Latency Age Research Articles

Experience of parental loss and later suicide: data from published biographies.

A study of 30 individuals who committed suicide whose biographies or autobiographies have been published revealed that 16 had experienced loss in childhood. There was an excess of loss caused by death and of fathers rather than mothers. Fourteen of the 16 losses occurred when the child was aged 6 to 14 (latency age).

Group Therapy Techniques for Work with Child Sexual Abuse Victims

Group therapy techniques used by the Washington University Child Guidance Center's Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Team are described for clinicians working with child sexual abuse victims. Activities and tasks used to promote the therapeutic process are presented, broken down into three age groups: preschoolers, latency age children, and teenagers. The intent is to disseminate ideas found to be useful in the treatmcnt process.

Children's adjustment during custody/access disputes: relation to custody arrangement, gender and age of child.

The adjustment of pre-school and latency age children, at the time of a custody/access dispute between their parents, was studied in relation to the children's age, sex and whether they were living with a parent of the same or the opposite-sex. Few adjustment problems were noted; however, older children and boys were more vulnerable. Sex of custodial parent did not predict children's adjustment.

Group Work with Severely Abused and Neglected Latency Age Children

Laten age children who have been severely neglected and/or abused can be helped to cope with their past and current experiences through the use of the small group. Major social, behavioral, and personality characteristics of physically abused children are identified and special adjustments and modifications of the group are described as they occurred in a social work group.

Behavioral adjustment of latency age children with cystic fibrosis.

One hundred and twenty-six 6 to 11-year-old latency age children with Cystic Fibrosis regularly attending the CF clinic of the Hospital for Sick Children were asked to complete the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and the Children's Health Locus of Control. Their parents were requested to complete the Child Behavior Checklist and the Family Assessment Measure. One hundred and eight (86%) participated in the study. Twenty-three percent of the children were found to have sufficient behavior problems to indicate a significant degree of maladjustment. Latency-age CF children show an increase in problems compared to a pre-school group, suggesting that leaving the protection of the family is problematic for a child with a chronic physical disorder. Males show more behavior problems than females. Males' behavior is characterized by somatic complaint profile. In spite of difficulties, CF latency children are able to maintain good social competence and self-concept suggesting compensatory mechanisms. These mechanisms are different for males and females. Females' self-concept and social competence are supportive of each other, whereas for males, this is not the case. Similarly, female behavior is relevant to family functioning. Males and females adjust to difficulty as indicated by differences in behavior profiles.

Loyalty Conflicts and Family Relationships in Latency Age Boys

Forty boys aged 6-11, 20 living in maternal and 20 in joint physical custody, were administered tests assessing specific aspects of divorce-related emotional adjustment. An original child-administered loyalty conflict measure found no custody group difference despite the fact that joint custody parents perceived significantly higher levels of loyalty conflict in their sons than did maternal custody parents. Tests assessing children's feelings toward their parents (Family Relations Test) and children's perception of the post-divorce family structure (Kinetic Family Drawing Test) indicated that boys in joint custody were comfortable in expressing negative as well as positive feelings toward both parents and were not preoccupied with fantasies of parental reconciliation.

Joint versus maternal custody for families with latency age boys: parent characteristics and child adjustment.

Families with boys aged 6-11 in joint and maternal physical custody were interviewed 1-6 years following the parental separation. According to ratings made by parents and teachers, boys in joint custody had fewer behavioral difficulties than their maternal custody counterparts. Joint custody parents also evidenced some strengths compared to parents with maternal physical custody.

Hyperbaric oxygen induced experimental epilepsy: the age factor.

Two methods of inducing convulsions were used in male Swiss albino mice of different ages: exposure to hyperbaric oxygen and pentylenetetrazole treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen proved to be a valid model of experimental epilepsy with an age-dependent trend. The youngest mice presented a much longer convulsion latency time than the adult mice but the curve of distribution of latency time versus age showed progressively increasing sensitivity. Pentylenetetrazole induced convulsions, apart from the youngest subgroup, without variations by age. Hyperbaric oxygen convulsions provide an interesting model for the study not only of the neurochemistry of convulsions but also of the membrane changes that occur in the course of cerebral maturation and aging.

Issues in differential diagnosis: A case study of a latency age borderline child∗

Issues in differential diagnosis: A case study of a latency age borderline child∗

When Parent Becomes Peer: Loss of Intergenerational Boundaries in Single Parent Families

This paper describes characteristics and treatment of one subtype of divorce produced single parent family, namely one in which intergenerational boundaries have become blurred and role expectations ill-defined. Characteristics include: (a) a late latency age child who typically resides with hislher mother, (b) abdication by the mother of the parental role, and (c) a parent-child relationship in which the mother functions as a peer/partner. Clinical intervention involves: (a) helping the mother return to her parental role and learn how to better resolve conflicts, (b) permitting the child to express thoughts and feelings more appropriately, and (c) examining and modifying parent-child communication patterns.

Children of alcoholic families. A group treatment approach for latency age children.

Children of alcoholic families. A group treatment approach for latency age children.

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You:

This paper discusses the results of an exploratory study that identifies clusters of often unexpressed questions, ideas and feelings of latency age children from divorcing families. Data was gathered by analyzing letters by 46 children participating in divorce adjustment groups. Significant differences in expressed themes emerged between boys and girls, and in time elapsed since parental divorce.

Group Therapy for Latency Age Black Males: Unplanned Interventions, Setting, and Racial Transferences as Catalysts for Change

This paper focuses on the special problems and processes encountered in organizing and running a group therapy program for black, latency age, male children within an urban school setting. The group chosen for presentation consisted of five boys (average age 11.8 years, range 11–13) and was run by two white clinical psychology interns (a male and female).In the course of the group several important issues emerged which acted as catalysts for change. These included unplanned interventions, setting effects, cotherapy issues, and racial transferences. The findings and follow-up suggested that a modified expressive group psychotherapy approach can be successful in treating inner city black children.

The Peter Pan Syndrome: Inpatient treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa

Specific strategies designed for intervening in family, hospital, community, and school systems are discussed as crucial components in the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa. It is suggested that all these systems inadvertently collude in the “Peter Pan Syndrome”: maintaining the adolescent-identified patient in a latency age role in order to protect mother from depression and the family in its entirety from an “empty nest” developmental crisis. When strategic and structural alterations occurred within the above mentioned systems while the child was hospitalized and after discharge, the anorectic symptom was alleviated.

Progression, Regression, and Child Analytic Technique

A detailed example is presented of analytic work with a latency age youngster. The technical problems encountered in the analysis of such a child are discussed in order to consider how child analysis can help to elucidate what is involved in the psychoanalytic process.

Kinetic Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Depression in Latency Age Children

Kinetic Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Depression in Latency Age Children

Treating Post-Divorce Adjustment in Latency Age Children

This paper develops an additional dimension for the Boston University model of the stages of group development. In utilizing the Bennis model of T-group development, it integrates the authority theme into the Boston model. Summaries of the Boston model and the Bennis model are presented. Stage related themes which characterize worker-group transactions are created to enable integration of the authority issue. The following aspects of the worker role are addressed within the framework of these themes: (1) the reaction of the group to the worker, (2) the worker's role responses to these reactions, and (3) the worker's practice issues in the transaction.

An Examination of Dysfunctional Latency Age Children of Alcoholic Parents and Problems in Intervention

Abstract Children of alcoholic parents can develop problems in interpersonal relationships as a response to impaired parental functions. Sometimes these can be alleviated through short term supportive educative counseling. However, if the relationship style has become so impaired as to be dysfunctional, the child may need more intensive treatment. If treatment is needed, it should include the educative counseling and other ingredients common to all therapeutic intervention with children of alcoholics. In addition, the child's own behavior needs to be closely examined and interpretations need to be made to correct the faulty relationship style. Treatment with children of alcoholic parents presents a number of issues for the therapist that are not as likely to arise with children from non-alcoholic homes. These issues include the parent's role in treatment and how the drinking affects the child. By understanding how the child's problems in interpersonal relationships can be a response to impaired parental f...

Predictors of assaultiveness in latency age children.

The authors evaluated the presence of assaultive behavior in 103 children, aged 6-12 years, seen in the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services of a municipal hospital. No racial or ethnic differences were found. Boys were significantly more assaultive than girls and used fire setting and hitting with objects more often. Inpatients were significantly more assaultive than outpatients. Children with conduct disorders, specific developmental disorders, and mental retardation were more assaultive than those with neurotic disorders. Multiple regression analysis showed that the child's past aggressive behavior, absence of anxiety and depression, and parental assaultive behavior were the best predictors of assaultive behavior.

Psychopathology of latency age children. Relation to treatment planning.

One hundred three children, ages 6 to 12 years, who were evaluated in a psychiatric outpatient clinic and an inpatient unit of a large municipal hospital, were compared with regard to suicidal and assaultive behaviors, recent and chronic affects and behaviors, recent environmental stresses, family background, and ego functioning. The hospitalized children showed multiple deficits in ego functioning, more dangerous acting out behaviors, disabilities in regulation of affect states, and more severe psychopathology of the parents, primarily the mother. Multiple regression analyses showed that the child's assaultive behavior, suicidal behavior, antisocial behavior, reality testing, parental separation, and parental pregnancy complications accounted for 51.2 per cent of the variance in the prediction of psychiatric hospitalization. Recommendations are made concerning indications for psychiatric hospitalization.