Family Life Research Articles

Children’s Rights and Online Age Assurance Systems

Abstract Age assurance is a way to prevent children accessing content, products or services that are potentially harmful to them, ranging from gambling services or alcohol or tobacco or, increasingly, certain products and services online. Now that children’s lives are mediated by digital technologies, policymakers are deliberating over the legal, technical and practical challenges. These have been little examined from the perspective of children’s rights. By combining legal and social research methods, this article examines the legal requirements for age assurance in Europe, assesses compliance by companies and reveals the consequences for family life. In law and practice, we show that age assurance is often ineffective in protecting children from online risk of harm. Further, as currently implemented it risks children’s other rights – to non-discrimination, privacy, to be heard, and their civil rights and freedoms, and remedy. We identify promising directions for the use of age assurance in child online protection, focusing on European policy, regulators and civil society actors.

“Unduly Harsh?”: An Empirical Examination of Best Interests Assessments in the Context of Parental Deportation

Abstract Thousands of people are deported from the UK every year, having served a sentence for a serious criminal offence, it being determined that it is no longer in the public interest for them to remain in the UK. For those who are parents, they can appeal against deportation on grounds that it would breach their right to family life and have an unduly harsh impact on their children. Detailed guidance has emerged, setting out the factors that should be taken into account in determining this question in a manner that is compliant with children’s rights. Drawing on an in-depth analysis of a sample of deportation case files, this paper provides a unique empirical insight into the extent to which this guidance is applied in practice, with a particular reference to children’s rights principles and processes.

17 Caregiver experiences with enteral feeding transitions

Abstract Background Children with medical complexity (CMC) are an expanding group within paediatrics due to advances in medical care, often including a dependence on medical technology. Issues such as oromotor swallowing dysfunction and feeding difficulties are common in this population. As a result, many CMC require the use of enteral tubes for feeding. While evidence does support improved nutritional status with the use of enteral feeding tubes, there is limited literature discussing how these interventions impact other patient centered outcomes, such as quality of life for the child, changes in parental caregiving, and logistical implications for the family. A comprehensive understanding of the positive and negative outcomes associated with selection and transition between different feeding tube options is needed. Objectives To describe and explore the caregiver and patient experience with different feeding tubes, with a focus on the experience of transitioning between different enteral feeding modalities. Design/Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, including both caregivers and two patients. Reflexive thematic analysis was utilized to identify preliminary themes from interviews. Themes were further refined by the study team. Results The themes identified through interviews included: A) the pros and cons with each type of enteral feeding modality, B) the emotional impacts on patients and caregivers, C) logistical impacts on day-to-day life for families, and D) the experience of transitioning between feeding tubes. Globally, participants spoke positively about their transition from nasogastric feeding to either gastrostomy or gastrojejunal feeding tubes. Caregivers also felt that they were integral to the decision-making process, though some felt in hindsight the transition process was too slow. Conclusion This study highlights both the complexity and heterogeneity of the caregiver experience with different feeding tubes. It found that most families consistently viewed their transitions with enteral feeding tubes positively, as this was seen as a significant milestone in helping their child both nutritionally and with their quality of life. Finally, further research could be done to explore experiences with gastrojejunal and jejunal feeding, as this patient population is not well elucidated within the literature.

TƏLƏBƏLƏRİN AİLƏ HƏYATINA VƏ ÖVLAD TƏRBİYƏSİ İŞİNƏ HAZIRLANMALARI: PROBLEM BAXIMINDAN MÖVCUD ƏDƏBİYYATIN ÖYRƏNİLMƏSİ VƏ TƏHLİLİ

The desire of every parent is for their daughters and sons to have a successful marriage for love and a happy family. For this, young people must be prepared for family life. First in the family, then in educational institutions. They should also be taught how to raise children. The article talks about independent family life of students and the upbringing of their future children.

Wider family in post-privatisation Zambia

This article traces the economic and social dynamics animating kin-like relations amongst workers on the Zambian Copperbelt, their implications in everyday life and broader conceptions of family they engender. The article argues that the ability of mineworkers’ families to cope with the deteriorating economic situation that accompanied the privatisation of the mines in Zambia has, besides their close family members, the house and the union, rested on their ability to craft and maintain kin-like social relationships in the workplace and in their communities. This article draws on ethnographic fieldwork in the underground mines and mineworkers’ families conducted in 2015, between 2016 and 2021 and for a short period in 2023.

Physical activity and supplementation as alternative methods in migraine prophylaxis -literature review

Migraine is a common and debilitating neurological disorder. It is crucial to realize that migraines are distinguished from other types of headaches. People suffering from migraine are often unable to function normally, neglecting work and daily duties. The associated costs burden not only the patients but also their family and social life. What is more, many psychiatric comorbidities are common in migraine patients. Because of all these factors, preventive treatment is essential because it can decrease migraine frequency and improve quality of life. There are many preventative medications but satisfactory improvement in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks may not be achieved without modification of lifestyle including taking care of physical activity and supplementation. Many studies have shown that moderate physical activity and supplementation of vitamins B2, D, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium has a positive effect on reducing duration and frequency of the migraine attack.

Professional–personal boundary work: Individuals torn between integration and segmentation

What drives individuals to work until late at night or during holidays, and how do they stop work or keep work commitment in its place? This qualitative study examines boundary work between the professional and the personal life domains. Drawing on interviews with 26 academics employed at a university, we identify various boundary work drivers and tactics. Norms prevailing in the professional field, career requirements and high workloads, as well as strong intrinsic passion for science drive individuals to work long hours and to blend the professional–personal boundary. At the same time, individuals try to establish boundaries to ensure productivity and one’s health, or meeting family and personal life needs. Furthermore, our research reveals three patterns of the relationship between integration and segmentation. Firstly, individuals utilize segmentation to restrict integration, employing sophisticated tactics such as self-deception or self-isolation to shield themselves from the negative repercussions of excessive integration. Secondly, segmentation tactics can not only restrict integration but also enable it, for instance through the creation of ‘free’ times and spaces. Thirdly, individuals sometimes also utilize integration to enable segmentation. Our findings expand boundary theory by identifying manifold boundary-work drivers and tactics and by revealing that integration and segmentation are not just two opposing poles of a continuum but they are mutually connected, restricting or enabling one another.

Emotions and difficulties experienced by parents of children with autism: A qualitative study.

This study was performed to determine the difficulties experienced by the parents of children with autism. A qualitative method was used to determine the difficulties experienced by the parents. The sample of the study consisted of parents with 24 children with autism who met the inclusion criteria. The data were analysed by the MAXQDA qualitative data analysis programme in accordance with Colaizzi's seven-stage method. Total of 5 themes and 29 codes were gathered in line with the data obtained from the interviews. Five main themes of the interviews emerged; emotions experienced by parents; adaptation to family life; difficulty in social relationships; limited opportunity for entertainment/activity and financial difficulty. Parents whose income were less than or equal to their expenses particularly stated that they had economic difficulties in the transportation of their children to places such as hospitals/schools/special education. In accordance with the findings of this study, it was determined that almost all of the parents with a child diagnosed with autism experienced sadness, denial, shock, depression, self-blame in the period when their children were first diagnosed, and later accepted the disease. In addition, it was detected that parents had difficulties in family relations, social relations, entertainment/activity and economic aspects.

Empowering work-life balance: Exploring the nexus of flexible work arrangements, job satisfaction, and women's well-being in SMEs

The aim of this study is to evaluate flexible working arrangements, work-life balance, and job satisfaction among women who work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of flexible working arrangements, particularly for women juggling work and family responsibilities. The study evaluates the extent to which flexible working arrangements enable women to maintain a balance between work and family life in order to achieve work-related satisfaction. One hundred and thirty questionnaires were collected from the respondents for analysis. The analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between flexible working arrangements and work-life balance/job satisfaction among women working in SMEs. Importantly, work-life balance is an explicit factor that influences job satisfaction and mediates the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction. These findings emphasize the need for organizations to seriously consider implementing flexible working arrangements and work-life balance policies in return for enhanced satisfaction of their workforce, especially women in SMEs in Malaysia. Research in this area is scarce; however, these findings offer valuable insights for SMEs in improving employee satisfaction and striving for growth and sustainability in the long run.

Mothering Children with ADHD: The Influence of Courtesy Stigma and Psychological Distress on Family Life of Saudi Mothers

Mothering Children with ADHD: The Influence of Courtesy Stigma and Psychological Distress on Family Life of Saudi Mothers

Change in Child Opportunity Index in Early Childhood Is Associated with Youth BMI Growth.

Background: The neighborhood-level child opportunity index (COI) has been used in policy-based initiatives to identify and improve low-resource neighborhoods in order to impact child health. Understanding of how changes in COI can impact child growth, however, is lacking. Methods: Participants were 1124 children from the Family Life Project, a longitudinal birth cohort of families in rural, high-poverty areas. Youth anthropometrics were measured at eight assessments (ages 2 months through 12 years). Neighborhood COI was obtained at seven assessments (ages 2 months through 5 years) and used to create seven trajectory groups representing a change in COI: stayed low on all seven assessments, stayed moderate, stayed high, left low, declined from moderate, declined from high, and bounced around. Results: As hypothesized, moving from high COI neighborhoods into lower COI neighborhoods was associated with greater BMI growth and increased risk for obesity and severe obesity at 12 years. As hypothesized, the opposite effect, which approached significance at p = 0.056, was found among children who moved from low COI neighborhoods into higher COI neighborhoods. Specifically, moving into higher COI neighborhoods was associated with reduced BMI growth, and lower risk for severe obesity at 12 years. Conclusions: Moving into higher COI neighborhoods may be associated with healthier BMI growth, while the opposite effect may occur when moving into lower COI neighborhoods. Given the use of the COI in public health initiatives and growing evidence for its potential positive impact on child growth, future work is needed to replicate our findings among larger diverse samples.

Disrupting the Reproductive Lives of Japanese American Families During Wartime: The Overlapping Histories of Removal, Incarceration, and Eugenic Sterilization, 1942–1946

The World War II mass incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans disrupted families, enacted intergenerational trauma, and characterized Japanese Americans as inherent racial threats. This federal exercise in biopolitical management intersected with state-sponsored eugenic sterilization in California institutions. Linking War Relocation Authority and California Department of Institutions records, we document 32 Japanese American sterilization survivors during the wartime incarceration period (1942–1946). We show how federal and state authority converged to deprive Japanese Americans of civil rights and reproductive liberty. We add original research and analysis to the intertwined histories of Japanese American incarceration, eugenics, and family in the United States.

Parent and adolescent perspectives on family problems during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Implications for family resilience

AbstractObjectiveTo understand how parents and adolescents perceive the major family problems they faced during a global pandemic, focusing on implications for family resilience.BackgroundFamilies are challenged by the upheaval in contemporary life due to a global health pandemic and unrelenting changes to work, school, civic, and home routines. Family resilience theory guided our understanding of how families perceive and understand the problems they faced during a major disruption in their lives.MethodA diverse sample of parent–adolescent pairs was surveyed at two points in time. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze open‐ended questions asking about family members' perceptions of the major problems they faced as a family during the pandemic.ResultsMost participants reported a major family problem during the pandemic (e.g., unemployment, online learning, isolation, fear of COVID‐19), with financial issues being the most prevalent problem. Parents were more likely to identify a major family tension, compared with adolescents, who were more likely to say they were unaware of any major family problems.ConclusionParents and adolescents reported substantial family stress and tension, especially around financial strain and social isolation, indicating their heightened awareness of the new risks they were facing. Both parents and adolescents also described a willingness to pull together on behalf of family well‐being and adaptation.ImplicationsSupport mechanisms through public policy and from family life practitioners can help families navigate pandemic‐related stressors, assess adverse events in adolescence, promote new pathways in navigating disrupted routines, and enhance family resilience.

Immigration‐related stress, depression, and positive parenting among undocumented Central American immigrant mothers

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the current study was to examine whether immigration‐related stress is associated with reduced positive parenting and whether this association is mediated by depressive symptoms in undocumented Central American immigrant mothers.BackgroundIn the context of “illegality,” parents can face myriad stressors related to their immigration status, which may lead to heightened emotions, including depressed mood. These experiences may affect family life, including the ways in which immigrant mothers parent their children.MethodThis study examined survey data generated in 2016–2017 by researchers using a community‐based participatory action research approach in partnership with Central American immigrant mothers residing in the Washington, DC, region. The sample for this study included 117 undocumented Central American immigrant mothers of children aged 3 to 11 years.ResultsControlling for age of child, mother's education, and relationship status, analyses revealed that immigration‐related stress was associated with heightened levels of depressive symptoms for mothers. However, mothers' symptoms of depression were not associated with positive parenting. Additionally, no association between immigration‐related stress and positive parenting was found.ConclusionsFindings suggest that mothers, although affected by immigration‐related stress in terms of their own mood symptoms, may deploy mechanisms such as parental self‐sacrifice to protect their children from anti‐immigrant harms.ImplicationsFindings hold implications for future research, including research approaches, and practice.

Housing and children’s social care in England: learning from embedded research

The UK housing crisis is having a detrimental impact on the lives of families. However, in England the links between housing and Children’s Social Care remain poorly understood. This paper draws upon 24 months of embedded research within Torbay Council, a Local Authority with comparatively high rates of children in care and acute housing challenges. It includes qualitative data from interviews/focus groups with parents (n = 66); Children’s Services professionals (n = 7), the housing department (n = 2); housing association (n = 2); and staff/volunteers from voluntary and community Sector organisations (n = 28). This study shows that housing circumstances can both trigger crisis situations leading to the involvement of Children’s Services and form a critical element of the complex needs many families in contact with Children’s Services confront. Parents described difficulties demonstrating their parenting abilities to Children’s Services and the Family Courts when living in inadequate housing, or indeed when homeless. This paper recommends better alignment of Housing and Children’s Social Care responses to ensure more effective support for families.

Intergenerational family life courses and wealth accumulation in Norway

Abstract While prior research has widely acknowledged the consequences of specific family transitions (e.g., parental death, parenthood, grandparenthood) for individual wealth holdings, the interplay of multiple family transitions and positions occurring at different life stages and in various orderings has received little attention. This is despite the fact that these transitions and positions most likely jointly shape wealth accumulation, both in the shorter and longer run. We apply (1) sequence analysis to identify typical family life course clusters defined by the timing of the death of the parent generation, the timing of the transition into parenthood, and grandparenthood and (2) regression analysis to describe how the accumulation of wealth between ages 40 and 64 differs by family life course cluster. Using Norwegian register data of individuals born in 1953 (N = 47,945), we identified six clusters of family trajectories ranging from childless individuals to individuals who were sandwiched between their parents, children, and grandchildren because of relatively early (grand)parenthood and late parental death. Individuals experiencing patterns with a later transition into (grand)parenthood occupied stable and high wealth positions over time. Individuals without children exhibited a steady increase in their wealth position. Additionally, experiencing parental death later in life was associated with increasing wealth, whereas early parental death was not. These results held net of gender and education. Pronounced and even increasing wealth differences over the life course seem to be associated with the interplay of multiple family transitions.

Intergenerational Storytelling in China: Teachings About Family, Life, and Society Amidst Cultural-Historical Change

SYNOPSIS Objective. Over the past century, nationwide political, social, and economic reforms in the People’s Republic of China have drastically changed the structure of Chinese society and family life. This study describes the content of intergenerational storytelling in mainland Chinese families. Design. 193 emerging adult grandchildren recalled in writing a memorable story shared with them by their closest grandparent. Qualitative content analysis addressed what types of memorable stories are told by Chinese grandparents to their grandchildren and the central lessons embedded within those stories. Results. Stories in four broad thematic areas were told: (1) sociohistorical context and events, (2) existential life matters, (3) family history and dynamics, and (4) career and education. Across these areas, several subthemes and lessons learned by grandchildren emerged. Conclusions. Storytelling has the potential to build a bridge between generations whose realities are seemingly ages apart.

Television and family demography: Evidence from a natural experiment in East Germany

This paper examines the causal effects of television exposure on individual decisions regarding marriage, divorce, and family planning by utilizing a natural experiment in the German Democratic Republic during the period of German division. I exploit the fact that individuals in some East German areas could not receive Western television due to their place of residence before reunification in 1990. By analyzing survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, my results reveal that exposure to Western TV significantly reduced the likelihood of marriage and childbirth while increasing the probability of divorce among East Germans. Analyzing administrative data at the county level supports these findings. In addition, survey data from the late 1980s indicates that the observed effects are primarily due to changes in attitudes towards relationships and family life, particularly among women.

Gender Dynamics and the Socioeconomic Implications of Infertility in Sierra Leone: A Study on Health, Social Stigmatization, and Economic Impact

Gender Dynamics and the Socioeconomic Implications of Infertility in Sierra Leone delves profoundly into the intricate effects of infertility on persons and broader society. Infertility in Sierra Leone surpasses medical confines, interweaving fundamentally with cultural, communal, and economic factors. Women disproportionately bear the consequences, suffering from social exclusion, economic hardship, and psychological distress. Societal expectation that ties femininity to motherhood increase these stresses. This societal expectation places immense anxiety on women who are unable to conceive, regularly resulting in discrimination, stigmatization, and isolation from family and social life. Financially, families expend considerable amounts on fertility treatments, which frequently lead to monetary instability, especially in lower-income families. Infertile women, already marginalized, face compounded challenges due to reduced inheritance rights, limited economic possibilities, and societal exclusion. Psychologically, the emotional toll is severe, with many experiencing depression, anxiety, and isolation. The research calls for comprehensive policies that address the multifaceted character of infertility. It advocates for gender-sensitive reproductive wellness initiatives and societal efforts to decrease the stigma associated with infertility. By promoting equitable access to healthcare, improving mental health services, and tackling cultural stigmatization, the study emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to mitigate the socioeconomic and health-related impacts of infertility in Sierra Leone. Ultimately, the findings highlight the urgency of policy reforms that integrate medical, social, and economic viewpoints to better support those affected by infertility.

DESAFIOS E RESILIÊNCIA: UMA ANÁLISE DAS DIFICULDADES ENFRENTADAS POR MÃES DE FILHOS NO ESPECTRO AUTISTA

The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder presents some challenges and singularities, the limitations in its development entail a series of demands and significant changes in the family's routine and child care. The objective of this article is to understand the difficulties and experiences faced by mothers with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The expected results will be significant in highlighting the challenges faced by mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the need to access specialized resources, the burden of care and difficulties in social interaction. Based on the studies analyzed, we hoped to understand this complex and significant issue faced by mothers of children with ASD in the care process. Research will play a relevant role in the development of policies and support programs that can protect the feminine essence and promote quality of life for families in society.