Feelings Of Helplessness Research Articles

Frailty, Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Signatures: Longitudinal Associations from Middle to Old Age

AbstractBackgroundFrailty—feelings of weakness, fatigue, and lack of physiological resiliency—places older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias. A possible mechanism underlying these associations may be the effects of frailty on brain aging prior to old age.MethodA prospective observational study of approximately 502 community‐based men of predominantly European ancestry without dementia at baseline, from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA). Frailty index and MRI imaging were collected at three waves at average ages 56, 62, and 68. We created frailty index (FI) scores using 37 items from previously validated cumulative deficit model indices. Imaging measures included brain‐age (BA; Cole et al. 2018), as well as a validated thickness/hippocampal volume AD‐signature (CTS), and a novel gray matter mean diffusivity AD‐signature (MDS), both weighted averages of MRI‐based morphometry or diffusivity in eight AD‐related brain regions. Different longitudinal models were tested using structural equation modeling in Mplus. Models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, and smoking.ResultFI was highly correlated over time (range rs = 0.69 to 0.77), as were the brain signatures (range rs = 0.52 to 0.85). The best fitting model was the simplex/auto‐regressive model with correlated random intercepts. Figures 1‐3 show significant associations in the covariate‐adjusted models. FI is significantly associated with brain‐age and the cortical thickness/hippocampal volume AD‐signature random intercepts but not the mean diffusivity signature. Associations attenuate when smoking is added to the model. Moreover, when the cortical thickness/hippocampal volume and mean diffusivity AD‐signatures are adjusted for brain‐age then the associations further attenuate and are no longer significant. No cross‐lag associations were significant.ConclusionThe results are striking given the relatively young age of the sample. Across middle age, frailty was associated with worse brain age and a smaller cortical thickness/hippocampal volume AD‐signature. These associations do not appear to be causal, rather biological aging processes running in parallel. Combined with recent evidence showing associations between frailty and AD‐related biomarkers, the results suggest frailty is not just a geriatric disease and support the need for early intervention in biological aging.

Caregiver knowledge and attitudes relating to paediatric pneumonia and antimicrobial stewardship: a qualitative study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to understand caregiver perspectives and experiences relating to the treatment of paediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Design, setting and patientsThis was a phenomenological qualitative study involving...

Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents: a General Overview

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent depressive moods, irritability, and helplessness feelings, which could negatively influence one’s quality of life. Current research often concludes MDD in adolescents into MDD in general, whereas in reality, abundant differences exist between MDD in adolescents and MDD in adults. This article is an overview of major depressive disorder in adolescents incorporating its symptoms, future impacts, risk factors (academic pressure, attachment style, and peer relationships), and treatments. Although MDD in adolescents shares many similar symptoms as adults, it leads to long-lasting robust negative outcomes in adulthood, both physically and mentally. High academic pressure and insecure attachment style are both associated with the development of depressive symptoms. However, peer relationships have a much-complicated influence on depression. Positive interactions between peers and being regarded as belonging to a high-status group could prevent adolescents from developing depressive feelings. Surprisingly, close friendships could both bring positive and negative influences on depression, depending on the situation. This paper emphasizes the symptoms, importance, affecting factors, and current treatments of MDD in adolescence, which further reveals that treatments for MDD in adolescents still need more consideration and studies to improve effectiveness and avoid harm.

Educators' experiences of coping with cases of child abuse and neglect: Challenges and supports

BackgroundAlthough educational staff are uniquely positioned to identify and intervene in cases of child abuse and neglect (CAN), concerns have been raised as to their capacity to intervene appropriately in such cases. ObjectiveThe current study examines the perspectives of educators on their experience of reporting CAN and on the barriers and facilitators experienced within this process. MethodsTo that end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 29 educational staff in Israel (27 Jewish, 2 Arabs), including 17 school teachers and 12 counselors who had experienced coping with cases of CAN within their professional role. ResultsThe findings showed that educators experienced immense challenges related to the reporting of CAN. At the professional level, deciding whether or not reporting was required or would serve the best interest of the child, was the most pronounced challenge reported. The heavy burden of protecting children as well as the bearing witness to the abuse and neglect of young children had a tremendous emotional impact on interviewees, arousing feelings of helplessness and undermining their sense of trust in the world. Support provided within schools emerged as a very substantial facilitator of reporting that fulfilled various functions, including providing educators with professional guidance, a sense of togetherness in the face of challenge and emotional containment. ConclusionsIn order for educators to be able to successfully cope with such sensitive and complex cases they must be receive regular support and supervision that would address their professional as well as their emotional needs.

Peran Resiliensi Terhadap Quarter Life Crisis Pada Dewasa Awal

This study aims to determine the role of resilience to Quarter Life Crisis in young adults. Excessive feeling of helplessness, confusion, and uncertainty in facing life events are called Quarter Life (Robbins & Wilner, 2001). Resilience is known to be one of the factors that influence Quarter Life Crisis. This study is a quantitative research using survey method and purposive sampling techniques for sampling to 107 young adults within the range of 21—25 years old consists of 22 men and 85 women. Data analysis used a simple linear regression. This research uses two scale, Quarter Life Crisis scale by Agustin (2012) that later on be tryout by Wijaya dan Utami (2021) and resilience scale by Asad dan Hafnidar (2023). Data analysis is using the help of IBM SPSS 27 for Windows software. The results showed that there is a role of resilience towards Quarter Life Crisis in young adults. Effect size from resilience towards Quarter Life Crisis is 22,6%, while the rest (77,4%) is affected by other variables that are not studied in this research.

Association between social withdrawal and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder: The mediational role of emotional symptoms

BackgroundThe study was designed to investigate the associations between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 2678 MDD patients from the National Survey on Symptomatology of Depression (NSSD). Differences in the sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, suicide ideation, and emotional symptoms were compared in patients with different frequencies of social withdrawal. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression analysis, and mediation analysis were employed to assess the contribution of social withdrawal to suicide ideation. ResultsMDD patients with a higher frequency of social withdrawal were prone to have a higher frequency of suicide ideation (p for trend <0.001) and history of suicide behavior (p for trend <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a dose–response relationship between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients, but this association became insignificant after adjusting for emotional symptoms. Mediation analysis suggested that all of the emotional symptoms had significant mediating effects on the association between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients (p < 0.05). The magnitude of mediation varied between 4.3 % and 64.3 %, with the largest mediating effect in the feeling of despair (64.3 %), helplessness (41.2 %), and loneliness (40.0 %). ConclusionOur study provides evidence that social withdrawal was a common clinical presentation and it may increase the risk for suicide through emotional symptoms in MDD patients. LimitationsCausal conclusions could not be drawn between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation because of the cross-sectional design of the study.

Hubungan Efikasi Diri dan Tingkat Atensi Dengan Activity Daily Living (ADL) Pasien Pasca Stroke

Sudden changes in a person's life after a stroke can cause various negative things in the sufferer, ranging from psychological and behavioral symptoms, including anxiety, feelings of helplessness, mood disorders, low self-efficacy, and impaired attention levels. Psychological problems cause a serious reduction in mobility, because they hinder performance and daily activities or fulfillment of ADLs. This can cause stroke patients to experience job loss and the inability to carry out their social activities. The purpose of this study is the relationship between the self-efficacy of stroke patients and the level of attention to the activity of daily living of post-stroke patients. This study used a correlational analytic method with a Cross-Sectional approach. This research was conducted in one of the private hospitals in Bali, which was held from October 01 - December 30, 2022. With a sample size of 80 respondents of post-stroke patients who control at X Hospital Poly using the Non-probability sampling technique, purposive sampling. The results of this study were that most stroke respondents who experienced low efficacy had a total level of dependence on activity and daily living, as well as stroke who had less attention had a total level of dependence. The results of the correlation test between the two obtained a p-value &lt;0.005 which means there is a significant relationship between efficacy and the level of ADL dependence. This can be an illustration that the psychological condition of post-stroke patients will greatly affect their physical condition. The basis of stroke treatment is of course not only optimizing physical recovery but must also be accompanied by paying attention to the psychological aspects in order to get maximum rehabilitation results.

Psychological Symptoms in Parents Who Experience Child-to-Parent Violence: The Role of Self-Efficacy Beliefs.

Previous research suggests that parents involved in child-to-parent violence (CPV) experience shame, judgment, and a lack of social support, often accompanied by feelings of self-blame and helplessness as well as a deterioration in their perception of self-efficacy and their parenting skills. All of these factors may impact parents' mental health. However, there is a research gap concerning the consequences of CPV among parents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between CPV and psychological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, hostility, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, and somatization) in parents based on their perceptions of self-efficacy. The sample was composed of 354 participants: 177 parents (83.1% mothers) and their 177 children (53.4% boys; Mage = 13.27). CPV was reported by both parents and their children. In addition, parents reported their self-efficacy beliefs and psychological symptoms. The results showed that CPV was negatively associated with parents' psychological symptomatology, except for somatization. Moreover, self-efficacy beliefs explain part of the indirect association between CPV behaviors and psychological symptoms in parents. Overall, our findings provide evidence for the potential impact of CPV on mental health in parents and suggest the relevance of reinforcing their self-efficacy beliefs.

Library Program in Overcoming "Library Anxiety"

Libraries are valuable assets in the acquisition of knowledge, but often individuals, especially students, face "library anxiety", which creates feelings of tension, fear, and helplessness while in the library. This condition is common and can hinder academic performance. This study aims to determine the factors of Library Anxiety and library programs as an effort to overcome Library Anxiety at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Library Center Jakarta, using Constance Mellon's Library Anxiety Theory. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data collection techniques were conducted through interviews, observation, documentation and literature review. The results showed that factors cause Library Anxiety at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Library Center Jakarta, including the size of the library building. These users need to learn where library services and facilities are, how to start activities in the library and what can be done there. To overcome this, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Library Center has several library programs, including Library orientation, information guidance, library program socialization, and information literacy workshops. This research contributes to library and information science by identifying the causes of Library Anxiety and analyzing the programs implemented to overcome this anxiety at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Library Center Jakarta. The results of this study can assist libraries and information managers in developing more effective strategies to support users and overcome the challenges of Library Anxiety.

Nurses on the Front Line: Experiences of Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in Field Hospitals

Background: The Jordanian health system was overwhelmed in the early phases of coronavirus pandemic, primarily due to the lack of workers, and the breakdown of several medical centers. Healthcare workers suffered tremendous physical and mental pressure due to this unprecedented situation. Purpose: This research aims at investigating the experiences of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in field hospitals. Methods: A qualitative phenomenology research aimed to explore the experiences of nurses in field hospitals in Jordan caring for COVID-19 patients. Intentional and snowballing sampling methods were conducted on twenty nurses from May to June 2022. Results: The study generated four main themes and ten sub-themes, (1) Sense of obligation and pride, (2) Stress, (3) Personal development, (4) Feelings of helplessness and betrayal. Physical, emotional, and mental changes of nurses were observed after caring for patients with severe illness resulting from COVID-19. Conclusion: The findings of the study acknowledged the participants’ willingness to enrich their knowledge and expand their work expertise by being part of this experience. The analysis of the themes and sub-themes has shown that nurses experienced stress, anxiety, depression, as well as other psychological and mental challenges. Therefore, healthcare leaders should consider meeting the nurses’ needs and resolving challenges that faced them. Implications for Nursing: Healthcare policymakers and leaders in the health sector should consider implementing programs that support nurses' well-being and productivity under crises. Also, additional pay allowance should be considered to compensate for the dangerous time that nurses spend in special situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Qualitative research, COVID-19, Nurses, Public health, Field hospitals.

집단미술치료가 요양시설 거주 남성노인의 우울과 주관적 행복감에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group art therapy on depression and subjective happiness among male elderly residents in a nursing home. A total of 10 male participants aged 65 or older, who exhibited mild depression based on the K-GDS, were selected from an elderly nursing home in K City. The participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group(n=5) or the control group(n=5). The experimental group attended 12 sessions of group art therapy, excluding pre- and post-examinations, with each session lasting 60 minutes and taking place once a week. The K-GDS and OHQ were utilized as study tools, and qualitative analysis was conducted with the program steps. The results of this study, first, group art therapy was effective in reducing feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and unhappiness, which are sub-factors of depression, but did not significantly impact the cognitive decline associated with depression in elderly males residents in the nursing home. Second, group art therapy was found to be effective in improving internal happiness, external happiness, and self-regulated happiness, which are sub-factors of subjective happiness among the elderly male residents in the nursing home. Third, a qualitative analysis of the program at different stages, including the initial, mid-term I, mid-term II, and closing stages, revealed that group art therapy had a positive effect on both depression and subjective happiness among male elderly residents in the nursing home.

The Impact of Psychotrauma and Emotional Stress Vulnerability on Physical and Mental Functioning of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic health condition thought to be influenced by personal life experiences and emotional stress sensitivity (neuroticism). In the present study, we examined the impact of cumulative trauma experiences and trait neuroticism (as a measure for emotional stress vulnerability) on physical and mental functioning of n = 211 patients diagnosed with IBD (112 Crohn’s disease, 99 ulcerative colitis). All patients were assessed for self-reported trauma histories, emotional stress vulnerability, clinical disease activity, functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and quality of life. Results showed that patients with severe IBD activity have endured significantly more interpersonal trauma and victimization than those with quiescent IBD. Moreover, cumulative trauma was found to exert an indirect (neuroticism-mediated) effect on patients’ symptom complexity, with trauma and neuroticism conjointly explaining 16–21% of the variance in gastrointestinal and 35% of the variance in mental symptoms. Upon correction for condition (using a small group of available controls, n = 51), the predictive capacity of trauma and neuroticism increased further, with both predictors now explaining 31% of the somatic—and almost 50% of the mental symptom heterogeneity. In terms of trauma type, victimization (domestic violence and intimate abuse) proved the best predictor of cross-sample symptom variability and the only trauma profile with a consistent direct and indirect (neuroticism-mediated) effect on patients’ mental (QoL) and physical fitness. Results are consistent with the growing body of evidence linking experiential vulnerability factors (trauma and neuroticism) and associated feelings of personal ineffectiveness, helplessness, and uncontrollability to interindividual differences in (GI) disease activity and quality of life.

Prevalence of depression and protective factors in a population of children aged 8 to 10 years, suffering from specific learning disorders, in a special education and home care service (SESSAD)

ObjectivesEvaluate the prevalence of depression in a population of children aged 8 to 10 years with learning disabilities treated in a Special Education and Home Care Service (SESSAD) and identify the protective factors that might preserve these children from depressive and affective problems. MethodsTwenty children, aged 8 to 10, with learning disabilities were evaluated prior to their admission in SESSAD. Depression had been assessed through the Multiscore Depression Inventory for Children (MDIC), adapted to the French population as well as their developmental position in relation with their perceptual maturity of their body schema, through the Draw your family drawing. The protective factors were assessed through the qualitative analysis of the stories told on the Draw your family projective drawing and card 4, 9, 20 of The Socialization Test for Children (TSEA). Quantitative data were computed through descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Spearman's correlation test) by the jamovi© statistic software (V.2.3.24), and the qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis and lexical text analysis through the TROPES software (V.8.3). ResultsQuantitative data showed for the entire group: (1) a perceptual maturity delay of the body schema in 75% of the sample; (2) a low incidence of depression in this population with, however, 40% of the sample, (aged 8 and 9) displaying a critical threshold for feelings of helplessness. The qualitative analysis of the Draw your family and TSEA stories allowed to underline some of the protective factors against depression and those which refer, in decreasing order, to the social support given by family members, peers, and the emotional substitutes (animals). ConclusionsThis research highlighted the precocity of the feelings of helplessness in this population and the importance given by these children to the social support. These findings and future research on the topic might be used to guide the design and implementation of adjusted interventions addressing both the development of their learning capability and psychological empowerment.

The Effect of Social Support on Academic Burnout of Final Year Students of the Undergraduate Nursing Study Program at Harapan Bangsa University

Student burnout can lead to feelings of helplessness, loss of attention or avoidance of the learning environment, and dropping out of dreams. This condition can occur due to excessive workload or continuous academic demands. This creates stress and negatively impacts mental health. This study aims to determine how social support impacts the academic boredom of undergraduate nursing study program students at Harapan Bangsa University. This study conducted correlation descriptive research using a cross-sectional approach. The total sampling involved 84 students. To measure social support, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) scale questionnaires and academic boredom were used. with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) questionnaire. For analysis, the Spearman rank test is used. The results showed that students experienced academic burnout. The final level of the Nursing Study Program The Bachelor Program at Harapan Bangsa University is the most dominant with the medium category (67.9%). Social support for final-year students of the Undergraduate Nursing Study Program at Harapan Bangsa University is the most dominant in the medium category (65.5%). The conclusion is that there is a relationship with p value 0.009 (p &lt; 0.05), the level of academic fatigue of Nursing students of the Undergraduate Program of Universitas Harapan Bangsa.

LEVEL OF ANXIETY ABOUT COVID-19 IN THE COMMUNITY RT I RW XII KELURAHAN MANYAR SABRANGAN SURABAYA

Anxiety is a judgement and emotional response to something dangerous. Anxiety is strongly instability, decreased income, sudden layoffs, difficulty finding employment, and loss of life in a matter of days after contracting Covid-19 which could cause anxiety. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of anxiety about Covid-19 in the community of RT I RW XII Manyar Sabrangan Village. The sampling technique in this study used an incidental sampling technique with a total of 110 people. The results of this study indicate that people with anxiety levels based on age mostly experience severe anxiety with the highest presentation at the age of 18-25 years (57.15%), while based on education most experience moderate anxiety with the highest presentation in junior high school education (33.3%) and anxiety levels based on work almost all experience moderate anxiety with the highest presentation as self-employed (88.88%). It is expected for every community to continue to discipline themselves in implementing health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance and carrying out Covid-19 vaccinations.

Adolescent volunteering in Poland - contextual and individual determinants.

Studies on volunteering concern mainly the population aged over 16, and the results refer mainly to Western Europe. Adolescent volunteering in Eastern European countries is relatively understudied. The aim of the study was to investigate and discuss the scale of this phenomenon in Poland, the predictors of being a volunteer, and factors which explain how much time adolescents spend volunteering. The study was conducted on a representative group of 3,545 respondents aged 14-15. 26.6% of the surveyed adolescents were involved in volunteering in the 12 months preceding the study. The probability of being a volunteer is explained by contextual factors (higher regional income per capita and higher unemployment rate decrease this probability, whereas it increases by living in a city), family factors (father's work in agriculture and more children in the family), individual factors (higher self-esteem of physical fitness and less helplessness). The amount of time devoted to volunteering is explained by contextual factors (the higher the income from agriculture), family factors (mother's work in agriculture; mother's lower level of education), individual factors (greater self-efficacy, lower feeling of helplessness). Volunteering undertaken because of a passion for volunteering is associated with longer volunteering time, while undertaken because of the desire to be liked and respected - with shorter volunteering time. The results are of practical importance, as they show the possibility to promote adolescents' volunteering.

Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Have an Impact on Compassion Fatigue among Midwives?

Professional health services have been key in the recovery of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals have been in a great effort to meet the care needs of patients despite experiencing a high emotional burden for reasons such as unknown treatment of the disease, high contagiousness, changing working systems, increased workload, and the need to wear protective equipment. The unknown effects of the virus on the health of mothers and babies increased the concerns of midwives helping families in the core of society, which are the most intimate areas, regarding the risk of infection. Midwives had to manage an exhausting process similar to the one experienced by nurses, when they continued providing secondary health services such as immunization, antenatal care, and follow-ups. They are among the health professionals forced to work under highly adverse conditions, such as increased duties and responsibilities in the pandemic, and cancellation of leaves. It is reported that midwives, who are forced to work outside their field of duty due to the pandemic, are highly likely to experience compassion fatigue and to have a low level of life quality as well as professional belonging. Qualitative studies conducted with midwives working in the delivery room reported that midwives in delivery rooms experience compassion fatigue, adopt the concept of compassion fatigue, come up with their own solutions or receive psychological support to deal with compassion fatigue, and that they suggested that psychological support needs be provided by the state. As a result, many mothers and pregnant women lost their lives in this ongoing pandemic process. Alike, many health professionals lost their lives due to the epidemic. Midwives are one of these health professionals. The feeling of helplessness at the beginning of the pandemic, the unknowns about its treatment made the working conditions even more difficult. Considering these, it is reasonable to argue that midwives have been likely to experience compassion fatigue.

War-Related Life-Making Landscapes: Ukrainian Context

The full-scale military invasion has changed the lives of all Ukrainians forever. The necessity to understand how the traumatic experiences of the first months of the war affected people’s ability of life-making, how it changed this ability was the reason for conducting this study. In April–May 2022, 169 respondents wrote essays based on 4 questions about their experience. The sample consisted of 78% women, 22% men (age M = 43.2, SD = 12), 43.2% had personal experience of being under fire. Descriptive and interpretative analyses, multiple correspondence analyses, and comparative analyses were conducted to identify key variables, types of life-making landscapes, and their possible correlations. The landscape of service (27.8%), care (23.7%), and existential landscape (24.3%) were the most spread. More than half of respondents (54.4%) described the experience of losses of relationship, usual lifestyle, home or earnings. In addition, 16.6% mentioned feeling of guilt. The trajectories of the value-time dynamics that set the type of landscape during war differ from that revealed during the pandemic. The loss of relationships is mentioned most often and the most painful part of the guilt experience is the feeling of helplessness in relation to loved ones. A passive or active position in responding to events and multi-contextual or narrow individual perception of the situation turned out to be the most important for a respondent’s place in the psychological space of the studied variables. Limitations and perspectives are discussed.

259 Understanding carer harm- insights from family carers of people living with dementia and dementia professionals

Abstract Background ‘Carer harm’ is when carers experience violence or become subject to controlling or coercive behaviour, either on an incidental or systematic basis, resulting in physical, psychological and/or sexual harm. Little is known however about the harm experienced by carers at the hands of the person to whom they provide care. Challenges are often faced by social workers and other professionals when care and violence intersect, and a service user is the alleged perpetrator of abuse against their family carer. This study explores the concept of carer harm from the perspective of family carers of People Living with Dementia (PLwD) and dementia professionals. Methods The project deploys an engaged research approach that produced knowledge in collaboration with family carers and professionals. Work Package 1 involved narrative interviews with four family carers of PLwD who self-identified as experiencing carer harm. Work Package 2 involved two focus groups. One with Family Carers Ireland staff and one with dementia professionals. Work Package 3 comprised one World Café Co-Design Workshop with family carers, professionals, and service providers where education and training materials were developed. Results Findings indicate high levels of unmet need and psychological distress with family carers of PLwD regularly experiencing verbal and physical aggression. Stigma and shame were identified as barriers for family carers in disclosing their experiences of carer harm. Professionals reflected on their immense feelings of helplessness and frustration about their inability to respond, highlighting the link between carer harm and the absence of appropriate condition-responsive services. Conclusion Information booklets for family carers of PLwD were developed to raise awareness of carer harm and to empower family carers to protect themselves and seek help. A practice guide was also developed for professionals and support organisations in order to improve our understanding of and responses to, those experiencing carer harm.

Hybrid processes within parenting plan assessments: Rationale and an illustrative model

AbstractParenting plan Assessments, also known as child custody evaluations, are forensic psychological investigations into the needs of children, the parenting capacities of their caregivers, and the resulting fit between the children's needs and caregiver capacities. Typically, they result in recommendations that are, in the opinion of the assessor, formulated to meet the best interests of children regarding a parenting plan, child sharing, parental responsibilities and ancillary services that are likely to support the children's optimal functioning as well as the functioning of the now reconfigured family. Such assessments are part of a pathway to untangling conflicts between the parents regarding the most appropriate parenting plan for the reconfigured family. Paradoxically, the assessment process can exacerbate the conflict, entrench parental polarization, and create lingering feelings of helplessness, frustration, and disempowerment in the parents. This article provides a rationale for the use of a hybrid process that incorporates alternative dispute resolution as an integrated part of the parenting plan assessment and provides an illustrative model of such a hybrid process.