Intellectual-cultural Orientation Research Articles

Kualitas Lingkungan Keluarga di Kawasan Candi Batujaya

<p><strong>The quality of the family environment is one of the important foundations in building a good society. This study aims to analyze the quality of the family environment that lives in the Batujaya Temple area, Karawang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Data has been collected from April to May 2019. This study was involved 100 families that have been selected using simple random techniques. Data consist of family characteristics and the quality of the family environment. The quality of the family environment was measured using the "Family Environment Scale" instrument compiled by Moos and Moos (2002). Family Environment Scale consists of relationship dimensions (cohesion, expression, and conflict), personal growth dimensions (independence, achievement orientation, intellectual-cultural orientation, active-recreation orientation, and moral-religion orientation), and also system maintenance dimension (control and organization). The instrument consists of 40 item statements. The quality of the family environment is categorized into three categories: low (index<60.0), moderate (index 60.0-80.0), and high (index > 80.0). Furthermore, the data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The results showed that most of the quality of the family environment in relationship dimensions included in the high category, but included in the medium and low categories for personal growth dimensions and system maintenance dimensions. These results indicate that there needs to be an effort that can help families to carry out their functions in achieving a good quality of family environment.</strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><strong> - </strong><em>Batujaya Temple, Cultural Heritage, Family Function, Family Environment.</em></p>

Association between Family Environment and Adolescents' Sexual Adaptability: Based on the Latent Profile Analysis of Personality Traits.

Sexual adaptation plays an important role in psychosexual health. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the family environment and sexual adaptability among adolescents with different personality traits. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai and Shanxi province. A total of 1106 participants aged 14-19 was surveyed in 2019, including 519 boys and 587 girls. Univariate analyses and mixed regression models were performed to assess the association. Girls had a significantly lower average score of sexual self-adaptation compared to boys (4.01 ± 0.77 vs. 4.32 ± 0.64, p < 0.001). We found that the family environment did not impact boys' sexual adaptation in different personality groups. For girls in a balanced group, expressiveness factors improved their sexual adaptability (p < 0.05), intellectual-cultural orientation and organization promoted social adaptability (p < 0.05) and active-recreational orientation and control decreased their social adaptability (p < 0.05). In the high-neuroticism group, cohesion facilitated sexual control (p < 0.05), while conflict and organization reduced sexual control ability, and active-recreational orientation decreased sexual adaptation (p < 0.05). No factors associated with the family environment were found to influence sexual adaptability in groups with low neuroticism and high ratings in other personality factors. Compared with boys, girls demonstrated lower sexual self-adaptability, and their overall sexual adaptability was more susceptible to the family environment.

The Role of Family Environment in Social Networking Sites Addiction among University Students

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the differences in family environment of students who are addicted to social networking sites, and those who are not. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the contribution of family environment to Social Networking Sites Addiction (SNSA) among Jordanian university students.&#x0D; Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 629 undergraduate students. Data were collected online, using two scales for measuring family environment and SNSA. The study utilized the descriptive-predictive method by distributing a questionnaire to the study participants via google forms.&#x0D; Results: Results revealed significant differences in the mean scores of students addicted to social networking sites, and those who were not on the subscales of the family environment scale, where students who were not addicted scored higher on the subscales of cohesion, expressiveness and organization, whereas addicted students scored higher on the conflict subscale. It was found that the dimensions of conflict, intellectual-cultural orientation and expressiveness of the family environment scale predicted SNSA in males; and the dimensions of conflict and expressiveness predicted SNSA in females.&#x0D; Conclusions: The level of addiction to social networking sites among university students is determined according to the family environment in which they live. If the family environment is characterized by cohesion and gives children freedom of expression and encourages organization, then the children will not resort to social networking sites as a means to escape from the conditions in which they live; and on the contrary if the environment is dominated by ongoing conflicts between family members.

Influence of Intellectual-cultural Orientation as Family Culture on Chinese College Students' Subjective Well-being: A Moderation Model.

The well-known mediation-moderation model of subjective well-being has been criticized because it oversimplified the concept of culture. This study aimed to explore whether the family culture, as supplement of social culture, has significant impacts on subjective well-being. The intellectual-cultural orientation subscale (ICO) of family environment scale-CV (FES-CV), Eysenck personality questionnaire for adult (EPQA), and index of well-being (IWB) were used to test 340 college students from China. Results showed that the extraversion and neuroticism of personality traits have great influences on subjective well-being, and intellectual-cultural orientation as family culture, to represent characteristic of family culture, serves as a moderating variable for the 2 components of subjective well-being. And all these findings revealed that the trait of family culture should be considered as a supplement of the social culture and a critical complementary moderating influenced factor for subjective well-being. Together with personality traits, it can explain the variance of subjective well-being to some extent. The family cultural has an important influence on college students’ personality and subjective well-being. It is important to provide a high quality family cultural environment for college students.

Associations Between Childhood Trauma and the Age of First-Time Drug Use in Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients.

Childhood trauma is related to substance use disorder; however, few studies have examined the relationship between childhood trauma and the age at which the drug was first used. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and the age of first-time drug use among methamphetamine-dependent patients. Moreover, we analyzed the characteristics of adverse family environment associated with severe childhood trauma and the risk factors for starting drugs in minors. A baseline interview was conducted with 110 participants who were in detoxification, including demographic information, past substance use, and age of first-time drug use. The participants' childhood trauma experience before 18 years of age was evaluated using the simplified version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF). The Chinese version of the Family Environment Scale (FES-CV) was used to assess the family environment of methamphetamine-dependent patients. Among 110 non-injecting methamphetamine-dependent patients, nearly half (n = 48, 43.6%) had moderate and severe childhood trauma. Correlation analysis showed that the age of first-time drug use negatively correlated with emotional abuse (r = −0.32, p < 0.01) and physical abuse (r = −0.27, p < 0.01). The age of first-time drug use negatively correlated with conflict (r = −0.20, p < 0.05) and independence (r = −0.22, p < 0.05) of family environment, but positively correlated with intellectual-cultural orientation (r = 0.28, p < 0.01). Additionally, childhood trauma factors significantly correlated with many indexes of family environment, especially cohesion (r = −0.45, p < 0.01), conflict (r = 0.49, p < 0.01), and independence (r = 0.33, p < 0.01). Additionally, the regression model showed that when emotional abuse increased by one point, the age of first-time drug use was 0.69 years earlier. These findings suggest that a detrimental family environment can aggravate childhood trauma, and the experience of childhood emotional or physical abuse may be an effective predictor of early drug use among methamphetamine-dependent patients.

Who becomes addicted and to what? psychosocial predictors of substance and behavioral addictive disorders

A multitude of psychological and social factors likely contribute to the development and maintenance of addictive disorders. As different people develop different addictions, it is important to understand whether psychosocial factors are related differently to different types of addictive disorders. In this study, we examined the unique interaction of personality traits, family environment, and life events in predicting substance (drugs, alcohol) and behavioral (gambling, sex) addictive disorders, among 207 participants suffering from an addictive disorder and 79 controls. Results identified several psychosocial factors, including impulsivity and reported negative life events, that predicted all types of addictive disorders. There was also a unique prediction model for each addiction. Drug and alcohol use disorders were predicted by lower agreeableness and less intellectual-cultural family orientation, with alcohol use disorder further predicted by lower extraversion and higher family organization. Gambling disorder was predicted by a family with lower intellectual-cultural orientation and higher organization and control, whereas compulsive sexual behavior was predicted by lower extraversion and agreeableness and higher neuroticism, and by higher family control. These findings suggest that the complex interplay among psychosocial factors is manifested differently across addictive disorders and may thus have important implications for research, prevention, and intervention.

S229. THE EFFECT OF FAMILY ENVIRONMENT ON LONGITUDINAL FUNCTIONING IN FIRST PSYCHOTIC EPISODES

BackgroundFamily environment plays a key role in the development of psychotic symptoms (Pitschel-Walz et al., 2001; Tienari et al., 2004) and negative family environmental factors are linked to poor prognosis in psychosis (Geller et al., 2000). By contrast, a positive family environment is associated with greater improvements in negative and disorganized symptoms among individuals at imminent risk of becoming psychotic (O’Brien et al., 2006).Nonetheless, little is known about the implication of family environment on longitudinal functioning in patients that presented a first psychotic episode.MethodsThis study is part of the “Phenotype-genotype and environmental interaction. Application of a predictive model in first psychotic episodes” (PEPS) study, a multicentric, longitudinal, naturalistic follow-up study (Bernardo et al., 2013). The Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST) was used to assess functional outcome. The Family Environment Scale (FES) evaluated family emotional climate in different categories: COHESION (C) for mutual reliance; EXPRESSIVITY (EX), the extent to which family members express their feelings directly; CONFLICTS (CON) for open expression of anger, aggressiveness and conflict; INDEPENDENCE (IND), the extent to which family members are independent in their decisions; ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTATION (AO) for an achievement-orientated environment; INTELLECTUAL–CULTURAL ORIENTATION (ICO) for political, intellectual, cultural interests; ACTIVE–RECREATIONAL ORIENTATION (ARO) for participation in social activities; MORAL–RELIGIOUS EMPHASIS (MRE) for the importance given to ethical and religious practices and values; ORGANIZATION (ORG) for the organization in activities and responsibilities; and CONTROL (CTL), the extent to which the family considers rules and established procedures.Patients with a first psychotic episode (FEPs) and healthy controls (HCs) have been evaluated baseline and after two years of follow-up. Diagnoses at 2 years have been established according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Linear regression models have been conducted in order to assess the effect that different family environments exert on functioning at baseline but also at 2 years of follow-up, when the group of FEPs has been divided in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (PSYC) versus bipolar disorder (BD). All data were analyzed with the Statistic Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.23 for Windows). All the analyses were two-tailed with alpha set at p < 0.05.ResultsAt baseline, the total sample included 335 FEPs (mean FAST=27.8±16.1) and 253 HCs (mean FAST 3.5±8.1). At baseline the linear model was not significant neither for FEPs nor for HCs and no family environment was associated with functioning. At 2 years (mean FAST BD=13.8±15.1, mean FAST PSYC =20.98±15.4), in the BD group (F(10,14)=2.6, p=.05) worse functioning was associated with CON (β=.741, p=.004) whilst in the PSYC group (F(10,108)=3.509, p=<.001) it was negatively associated with ARO (β=- .305, p=.006) and AO (β=- .204, p=.039) and positively associated with MRE (β=.268, p=.003).DiscussionAt baseline, no specific family environment was associated with functioning. At 2 years, in BD worse functioning was associated with higher rates of open expression of conflict in the family whilst in PSYC it was associated with lower rates of participation in social activities and achievement-orientated family environment as well as with higher rates of religious practices and values. Family environment exerts an important role in the functioning of FEPs mainly in the long-term, with important implications for early interventions for both patients and caregivers.

Family Environment in relation to Emotional Autonomy among Adolescents of Rural Area of Jammu City

One important feature of adolescents is autonomous learning skills that will help them manage their own lives and make positive, healthy choices. Autonomy is a crucial developmental task of adolescence, mainly because it is closely linked to individualization and identity formation. Families that are perceived as cohesive have high sense of security and emerge as a source of support for individuals. Results states the significant negative correlation of moral religious emphasis with parent perceives as people (r= -.154), and control (r= -.218) positive relationship with independence (r=.175). Deidealization have a significant negative relationship with intellectual cultural orientation (r = -.157) and positive significant relationships with cohesion (r = .203), expressiveness (r = .168), independence (r = .165), achievement orientation (r = .151), active recreational orientation (r = .220). Non dependency has a significant negative relationship with intellectual cultural orientation (r = -.193) and organization (r = -.140). Similarly, individuation dimension of emotional autonomy has a significant relationship with conflict (r = -.144) in male adolescents. Among female adolescents, parent perceives as people correlates with cohesion (r= .264), expressiveness (r= .141), achievement orientation (r= .330), organization (r= .176). De-idealization dimension of emotional autonomy correlates positively with independence (r= .151), moral religious emphasis (r= .147), control (r= .182). Non dependency dimension of emotional autonomy have a significant negative relationship with intellectual cultural orientation (r= -.170), moral religious emphasis (r= -.209). Expressiveness (r= .172), conflict (r= .183), independence (r= .140) are significantly positively related with non dependency and achievement orientation (r = .187) and conflict (r = -.247) with individuation in female adolescents.

Influence of family environment on the development of speech and language in pre-lingually deaf children after cochlear implantation.

To investigate the influence of family environment on the development of speech and language in pre-school children after cochlear implantation. A total of 88 pre-lingually deaf children, aged 2-5years, who received cochlear implantation, were included in this study. All families completed a self-report family environment questionnaire (FES). The deaf children's linguistic progress was assessed by Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) at 0, 3, 6 and 12months after implantation. The family environment was the significant factor associated with CAP and SIR at 6months post-implantation. The children in families with higher levels of Cohesion, Intellectual-Cultural Orientation and the ability to express emotion effectively had better auditory and speech abilities, while children in families with low intimacy and high incompatibility exhibited a delay in the development of auditory speech (P<.05). The development of speech and language in pre-lingually deaf children after cochlear implantation can be influenced by family environment and parents' roles.

Behavioral problems, self-awareness and family factors in children with simple obese

Objective To investigate the the association between psychological behavior and self-awareness of obese children and family factors, in order to provide scientific basis for clinical intervention in obese children. Methods Fifty children with obesity(obesity group) and fifty healthy children(control group) were included in the study.All children were evaluated with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL), Piers-Harris Child's self-concept Scale(PHCSS), Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) and Egma Minnen av Bardndosnauppforstran(EMBU). Moreover, correlation analysis was applied in the study to explore family factors affecting behavioral problems and self-awareness of obese children. Results Compared with control group, significant higher ratio of abnormal behaviors was found in children with obesity (P<0.05). FES-CV showed that the degree of expressiveness((3.16±1.93), (4.65±1.02)), intellectual-cultural orientation((5.31±1.28), (6.10±1.83)) and active-recreational((2.78±1.36), (4.84±1.72)) were lower than control group, and the degree of family conflict((4.11±1.45), (3.32±1.27)) and control((6.42±1.37), (5.09±1.65)) were higher in children with obesity (P<0.05). Moreover, EMBU showed that emotional warmth score was significantly lower in obese group than that in control group(P<0.01), and the scores of parent's rejection, father's severity, parent's over-interference, and mother's over-protection were significantly higher than the scores in control group(P<0.05). In obese group, the correlation analyses showed a negative association between social withdrawal in children's behavioral problems and family expressiveness (r=-0.62, P<0.01), and a positive association between aggressivity and family conflict (r=0.39, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between internalizing behavioral problems and mother's over-protection and over-interference(r=0.60, P<0.01). Low self-awareness was positive associated with parent's rejection and father's severity(r=0.46, 0.51, 0.44 respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion A significant higher risk of abnormal psychological behaviors and low self-concept can be found in children with obesity, which can closely related to family factors. Key words: Children; Obesity; Psychological behavior; Self-awareness; Family factors.

Influence of home environment and social characteristics on breast feeding selection among hepatitis B virus carrying pregnant women

Objective To investigate the home environment and social characteristics among hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrying pregnant women and to analyze their influence on breast feeding selection. Methods From January 2016 to December 2016, we selected 77 HBV carrying delivery women with hospital delivery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University by convenient chester sampling. All of them were divided into the group of breast feeding (n=31) and the group of non-breast feeding (n=46) according to whether to select breast feeding after delivery. Home environment and social characteristics of delivery women were assessed with the Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) and we analyzed the influence factors of breast feeding. Results Among HBV carrying pregnant women, the scores of 10 aspects of FES-CV ranged from low to high including achievement orientation (3.16±1.14) , active-recreational orientation (3.29±1.19) , intellectual-cultural orientation (3.72±1.16) , conflict (4.47±1.45) , expressiveness (4.94±1.59) , cohesion (5.11±1.49) , independence (5.17±1.73) , organization (5.47±1.76) , control (5.92±2.05) , ethics (6.70±2.18) . The scores of cohesion, independence, achievement orientation, intellectual-cultural orientation and active-recreational orientation of group of breast feeding were higher than those of group of non-breast feeding (t=7.066, 6.193, 8.342, 7.302, 8.903; P 0.05) . Conclusions HBV carrying pregnant women still face with the high level of family and social pressure. HBV carrying pregnant women without breast feeding are with the low level of cohesion, independence, achievement orientation, intellectual-cultural orientation, active-recreational orientation and high conflict of home environment and social characteristics. Key words: Hepatitis B virus; Pregnant women; Home environment; Social characteristics; Breast feeding

Effects of family environment features on cochlear-implanted children.

The role of cochlear implant in deaf children development is well-known. However, the results are highly variable and depend on several factors. The most important role belongs to the family, family environment in which the child develops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the features of the family environment in which cochlear-implanted children develop. The questionnaire "Family Environment Scale" was sent to 108 families who had cochlear-implanted child with more than 6months of experience. One of the parents was asked to fill out the questionnaire which also included general information about the child and the family. A total of 58 families responded to the questionnaire and accepted to participate in the study. Mean values were higher compared with normal families in the areas of cohesion, expressiveness, intellectual-cultural orientation and organization, but the cohesion and organization score mean value exceeded the normal values (between 40 and 60). The independence and the conflict areas had lower values than normal families but did not exceed the lower limit of normal (40). The relationship between the family and the auditory-verbal development potential of the cochlear-implanted child is obvious. However, further studies are needed to establish correlations between the characteristics of the family environment and the level of auditory-verbal and psycho-cognitive development of the cochlear-implanted child so we can act on the family environment through education or therapy, to get maximum benefit with these children.

Case-control study on clinical features and influencing factors of children with autism spectrum disorders

Objective To explore the early clinical characteristics and influencing factors in children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). Methods From January 2005 to December 2014, 193 children with ASD were collec-ted by continuous grouping method from Children′s Rehabilitation Training Center in Xi′an.According to the 11 matched case-control study requirements, and the other 193 children from kindergartens and primary schools in the urban areas of Xi′an were collected as healthy control group from March 1 to July 1, 2016.The age of children in the case group was (40.78±14.86)months and the age of the healthy control group was (40.61±14.40) months.There were 167 boys and 26 girls in 2 groups and the ratio of boys to girls was 6.421.00.The general status questionnaires, medical history questionnaire, diagnostic chart, Autism Behavior Checklist(ABC) and Family Environment Scale of Chinese version(FES-CV) were completed by parents between 2 groups.Childhood Autism Rating Scale(CARS) was completed by doctors in the case group.By using Excel software, the original questionnaires were completed in 2 entries by 2 persons to set up the database.All data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 statistical software and conditional Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results Seventy point eight percent(137/193 cases)of children with ASD had been found abnormal under 2 years old or at 2 years old, and 54.9%(106/193 cases)had been diagnosed under 3 years old or at 3 years old.The average delay from the discovery to the diagnosis was 17 months.The initial abnormalities appea-rances were mainly manifested as no response to calling in 153 cases(79.3%), very little active contact with others in 141 cases(73.1%), silent or less use of oral language in 137 cases(71%), avoiding contact with the eyes of others or lack of facial expressions in 121 cases(62.7%). Their signs were easy to be misdiagnosed as mental retardation and language retardation.Children in the case group began to walk alone at the age of 8 months to 3 years old, and only 62.2%(120/193 cases) of them could walk alone at the age of 18 months or before.The age of conscious speech was at 8 months to 4 years and 4 months, and only 39.4%(76/193 cases) of the ASD children could speak at the age of 18 months or before.The total scores of the ABC scale of the case group were (56.520±22.140) scores and the sub-scales and total scores were significantly higher than those of the healthy control group, and the difference was statistically significant(t=16.845, 27.390, 16.527, 26.320, 23.371, 32.206, all P<0.001). The positive consistent rate of ABC and clinical diagnosis was 56.5%.The total scores of CARS in the case group was(36.4±8.6) scores, and the positive consistent rate of CARS and clinical diagnosis was 78.8%.There was a statistical significance between the 2 groups in parental education, mother′s occupation, family history(χ2=29.670, 44.593, 15.439, 6.095, all P<0.05), and there were statistical significance in the main caregivers, family harmony and family income(χ2=19.006, 7.129, 109.027, all P<0.05). There was no statistical significance between the 2 dimensions of independence and achievement orientation between the 2 groups(t=-1.559, -0.139, P=0.120, 0.890). The case group in the family cohesion, expressiveness, intellectual-cultural orientation, active-recreational orientation, moral-religious emphasis, organization and control of the 7 dimension scores were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group, and the differences were statistically significant(t=-7.683, -5.734, -8.762, -14.109, -2.026, -4.530, -2.464, all P<0.05). In the case group, the scores of the conflict dimension were higher than those of the healthy control group, and the difference was statistically significant(t=4.925, P<0.001). There was a statistical significance between the 2 groups in gestational age and birth hypoxia(χ2=6.898, 27.180, all P<0.05). According to multivariate analysis of Logistic regression, people other than parents serving as the primary support, anoxia of newborn, mother of non professional and technical personnel and lower scores of family active-recreational orientation might be the risk factors of ASD, family per capita income of 3 000 Yuan RMB or more monthly, mother education level of high school and above, and lower scores of family conflict might be the protective factors for ASD. Conclusions Clinical features of most ASD children can be easily identified under 2 years old, but if the diagnosis is delayed, the related intervention is late, so importance should be attached to early diagnosis.Mother′s occupation and education level, family economic status, family environment, their supervisors, and anoxia of newborn may be the effective entry points in the prevention and treatment of ASD. Key words: Autism spectrum disorders; Clinical features; Risk factors

Correlation between Family Environment and Self Esteem of Adolescents

The present investigation attempted to find out the correlation between the family environment and self esteem of adolescents. The study was conducted on 200 adolescents (100 male and 100 female) studying in various educational institutes located in Bathinda. For data collection Family Environment Scale and Self Esteem Scale were used. For the data analysis various statistical techniques were used. Statistical techniques used were Pearson’s product moment correlation and t-test were used. Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to determine the correlation between different dimensions of family environment scale i.e. Cohesion, Expressiveness, Conflict, Independence, Achievement Orientation, Intellectual Cultural Orientation, Active Recreational Orientation, Moral Religious Emphasis, Organization and control with the self-esteem of adolescents. The results of the investigation shows that their exist no gender differences in the mean scores of all the ten dimensions of family environment and even no gender differences exist in the mean score scores of self esteem of adolescents. Further co-relational analysis revealed that self esteem is positively correlated to Moral Religious Emphasis and negatively correlated to conflict dimension of family environment. The results indicated a clear correlation between family environment and self esteem of adolescents.

Family functioning in bipolar disorder: Characteristics, congruity between patients and relatives, and clinical correlates.

Functional improvement has become one of the aims of the treatment of bipolar disorder. However, scant attention has been given to family functioning, even though it has a role in the illness outcome and is affected by the disorder. The aims of this study were to compare family functioning reported by euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls; explore the level of congruence in the perception of family environment between patients with bipolar disorder and their relatives; and analyse the relationship between clinical variables and family functioning. The sample comprised 82 adult euthymic subjects with bipolar disorder, 82 family caregivers of these patients and 47 healthy controls. Participants completed the Family Environment Scale. Results showed moderate correlations and a mean pattern almost identical between relatives' and patients' reported scores in family functioning subscales. There were significant differences between patients and controls, favourable for the latter, in the subscales cohesion (p<0.005), expressiveness (p=0.002), conflict (p=0.038), intellectual-cultural orientation (p=0.001), active-recreational orientation (p<0.005), and a non-significant trend in organization (p=0.064). Significant associations were found between family environment and clinical variables of severity. These findings contribute to increasing the understanding of family functioning in bipolar disorder and highlight the importance of family work.

Comparisons of family environment between homeless and non-homeless individuals with schizophrenia in Xiangtan, Hunan.

BackgroundHomelessness is an increasingly important problem for individuals with serious mental illness in China.AimIdentify the characteristics of families that are associated with homelessness among individuals with schizophrenia.MethodsParticipants were 1856 homeless individuals with schizophrenia (defined as those who had no place of residence or involved caregivers for 7 consecutive days) and 1728 non-homeless individuals with schizophrenia from Xiangtan, Hunan. The self-completion Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) was administered to these participants after their acute psychotic symptoms resolved.ResultsCompared to individuals in the non-homeless group, those in the homeless group were older and more likely to be non-locals (i.e., from outside of Xiangtan), be residents of rural (versus urban) communities, have temporary (versus permanent) jobs, be married, and have a low level of education. After controlling for demographic differences using multivariate logistic regression models, homelessness was independently associated higher scores in the FES-CV intellectual-cultural orientation, organization, achievement orientation, and control subscales and with lower scores in the FES-CV cohesion, moralreligious emphasis, independence, and active-recreational orientation subscales.ConclusionAfter controlling for sociodemographic factors, certain aspects of the family environment areassociated with being homeless among patients with schizophrenia in China. Further work is needed to identify interventions that can reduce the risk of homelessness in high-risk individuals.

Dysfunctional family environment in affected versus unaffected offspring of parents with bipolar disorder

Children of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) are at heightened risk for developing mood and other psychiatric disorders. We proposed to evaluate the environment of families with at least one parent with BD type I (BDF) with affected offspring (aBDF) and unaffected offspring (uBDF) compared with control families without a history of DSM-IV Axis I disorder (CF). We used the Family Environment Scale (FES) to evaluate 47 BDF (aBDF + uBDF) and 30 CF. Parents were assessed through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Diagnosis of the offspring was determined through the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children/Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) interview. There were statistically significant differences between aBDF, uBDF and CF in cohesion (p = 0.003), intellectual-cultural orientation (p = 0.01), active-recreational orientation (p = 0.007), conflict (p = 0.001), control (p = 0.01), moral-religious emphasis (p = 0.01) and organization (p = 0.001). The aBDF showed higher levels of control (p = 0.02) when compared to the uBDF. Families with a BD parent presented more dysfunctional interactions among members. Moreover, the presence of BD or other psychiatric disorders in the offspring of parents with BD is associated with higher levels of control. These results highlight the relevance of psychosocial interventions to improve resilience and family interactions.

Family environment of bipolar families: A UK study

BackgroundAspects of family environment (FE) such as family support, organisational structure and levels of conflict can increase risk of Bipolar Disorder (BD) in offspring of BD parents. MethodsThe family environment of 16 BD and 23 healthy control (HC) families was assessed using the Family Environment Scale (FES). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to determine the degree of variation in scores on the FES dimensions within each family and a Generalised Linear Modelling (GLM) approach was used to investigate the extent to which scores on the different FES dimensions differed between families. ResultsOn the FES, BD families experienced an environment with higher levels of conflict and lower levels of expressiveness, organisation, intellectual–cultural orientation and active–recreational orientation than healthy control families. Differences in FES scores were driven by presence of parental BD and total number of children in the family. However, socio-economic status (SES) was not found to have an effect in this study. LimitationsAs an American instrument the FES may not have been sensitive enough to the cultural context of a UK sample. The relatively small sample size used may have limited the statistical power of the study. ConclusionsGreater numbers of children have the same effect on levels of conflict as the presence of BD, while SES does not appear to be as important a factor in FE as previously thought. Our results suggest that family based interventions focusing on psychoeducation and improved communication within these families may address issues of conflict, organisation and expressiveness.

Parental emotional warmth and career decision-making difficulties: A model of intellectual-cultural orientation and conscientiousness

We used a mediation model and an integrated, moderated mediation model to examine the effects of parental emotional warmth, intellectual-cultural orientation in family factors, and conscientiousness on the career decision-making difficulties of Chinese college students. We tested 1,196 undergraduate students by employing the conscientiousness subscale of the Chinese version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ), the revised Chinese version of the Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran scale (EMBU), and the Family Environment Scale–Chinese Version (FES-CV). Our results showed that, in the mediation model, parental emotional warmth had an indirect effect on college students' career decision-making difficulties through the mediation of conscientiousness. In the integrated model, this indirect effect was moderated by an intellectual-cultural orientated family environment.

Impact of Family Environment on Future Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men

This study explored the relationship between dimensions of functioning in the family of origin of graduate students in helping profession programs and their attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. One hundred forty-three participants completed the Family Environment Scale (FES-R: Moos & Moos, 1986), the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men scale (ATLG: Herek, 1994), and demographic questions. Results suggest that three family dimensions (conflict, intellectual-cultural orientation, and moral-religious emphasis) significantly predicted attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. The results also revealed that younger students held more negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay men than their older peers. Implications for educators, researchers, and practitioners are discussed.