an Unhealthy Lifestyle: A Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Little attention has been paid to the association between preschool children's social-emotional problems and lifestyle at the population level.Objective: This study aimed to overcome this knowledge gap by investigating to what extent children's social-emotional problems are associated with their lifestyle and if there are any gender differences.Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based study used data from the regional Salut Register in northern Sweden, including 7,179 3-year-olds during 2014–2017. Parents responded to a questionnaire including the 36-month interval of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) and questions regarding family and lifestyle characteristics. Single and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the association between children's social-emotional problems and multiple family lifestyle characteristics.Results: More reports of social-emotional problems were found among children who did not have parents living together or had markers of an unhealthy lifestyle. Children who ate vegetables less frequently, whose parent/-s brushed their teeth less often and did not read to them regularly were more likely to have social-emotional problems. Playing outdoors <3 h during weekdays and >1 h of sedentary screen time during weekends increased the risk of social-emotional problems among boys only, while >1 h of sedentary screen time during weekdays increased the risk among girls. When it comes to lifestyle and gender differences, a high proportion of the 3-year-olds had an unhealthy lifestyle, more so for boys than for girls. The dietary quality and tooth brushing were somewhat more adequate for the girls than for the boys, but boys spent more time playing outdoors compared to the girls.Conclusions: This study provides us with an important overview picture of the family life situation of three-year-olds, including those with social-emotional problems. Such problems were significantly associated with markers of unhealthy lifestyle, with significant gender differences. Therefore, this study suggests that in order to maintain children's social-emotional ability and support children at risk of problems, public health intervention programs should have a broader perspective on improving children's lifestyle rather than merely focusing on their social and emotional problems, and the gender differences found may be taken in account.

Специфика социально-психологических технологий формирования согласованных ролевых ожиданий и адекватного распределения семейных ролей в супружеских парах

The purpose of the article is to determine the specifics of socio-psychological technologies for the formation of coordinated role expectations and an adequate distribution of family roles in married couples. Based on a comparison of the results of a parallel formative experiment, the specificity of sociopsychological technologies for the formation of coordinated role expectations and an adequate distribution of family roles in married couples was determined, which consists in the use of active forms of work (games and exercises), modeling of family life situations and psychological playing of family roles that contribute to improving: intimate and sexual role; personal identification with a spouse; expectations of the parenteducational role, social activity, household and emotional-psychotherapeutic roles; claims of the partner’s external attractiveness, social activity, household and emotional-psychotherapeutic roles; consistency of family values and role-based expectations in married couples; emotional climate in the family.

METAPHOR AS A METHOD OF CONSULTATIVE WORK OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL TEACHERS WITH PARENTS.

The article presents the method of metaphors as a modern effective method that involves neurodynamic mechanisms of personal reflection on current life events. The formation, essence and functions of metaphor in psychological and pedagogical work are analyzed. The genesis of the concept "metaphor" reveals the growing dynamics of its use in the social and psychological sciences. It has been active since the mid-1970s, when metaphors became the independent subject of study. Phenomenologically, metaphor is manifested in all spheres of human activity, but the first sphere of its usage is language. Metaphorical language allows a specialist to convey relevant messages to the client in a fairly secure form and unobtrusively suggest solutions to the problem. It is due to this that it makes sense to use metaphor in consultative psychological and pedagogical work. The authors propose to regard the metaphor as a means of obtaining information about the peculiarities of the relationship in the system "parents - child". Depending on the content of the family life situation, metaphors can perform expressive, dissociative, diagnostic, explanatory functions. They are used in individual or group consultations, one can employ the following options: firstly, reading and discussing metaphors (expressed in parables, instructive stories, etc.) together with parents, which helps to establish the atmosphere of trust between a psychologist and parents, and becomes a starting point for discussion of a specific problem of child-parent relations. Second, discussing drawing with metaphors enables parents to be objectively aware of the problem and then work out possible effective behaviors and corrections. Thirdly, it is possible to work with metaphoric cards "Alphabet of parental love", "The wisest time", "All the facets of harmony", "Steps to wisdom", "Treasures of vital forces" and so on. Understanding the content of a card requires parents to think, feel and remember. In a state of reflexive calm, they can remember life situations, moments of difficulties in the relationship with their child. The article provides examples of metaphors and gives methodological commentary on the work of psychologists and social educators with them. Thus, the competent use of metaphorization in the counseling process can accompany the work of a psychologist and social educator from the moment of gathering information to the implementation of the last behavioral check of the performed intervention

Accessibility strategies beyond the private car: A study of voluntarily carless families with young children in Gothenburg

It is generally recognized that technological fixes alone cannot solve car-induced sustainability problems requiring measures to reduce car use. However, there is a knowledge gap concerning what we can learn from the experience of people who voluntarily refrain from car ownership. This paper aims to explore how everyday life is organized and perceived by voluntarily carless households with complex travel needs, focusing on dual-income families with children living in an urban setting (Gothenburg, Sweden). Through a time-geographical theoretical lens and drawing on eight in-depth interviews with parents, we scrutinize the accessibility strategies of these families and the perceived implications of being voluntarily carless for daily living. We find that these families use largely proximity-oriented strategies and combine various practices in managing time-pressed everyday life. The findings underscore the situatedness of carlessness and the importance of the inherent constraints and fixities of different everyday life projects. Notably, adaptation is considered to be well functioning in the spheres of mandatory activities and bounded routines (related to work, school, and consumption). Regarding free-time activities, carlessness is associated with more friction and perceived inconvenience. Questions are raised regarding the long-term persistence of voluntary carlessness, as family life situations may change. The results merit further consideration in sustainable transport and land use planning as well as regarding the wider organization of society.

Callosotomy in children — Parental experiences reported at long-term follow-up

Callosotomy is a palliative surgery method for selected individuals with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore parental experiences of the family's life situation before and long after their child had undergone callosotomy. Semistructured interviews of the parents of 12 children were analyzed using a combination of inductive and deductive qualitative content analysis.Before surgery, parents felt that they lived in a chaotic bubble with an unbearable situation; their child had severe and frequent seizures and had to be looked after constantly. Most parents were both satisfied and dissatisfied with the given support and information. However, if the child did not improve after surgery, parents often felt that the information before surgery had not been adequate. After surgery, they found a glimpse of hope. They felt that the family got a new life; the reduced seizure severity led to a better life situation for the family. The support was described as both good and poor. The family life situation was complex, and even if they were partly satisfied with the support, it was still not enough. However, the life situation was also very stressful because of remaining seizures, behavioral problems, and sometimes, adverse effects of surgery. The families lived in disappointment and difficulty and had to fight for their rights. This indicates that these families need more information and social service coordination both before and long after surgery. They need not only tools to manage the child's disabilities but also substantial help to care for the child and to receive the social support they need.

The family health, functioning, social support and child maltreatment risk of families expecting a baby.

To describe the family health, functioning, social support and child maltreatment risk and associations between them in families expecting a baby. Finland was one of the first countries in banning corporal punishment against children over 30years ago. Despite of this, studies have shown that parents physically abuse their children. In addition, professionals struggle in intervention of this phenomenon. Abusive parents should be recognised and helped before actual violent behaviour. A follow-up case-control study, with a supportive intervention in the case group (families with a heightened risk) in maternity and child welfare clinics. The baseline results of families are described here. Child maltreatment risk in families expecting a baby was measured by Child Abuse Potential Inventory. The health and functioning was measured by Family Health, Functioning and Social Support Scale. Data included 380 families. A total of 78 families had increased risk for child maltreatment. Heightened risk was associated with partners' age, mothers' education, partners' father's mental health problems, mothers' worry about partners' drinking and mothers' difficulties in talking about the family's problems. Risk was associated with family functioning and health. Families with risk received a less support from maternity clinics. Families with child maltreatment risk and related factors were found. This knowledge can be applied for supporting families both during pregnancy and after the baby is born. Professionals working with families in maternity clinics need tools to recognise families with risk and aid a discussion with them about the family life situation. The Child Abuse Potential, as a part of evaluating the family life situation, seems to prove a useful tool in identifying families at risk. The results offer a valid and useful tool for recognising families with risk and provide knowledge about high-risk family situations.

Women in polygynous marriages and African Initiated Churches: Selected narratives in Greater Tzaneen, South Africa

abstractPolygynous marriage is practised in some African Initiated Churches (AICs). The article reflects on the stories of women in polygynous marriages within selected AICs in Greater Tzaneen in the Limpopo province. Conversations were held with 25 purposely selected married female believers. The women’s perceptions and status in the church and at their respective family homes are discussed and analysed. The presentation of these conversations is an attempt to fill a gap in research on AICs and gender. The research conducted sought to explore how faith traditions and religious identities determine social constructs of sexuality and gender in the context of women’s rights and gender equality. Oral research methods were used in this qualitative research study. Twenty five anecdotes relayed by women who had been married in polygynous marriages for the past 20 years were studied. The data was analysed through the Creswell method of analysing qualitative data. The research found that the women the authors engaged with have strong opinions about their status within the church and family. They realised that the church and their family life situations favour their husbands. What was evident was the resilience that was required of the respondents in the face of the insecurities that they face in polygynous marriage.

Parental experiences before and long-term after their children's hemispherotomy - A population-based qualitative study.

Severe childhood epilepsy has an impact on the whole family. For selected children, hemispherotomy is the treatment of choice. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experiences before and after hemispherotomy as reported at a long-term follow-up and their view on received information and support. This was a population-based qualitative descriptive study, using qualitative content analysis of interviews. Seven to eighteen years after hemispherotomy, parents of twenty-one operated children were interviewed about the family life situation, expectations before surgery, and support and information before and after surgery. Before surgery, the theme 'Living in a chaotic bubble' illuminates how parents felt: the family lived in isolation, they felt both dissatisfaction and satisfaction about support and information, and they experienced that surgery was a question about life or death. After surgery, the theme 'Hovering between success and disaster' illuminates how parents hovered between happiness if the surgery was successful and sadness about e.g., complications and behavior problems. They experienced both excellent and poor support, in hospital and at rehabilitation. Regardless of all concerns, parents were satisfied that the child had received an operation. The hemispherotomies were successful and generated a better life situation. However, in order to cope, families need support and information throughout the whole process, from the onset of epilepsy and for a long time after surgery. If the child has behavior problems, an assessment should be made before surgery in order for the families to get adequate support. The specialist team needs to be involved as early as possible and follow the families for several years after surgery. Focus should be on the whole family, if needed including grandparents; family-centered care might be relevant for this patient group.

Children’s Age Ascription and Consequences across Family Life Cycle between Muslim and Santal in Bangladesh

Children’s age ascription across family life situations is culturally constructed in every society. Relevant literature suggests that children’s age ascription and its consequences across family life situation are enormous and pervasive across the cultures. Despite this, there is a paucity of systematic cross-cultural evidence on which social workers may play important roles in changing age ascription and its negative consequences. Reviewing cross-cultural literature, this study compares age ascription and its consequences in family life situations between Muslim and Santal cultures in Bangladesh. Evidence suggests that age ascription of the Santal for working/earning, marrying, mothering and family authority is earlier, but later in schooling, separation between boy and girl, separate sleeping between son and daughter and/or parent than that in the Muslim community. Santal children with early or late age assignment in those family life situations compared to Muslim ones are more likely to suffer from negative social, psychological, and health consequences. Based on the evidence, social work implications are discussed to change age status assignment and consequences in the family life situation between the two ethnic communities in Bangladesh.

Survey of a community-based infusion program for Australian patients with rheumatoid arthritis requiring treatment with tocilizumab: patient characteristics and drivers of patient satisfaction and patient-perceived benefits and concerns

BackgroundTocilizumab is an effective therapy for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis that is administered by infusion over one hour every 4 weeks. The community-based infusion (ACTiv) program was introduced to Australia in August 2010 to provide accessible and convenient treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who require tocilizumab. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the characteristics of patients in the ACTiv program, patient satisfaction, and patient-perceived benefits and concerns with the ACTiv program, and drivers of patient satisfaction and patient-perceived benefits and concerns.MethodsA voluntary self-administered survey was given to all 608 patients in the ACTiv program between January 27, 2011 and March 31, 2011.ResultsA total of 351 surveys were returned completed, giving a response rate of 58% (351/608). Most patients in the ACTiv program were women aged 40–64 years, with a mean disease duration of 13.7 years and moderate disability, who had been in the ACTiv program for ≥5 months. Most patients (88%, 302/342) were either very satisfied or satisfied with the ACTiv program and believed that they were very unlikely or somewhat unlikely to switch from the ACTiv program (64%, 214/335). The most important benefit was the reassurance of receiving treatment from a trained nurse in a professional medical environment (33%, 102/309). The most important concern was the fear of side effects (48%, 134/280). The main drivers of patient satisfaction and patient-perceived benefits and concerns of patients were health profile, previous medication experience, and length of treatment time in the program.ConclusionThe ACTiv program is used by patients of various ages, family life situations, and locations. Patient satisfaction with the program is high, which enables patients to benefit from long-term use of tocilizumab.

A Gender Transformation in Urology

A Gender Transformation in Urology

Richard A. Settersten Jr, Frank F. Furstenberg Jr, and Rúben G. Rumbaut (eds), On the Frontier of Adulthood. Theory, Research, and Public Policy

Richard A. Settersten Jr, Frank F. Furstenberg Jr, and Rúben G. Rumbaut (eds), On the Frontier of Adulthood. Theory, Research, and Public Policy

Couples share similar changes in depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction anticipating the birth of a child

The birth of a child is a demanding family life situation. This longitudinal study investigated to what extent spouses' depressive symptoms and marital dissatisfaction associated with pregnancy and childbirth (and their changes over time) were characteristic of the spousal relationship and/or the individual spouses. Pregnant women (N= 320) and their spouses (N = 259) were examined twice before and twice following childbirth. Results indicated that changes in depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction during pregnancy were characteristic of the spousal relationship, whereas changes after birth were characteristic of both the relationship and the individual spouses. Couples with initially high marital satisfaction reported a later decrease, whereas those with initially low satisfaction reported an increase.

Caregivers' experiences of interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child.

On the basis of earlier research, caregivers' actions when interacting with clients should be developed. However, nursing research has focused little attention on the interaction between caregivers and families expecting a fetally impaired child. The study aimed at generating a practical family nursing theory of caregivers' interaction with families expecting a malformed child. A grounded theory study was undertaken at Tampere University Hospital in Finland in 1999-2000. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 22 (n=22) nurses and doctors. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. The interaction process starts when a caregiver informs the parents of the fetal impairment. The process is influenced by caregivers' attitude towards issues related to the family's life situation. Caregivers' views of their job, and of human coping and cultural attitudes towards these issues are also of importance. These factors account for their goals in the interaction, which, in turn, underlie their actions. When the caregiver's interpretation is that the family accepted the help provided, the outcome of the interaction is satisfaction with having been able to help. Correspondingly, in the case of an opposite interpretation, the caregiver experiences strain caused by inadequacy of the help he/she is providing. The core of interaction consists of two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to impairment issues. Caregivers' views of helpful interaction were consistent with earlier research on the subject, but the findings of this study showed that more attention should be focused on the family as a whole. Furthermore, caregivers rarely criticized their own actions, thus their interaction skills should be upgraded by focusing on systematic self-assessment through training. Nursing research deepening our understanding of why interaction fails is warranted. The study results can be used in the family nursing practice as tools in reinforcing the caregivers' ability to helpful interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child. The results may enhance caregivers' systematic self-evaluation and conscious use of the self.

Retaining public health nurses in rural British Columbia: the influence of job and community satisfaction.

Although the need to retain rural registered nurses is pressing, little is known about what influences them to stay in their current employment. The objectives of the study were: to examine public health nurses' (PHNs) job and community satisfaction; to relate job and community satisfaction to their decision to stay in their current employment in rural British Columbia. A survey was mailed to all front-line PHNs in 48 rural and small urban communities in British Columbia. Of the 164 eligible PHNs, 124 responded (76% response rate). PHNs were most satisfied with their professional status, professional interaction and autonomy, their communities' acceptance of their partners, friendliness of the community and their friends. They were least satisfied with their salary. Job satisfaction or community satisfaction was not found to influence retention. Instead, "filter factors" such as age, retirement, family needs and the economy affected PHNs' intent to stay or leave. If PHNs are to be retained in rural areas, their economic and family life situations merit greater attention, as does their experience of living and working in rural communities.

Retaining Public Health Nurses in Rural British Columbia

Although the need to retain rural registered nurses is pressing, little is known about what influences them to stay in their current employment. The objectives of the study were: to examine public health nurses’ (PHNs) job and community satisfaction; to relate job and community satisfaction to their decision to stay in their current employment in rural British Columbia. A survey was mailed to all front-line PHNs in 48 rural and small urban communities in British Columbia. Of the 164 eligible PHNs, 124 responded (76% response rate). PHNs were most satisfied with their professional status, professional interaction and autonomy, their communities’ acceptance of their partners, friendliness of the community and their friends. They were least satisfied with their salary. Job satisfaction or community satisfaction was not found to influence retention. Instead, “filter factors” such as age, retirement, family needs and the economy affected PHNs’ intent to stay or leave. If PHNs are to be retained in rural areas, their economic and family life situations merit greater attention, as does their experience of living and working in rural communities.

Nurses' first encounters with parents of new-born children--public health nurses' views of a good meeting.

The nurse's view of the first meeting with parents of new-born children ma have consequences for the quality of future contact. A good start will lay a soli foundation for a lasting relationship, and have an affect on the nurse's work to support parents and children and to promote health. We do not know wha nurses mean by a 'good meeting'. The aim of this study was to discover how nurses view the first meeting as a general preventive measure aimed at all parents and their new-born children. Four focus groups interviews were held with nurses from different primary health care areas in the county of Skåne, southernmost Sweden. Analysis of the content in the transcribed interview texts disclosed eight subcategories: good contact/reciprocal relationship; willingness to listen; guest/ equal roles; time/peace and quiet; the family in its environment; socio-cultural aspects; confirmation/support; and individual advice. Three categories were established: creating trust; creating a supportive climate; and creating a picture of the family's life situation. The home visit was seen as an important way to establish trust and obtain a picture of the family's life situation, which was in turn essential for creating a supportive climate.

Extending the extended family for homeless and marginally housed African American women.

Young homeless African American women and elderly marginally housed African American women have health, housing, and personal concerns specific to their age cohort, yet they also have parallel and complementary needs. The young struggle to find affordable housing, while the old may have difficulty in maintaining their homes. This article reports select findings from a pilot study designed to describe these two groups of women. The preliminary study was conducted preparatory to the development of a larger study to explore factors that would facilitate or hinder linking the two groups of women for mutual assistance in housesharing arrangements. Interviews and housing history findings revealed contrasts and similarities among the women and between both cohorts that reflected individual differences, common yet divergent life courses, and collective responses to family life situations, societal trends, and policies. Advantages and disadvantages of housesharing were delineated with 56.3% of the homeless women and 81.3% of the elderly women viewing coresidential living as an option worth considering. Housesharing arrangements should be further investigated by nurses and colleagues. Findings from this study are foundational for establishing alliances that may be a means to promote health and strengthen "family" in both populations.

Quality of life in children with well-controlled epilepsy.

In our pediatric neurology clinic, we noticed that some of the children and adolescents with well-controlled epilepsy seemed to have difficulty in school, social and family life situations. We postulated that having epilepsy and needing to take daily antiepileptic drugs caused occasional problems in these areas. A questionnaire assessing self concept, home life, school life, social activities and medication issues was developed to explore this issue. Sixty patients with mild epilepsy from our pediatric neurology clinic were surveyed. With an age range of 8-18 years, the mean age of the participants was 12.38 years (SD = 2.93). Thirty-five were females and 25 were males. Twenty had generalized tonic-clonic, 7 absence, 30 partial with motor symptoms, 2 partial with sensory symptoms and 1 unspecified type. Preliminary data indicate statistically significant correlations (p < .05) between children's concerns about seizure activity and self-perceived academic and social difficulties. A simple tool like this questionnaire can be used to help nurses assess quality of life issues in children and adolescents with epilepsy.