Married Parents Research Articles

Shaping inequality and intergenerational persistence of poverty: Free college or better schools?

We evaluate the aggregate, distributional and welfare consequences of alternative government education policies to encourage college completion, such as making college free and improving funding for public schooling. To do so, we construct a general equilibrium overlapping generations model with intergenerational linkages, a higher education choice as well as a multi-stage human capital production process during childhood and adolescence with parental and government schooling investments. The model features rich cross-sectional heterogeneity, distinguishes between single and married parents, and is disciplined by US household survey data on income, wealth, education and time use. Studying the transitions induced by unexpected policy reforms we show that the “free college” and the “better schools” reform generate significant welfare gains, which take time to materialize and are lower in general than in partial equilibrium. It is optimal to combine both reforms: tuition subsidies make college affordable even for children from poorer parental backgrounds and better schools increase human capital thereby reducing dropout risk.

Parents of Children with Disabilities: Strengths and Frailty of Human Faith Journeys

Although studies have been conducted regarding the faith journeys of people with disabilities, little is known of those nurturing and accompanying them, their parents. The faith journeys of parents of children with disabilities are a critical yet underattended source of theological insight. In this qualitative research study, we interview and study the perspective of seven married parents of children with disabilities who actively participate in ministry at their local faith communities or a national arena. While these criteria limit the number of parents caring for children with disability, they gave us greater insight into the challenges and graces received throughout their faith journeys, the role of their immediate family, their faith communities, and the universal Church. Five emerging themes were identified reflecting the rich yet complex strengths and frailty of their faith journeys. This study intends to amplify the stories of parents of children with disabilities becoming key conversation partners. Their hope-in-tension narratives inform and challenge the understanding of Christian anthropology, the centrality of faith, and the vocation of marriage, and in turn lead to concrete pastoral recommendations in three critical dimensions: ecclesiological, catechetical, and ministerial.

Penetapan Anak Angkat sebagai Ahli Waris di Pengadilan Agama Lubuk Pakam Nomor 1619/Pdt.G/2019/PA

Adopting a child is a legal act, therefore this act has legal consequences. One of the legal consequences of the adoption of a child is regarding the adopted child's status as the heir of his or her adoptive parents. This status often causes problems within the family. The issues that often arise in cases of lawsuits are usually regarding whether or not the adoption of the child is legal, as well as the position of the adopted child as the heir of his or her adoptive parents. According to civil law in Staatsblad 1917 No. 129, the adoption of a child results in the child's status as if they were born from the marriage of adoptive parents. So the status of an adopted child is the same as a legitimate child and in inheritance law he is also called an heir. In the event that the inheritance of an adopted child in the Compilation of Islamic Law is not giving up the lineage (relatives) of his biological parents, then the adopted child does not inherit from his adoptive parents and vice versa, but the adopted child gets a mandatory will, namely a will whose implementation is not influenced or does not depend on the will or the will of the deceased. The amount cannot be more than 1/3 of the inheritance of the adoptive parents in accordance with Article 209 paragraph (2) of the Compilation of Islamic Law. And in the decision of the Lubuk Pakam religious court, how does the judge decide whether an adopted child will be the heir? (KHI).

Assessing the parental SES gradient in young Britons' partnership expectations, attitudes and its potential mediators.

A well-documented trend in family demography is that young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to enter their first partnership earlier and forego marriage more often than their advantaged counterparts. Yet, limited research has explored whether there is also an association between parental background and expectations for partnership formation, which are considered important precursors of behaviours. Further, few studies have explored the potential mechanisms mediating these differences. This paper uses data from the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society to analyse the relationships between parental socioeconomic status and young Britons' expectations for marriage, cohabitation, and attitudes towards ideal age at marriage. Using the KHB decomposition as a mediation method, we verify whether these relationships are explained by two mechanisms measured during the young adults' adolescence: family structure socialisation and academic socialisation. We find that marriage expectations are socially stratified in the UK. Those from the least advantaged backgrounds have significantly lower expectations for marriage than the most advantaged, but this difference does not hold for cohabitation. Those from the least advantaged backgrounds are also more uncertain about their ideal age at marriage. Academic socialisation mediates these relationships to a limited extent. Family structure socialisation mediates a greater percentage, especially living with a single parent, rather than married parents, during adolescence.

Marital Status and Advance Care Planning Among Older Adults: Do Gendered Patterns Vary by Age?

Advance care planning (ACP), which comprises a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPAHC), and end-of-life discussions, is an inherently relational process. However, it is unclear how marital status affects men's and women's ACP over the life course. Drawing on social control and gender-as-relational frameworks, we examine marital status differences in ACP and how these patterns differ by gender and age. Data are from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative sample of U.S. older adults (N = 7,074). We estimate logistic regression models to evaluate whether marital status differences in ACP are moderated by age and gender, and multinomial logistic regressions to examine age and gender differences in DPAHC designations among married parents. Analyses are adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Multivariable analyses revealed significant moderation effects for discussions only. Among married/cohabiting persons, women are more likely than men to have end-of-life discussions, with genderdifferences diminishing slightly at oldest ages. Among divorced persons in their 60s and 70s, women are much more likely than men to have had discussions, although this gap converges among the oldest-old. Conversely, young-old widowed men and women are equally likely to have discussions, although women are increasingly likely to do so with advancing age. Men are more likely than women to name their spouse as DPAHC, yet this gap diminishes with age. Healthcare providers can better guide end-of-life consultations if they understand how men's and women's family relationships change with advancing age.

The Causes and Consequences of Child Marriage Among Muslim Community: With Special Reference to the Cases Identified in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

The age of marriage for women is influenced by various socio-economic and cultural factors and remains a controversial topic in Sri Lanka. Child marriages are highly destructive, violating the fundamental rights of children protected by multiple global and national laws. The Eastern Province of Sri Lanka is particularly affected by this issue, resulting in children abandoning education and facing sexual, physical, and emotional violence, as well as premature motherhood. This study aims to identify the socio-economic and cultural factors driving child marriage in this region and to assess its impacts on the lives of those affected. Utilising a mixed-method approach, data were collected through questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews with young women who experienced early marriage, their parents, community leaders, and other informed individuals. The literature review included research articles, reports, and web publications to construct the theoretical framework. Findings indicate that factors such as parental marriage at a young age, parental death, dowry, poverty, large family sizes, and lack of interest in education significantly contribute to early marriages. Physical and psychological effects were found to be more prevalent than other social and economic impacts. These findings provide a foundation for future research and policy interventions aimed at mitigating child marriage.

Genetic Evaluation of Patients Suspected of Immunodeficiency Referred to the Immunodeficiency Clinic of Akbar Hospital in Mashhad

Background: The purpose of this study was genetic evaluation of patients suspected of immunodeficiency, without a definitive diagnosis, referred to the Immunodeficiency Clinic of Akbar Hospital in Mashhad in 2021-2022. Methods: In this study, patients suspected of immunodeficiency, without a definitive diagnosis, referred to an immunodeficiency clinic were included A complete clinical and paraclinical examination has been done by expert specialists and clinical geneticists. Blood samples were taken for genetic analysis using the Exome Sequencing technique followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Parents and healthy offspring were assessed for the candidate gene variants. Results: In this study, 185 patients were included; 58.56% of them were male; The average age of the participants was 9.28±5.40 years, and consanguineous marriage of parents was observed in 79.8 % of cases. Pneumonia with 33.51% was the most common clinical manifestation in patients with suspected immunodeficiency. In total, 41.14% of patients suffered from combined immunodeficiency, 26 .86% of them had defects of phagocyte number, function, or both; and 24% had predominantly antibody deficiencies. Hyper IgE syndrome was detected in 16% of patients, SCID and CGD each in 14.86% of patients, CVID in 12% of patients, and LAD in 7.43% of them. In 37.04% of the identified genes, there was a discrepancy between clinical and genetic diagnosis in patients. Conclusion: The most common clinical manifestation of patients suspected of primary immunodeficiency is pneumonia; therefore, patients who suffer from recurrent respiratory infections should be checked for genetic immunodeficiency. In this study, most patients were in the groups of immunodeficiencies affecting multiple cell types, defects of phagocyte number, function, or both; and predominantly antibody deficiencies, respectively. The most common diseases diagnosed were: Hyper IgE syndrome, SCID and CGD, CVID, and LAD.

Utilization of Special Services among Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs: A Time-to-Event Analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health Data, 2016-2022

BackgroundSpecial services including physical, occupational, speech, or behavioral therapies are associated with enhanced long-term functioning and well-being of children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN). Yet, there is a lack of recent evidence on the utilization of these services, and the age at which CYSHCN first receive them. ObjectiveThis study assessed the distribution, timing, and determinants of special services utilization across different types of special healthcare needs. MethodsData from 63,734 caregivers of CYSHCN aged 0-17 years from the 2016-2022 National Survey of Children’s Health were analyzed using Rao-Scott Chi-Square, Log-rank, and Cox proportional hazard tests. ResultsOverall, 41.9% of CYSHCN ever received special services, including 91.4%, 90.3%, 88.0, and 34.1% of children and youth with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other special healthcare needs (OSHCN), respectively. Children with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy received special services earlier than those with autism or OSHCN. Utilization of special services was higher among male children and youth (aHR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.33-1.49), aged 0-5 years (aHR: 4.70; 95% CI: 4.32-5.11), second or later born children (aHR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10-1.26), from families with low-income (aHR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.04-1.24), living with married parents (aHR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.04-1.19), consistently insured (aHR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.08-1.42), and with a more complex health condition (aHR: 3.40; 95% CI: 3.13-3.70) compared to their counterparts. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the necessity of adopting tailored approaches for children with different special healthcare needs to optimize and sustain the utilization of special services.

Gender-Specific Pathways in Violent Crime: Investigating the Role of Demographic and Mental Health Factors Using Mixed Graphical Models and Bayesian Networks.

This research aims to uncover gender-specific relationships and pathways that contribute to the perpetration of violent crimes, using sophisticated analytical tools to analyze the complex interactions between various factors. Employing Mixed Graphical Models and Bayesian networks, the study analyzes a sample of 1,254 prisoners (61.64% males and 38.36% females) to investigate the relationships among demographic factors, mental health issues, and violent crime. The study utilizes comprehensive measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, to assess participants' mental health status.Key findings reveal significant gender differences in the pathways to violent crime. For males, incomplete parental marriages strongly correlate with criminal behavior severity, while marriage status emerges as a significant factor, with married males less likely to commit violent crimes. In contrast, these relationships are not significant for females. Bayesian network analysis indicates that living in urban areas differently influences education and emotional expression across genders, emphasizing the importance of contextual factors. The study highlights the need for gender-specific considerations in criminal justice policies and interventions. It underscores the complex interplay of demographic and mental health factors in influencing violent crime pathways, providing insights for developing more effective prevention strategies. Despite its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, the research significantly contributes to understanding the gendered dimensions of criminal behavior.

Children With Cerebral Palsy And Family Functioning In Greece And Italy

ABSTRACT Cerebral palsy (CP) is a serious disorder that affects a person’s life, their parents, and the entire family. CP’s impact on the family is long term, complex, and multifactorial. This study explored family functioning in families raising children with CP in Greece and Italy. A total of 120 married parents participated in the study: 60 mothers and 60 fathers who had biological children with CP. All families were nuclear. A self-report questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III) were used for data collection. Results highlighted that parents had a different comprehension of CP, presenting a variety of positive and negative family characteristics. The existence of CP in families was reported primarily as a full and ongoing engagement. Parents, in both countries, perceived the real and ideal functioning of their families as balanced. This represents healthy family functioning, according to the revised edition of the Olson Circumplex Model. Findings suggested parents had distinct notions about CP and a variety of views on family functioning, which were estimated to be functional.

A Family Stress Approach to Understanding Sibling Relationships Following Parental Divorce

ABSTRACT This study utilized family stress theory to examine whether sibling closeness differed between young adults with married (n = 193) and divorced (n = 113) parents; if sibling closeness differed before and after divorce; and whether levels of sibling support and experiential discrepancy was related to sibling closeness following parental divorce. Research questions and hypotheses were tested using t-tests and three-step hierarchical regression analysis. No differences were found between pre-divorce and post-divorce closeness or between the two samples. Support seeking and support seeking success were significantly related to post-divorce closeness. The implications of the results and future directions will be discussed.

Discrepancies in parents’ perceptions of adult children’s well-being: evidence from mother–father–child triads

ABSTRACT Most studies of discrepancies in parents’ reports about children’s psychological problems address younger children and psychological problems. The current contribution shifts the focus to adult children and to well-being. In adult intergenerational relationships, knowledge of children’s well-being is more uncertain and there is more room for disagreements to arise, especially in the context of divorce. We analyzed Dutch multi-actor survey data, using a sample of triads of adult children, fathers, and mothers (N = 1,440). Two hypotheses were tested about the origins of discrepancies using structural equation models in which child well-being reports were included of parents and self-reports of children. The analyses supported the notion of relational specificity: when parents have a closer and more harmonious relationship with the child, they evaluate the child more positively than the other parent, after controlling for adult children’s self-reports of well-being. Qualified support was obtained for the depression-distortion hypothesis, with mothers who have higher well-being themselves being more positive about the child. Discrepancies were larger among separated parents than among married parents and parent-stepparent combinations. The conclusion is that parents do not always have similar views of adult children’s well-being and that disagreements are systematic, with bias stemming from the informant and the relationship.

The Influence of Childhood Family Experiences on Women's Attitudes towards Marriage and Relationships

This article aims to explore the influence of childhood family experiences on women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships. Through literature review and surveys based on examples, it analyzes the shaping of women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships by analyzing the family environment and the quality of parental marriage, as well as their influencing mechanisms. The research findings indicate that the family environment has a significant impact on attitudes towards marriage and relationships, with factors such as family structure and the quality of parental marriage closely related to women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships. Parents' marriage serves as a role model in shaping women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships, and family emotions play a crucial role in the transmission of attitudes towards marriage and relationships. This study supports the hypothesis of the influence of childhood family experiences on women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships, further confirming the importance of childhood family experiences in shaping individual attitudes towards marriage and relationships. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of women's attitudes towards marriage and relationships, providing a theoretical basis for promoting healthy marital and relationship outcomes.

Clinical phenotype and genetic function analysis of a family with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy-7 caused by POLR3A mutation

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (HLD) is a rare genetic heterogeneous disease that can affect myelin development in the central nervous system. This study aims to analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic function of a family with HLD-7 caused by POLR3A mutation. The proband (IV6) in this family mainly showed progressive cognitive decline, dentin dysplasia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Her three old brothers (IV1, IV2, and IV4) also had different degrees of ataxia, dystonia, or dysarthria besides the aforementioned manifestations. Their brain magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral periventricular white matter atrophy, brain atrophy, and corpus callosum atrophy and thinning. The proband and her two living brothers (IV2 and IV4) were detected to carry a homozygous mutation of the POLR3A (NM_007055.4) gene c. 2300G > T (p.Cys767Phe), and her consanguineous married parents (III1 and III2) were p.Cys767Phe heterozygous carriers. In the constructed POLR3A wild-type and p.Cys767Phe mutant cells, it was seen that overexpression of wild-type POLR3A protein significantly enhanced Pol III transcription of 5S rRNA and tRNA Leu-CAA. However, although the mutant POLR3A protein overexpression was increased compared to the wild-type protein overexpression, it did not show the expected further enhancement of Pol III function. On the contrary, Pol III transcription function was frustrated (POLR3A, BC200, and tRNA Leu-CAA expression decreased), and MBP and 18S rRNA expressions were decreased. This study indicates that the POLR3A p.Cys767Phe variant caused increased expression of mutated POLR3A protein and abnormal expression of Pol III transcripts, and the mutant POLR3A protein function was abnormal.

Deliberate self-harm among pediatric psychiatric inpatients in China: A single-center retrospective study.

For children and adolescents, deliberate self-harm (DSH) is becoming a mental health problem of concern. Despite several studies on the prevalence and factors of DSH in the world, there is little information on DSH among children and adolescents in China. This study explores the prevalence, types, associated risk factors and tendency of DSH in pediatric psychiatric inpatients in China. To understand the situation of DSH among hospitalized children and adolescents and its related factors. In this study, we retrospectively studied 1414 hospitalized children and adolescents with mental illness at Xiamen Mental Health Center from 2014 to 2019, extracted the demographic and clinical data of all patients, and analyzed clinical risk factors of DSH. A total of 239 (16.90%) patients engaged in at least one type of DSH in our study. Cutting (n = 115, 48.12%) was the most common type of DSH. Females (n = 171, 71.55%) were more likely to engage in DSH than males (n = 68, 28.45%). DSH was positively associated with depressive disorders [OR = 3.845 (2.196-6.732); P < 0.01], female [OR = 2.536 (1.815-3.542); P < 0.01], parental marital status [OR = 5.387 (2.254-12.875); P < 0.01] and negative family history of psychiatric illness [OR = 7.767 (2.952-20.433); P < 0.01], but not with occupation, substance use and history of physical abuse. Our findings suggest that for patients with depression, females, an abnormal marriage of parents, and no history of mental illness, attention should be paid to the occurrence of DSH.

The link between residential stability and youth substance use: Role of stressful life events and behavioral problems

IntroductionResidential stability is increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing youth positive development. While the existing body of research provides valuable insights, gaps remain regarding the determinants of residential stability and how its outcomes may vary by gender and race. This study aims to investigate the relationship between residential stability, substance use, and behavioral issues among children aged 9–10 years, with a focus on the mediating role of trauma exposure. MethodsThis research utilizes data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a longitudinal project initiated in 2016 with a sample of 11,849 participants. It explores the links between residential stability, socioeconomic factors, stress, and emotional and behavioral outcomes using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. Results findingsindicate that higher household income, living in a household with married parents, and residing in areas with greater household incomes correlate with residential stability. In turn, residential stability is linked to lower levels of life stress and reduced substance use in the future. Furthermore, the impact of residential stability on substance uses and CBCL scores was entirely mediated by trauma exposure. ConclusionsThe findings advocate for the implementation of economic, social, and public policies aimed at fostering stable living environments for children and families to mitigate the emotional and behavioral challenges future generations may face. Enhancing socioeconomic status and supporting structures that promote married family living arrangements emerge as effective strategies to improve residential stability and the well-being of young people in the United States.

The experience of parenting a child with dyslexia – A UK perspective with single parents

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects the development of literacy and language-related skills, unrelated to intellectual ability. While the impact of parenting an individual with dyslexia (IWD) for married parents has been widely studied, little is known about the impact on single parents. This study explored the lived experiences of single parents of an IWD. Six female participants completed semi-structured interviews discussing their experience of the diagnostic process, support received and general parenting perspectives. Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three main themes were identified: Navigating the diagnosis; Various levels of support; Battling Misconceptions and Lack of Knowledge. Findings suggested that single parents had a mixed experience, both after receiving the diagnosis and in terms of the support they received from family and schools. Differences in the quality of statutory support were highlighted, implicating the need for improved dyslexia support in schools. Unique challenges of parenting an IWD as a single parent were also identified, highlighting important implications. Future research should explore differences in single fathers' experiences and the impact of dyslexia comorbidities on single parents.

Parental Involvement in Children’s Education in the United States: Evidence from Annual Survey of Refugees

This study examined sociodemographic factors that influence parental involvement in children’s education among recently resettled refugees in the U.S. Data came from the 2018 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR). A sample of 1007 refugees aged 16 years or older was analyzed using chi-square tests to obtain the prevalence estimates and multiple logistic regression to predict an association between independent and dependent variables. The results indicate that females, married parents, those aged 25–29, and with good English proficiency were associated with higher odds of being involved in children’s education. However, unmarried refugees aged 55 or older were associated with lower odds of being involved in children’s education. Therefore, addressing existing gender disparities, language and cultural barriers, providing cultural orientation programs, encouraging parent-teacher communication, offering empowerment workshops, and increasing social support systems can help facilitate parental involvement in their children’s education. Further implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Diverse Early-Life Family Trajectories and Young Children’s Mental Health in the UK

Past research suggests that children from two-parent married families fare better than children from other families on many outcomes. Only fragmented evidence on diverse family trajectories in association with child mental health is available. Using multi-channel sequence analysis and data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we jointly capture maternal partnership trajectories and type of father co-residence between birth and age 5. We then assess the association between these family trajectories and child mental health at age 5 and 8 using random effects regression. Children whose trajectories include the entrance of a non-biological father or parental separation have the lowest levels of mental health. However, children of never partnered mothers and those who repartner with the biological father have comparable mental health to children of stably married biological parents. Thus, not all types of family complexity or instability appear to be equally detrimental to children’s mental health.

The Relation Between Personal Values and Gratitude: Does It Differ Between Young Adults From Divorced Families and Married Families?

Trait gratitude is an individual characteristic that makes people aware of the positive aspects of their lives and situations, and it represents a significant resource when facing critical life transitions. However, only a few studies have investigated which factors might promote gratitude. This study sought to fill this gap by analyzing the relationship between personal values and trait gratitude in a group of young adults with divorced parents compared to peers with married parents. One hundred and twenty-three Italian young adults (44.7% from divorced families) completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire-21 and the Gratitude Teen Survey. Results showed that conservation and self-transcendence values were positively related to gratitude for both groups. In contrast, self-enhancement values were positively associated with gratitude only among young adults with divorced parents. Limitations of the study, practical implications, and future research developments are discussed.