Non-parental Adult Research Articles

The power of connectedness: Associations between caring non-parental adult relationships, school attendance, and discipline among foster-involved youth

Relationships with caring adults are protective for adolescents. However, little is known about the impacts of caring adults for youth who have experienced disruptions in caregiving due to involvement in the foster care system, especially with regard to their school outcomes. We analyzed cross-sectional data from foster-involved youth (5th, 8th, 9th, & 11th graders, N = 4,629) who responded to the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate whether perceptions of caring in relationships with non-parental adult relatives, teachers/school staff, and adults in the community were associated with students’ absences and instances of being sent out of class for disciplinary reasons in the last 30 days. Significant, protective bivariate associations were noted between students’ perceptions of how much non-parental adult relatives in their lives care about them and their instances of school absences and exclusionary discipline (p <.05). Chi-square tests also revealed that high perceptions of caring in relationships with teachers and school staff were associated with fewer absences. Relationships with other adults in the community were not significantly associated with absences or discipline. In multivariate logistic regression analyses (controlling for sex, race and ethnicity, and grade), only associations between non-parental adult relative caring and absences (p =.01) and between non-parental adult relative caring and exclusionary discipline (p <.001) remained significant. Relationships with caring non-parental adults are important for youth involved in foster care and support school attendance and behavior. Families, schools, and foster care systems should prioritize youths’ connections with relatives and school staff to support their educational experiences.

“Love. Stability. Boundaries.” Kinship perspectives of social-emotional well-being of youth residing in out-of-home care

A significant number of children and youth in out-of-home care in the United States are placed in congregate care settings, and a large proportion of this group are age 12 and older. Many of these young people experience challenges to their social and emotional well-being resulting from contextual circumstances related to their placement into out-of-home care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the social and emotional well-being of youth in congregate care settings from the perspective of kin and fictive kin involved in the young people’s lives. Using qualitative methodology, 20 non-parental adults were asked to describe their perspectives of social and emotional well-being of youth at a time when they were residing in a congregate care setting. During semi-structured interviews, kin and fictive kin described a number of factors that undermine social and emotional well-being for youth in congregate care settings including interpersonal relationships, academic achievement, relationships with caregivers, and intrapersonal functioning. The findings suggest that when youth perceive their contextual environment within the congregate care setting as dependable, stable, and supportive, these young people experience success in school, were able to navigate difficult emotions successfully, and had hope for the future. This study underscores the important consideration of non-parental adult relationships with youth in congregate care and the limitations of unidimensional perspectives as the primary source for evaluating social and emotional well-being.

Associations Between non-parental Adult Support and Youths’ Individual and Contextual Characteristics

ABSTRACT While the role parents play in supporting young people is well established, support from other caring adults also becomes important during adolescence, particularly when young people are facing problems in their lives. The goal of this paper is to reflect on youth support seeking when facing problems, exploring differences between youth who seek support from parents only and those who seek support from parents and other non-parental adults. This paper outlines the findings of a secondary analysis of data from the third wave of the Growing up in Ireland child cohort at 17/18 years, collected from primary caregivers and youth. From 6126 young people in the national sample, 91.3% answered the selective question about the type of adult support they seek. Of this cohort, 36% of young people seek support from a parent and 48% go to a parent and another adult. Comparing these groups, there are significant differences found in both their individual and contextual characteristics, with better outcomes for youth with additional non-parental adult support, including using active coping strategies, better self-esteem, and identity resolution. While the findings indicate that non-parental adults have a positive influence in different areas of youth well-being, further research is required to better understand the ways in which support from non-parental adults helps young people in their transition to adulthood.

Factors associated with risk of developmental delay in preschool children in a setting with high rates of malnutrition: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the IHOPE study, Madagascar

Background50% of Malagasy children have moderate to severe stunting. In 2016, a new 10 year National Nutrition Action Plan (PNAN III) was initiated to help address stunting and developmental delay. We report factors associated with risk of developmental delay in 3 and 4 year olds in the rural district of Ifanadiana in southeastern Madagascar in 2016.MethodsThe data are from a cross-sectional analysis of the 2016 wave of IHOPE panel data (a population-representative cohort study begun in 2014). We interviewed women ages 15–49 using the MICS Early Child Development Indicator (ECDI) module, which includes questions for physical, socio-emotional, learning and literacy/numeracy domains. We analyzed ECDI data using standardized z scores for relative relationships for 2 outcomes: at-risk-for-delay vs. an international standard, and lower-development-than-peers if ECDI z scores were > 1 standard deviation below study mean. Covariates included demographics, adult involvement, household environment, and selected child health factors. Variables significant at alpha of 0.1 were included a multivariable model; final models used backward stepwise regression, clustered at the sampling level.ResultsOf 432 children ages 3 and 4 years, 173 (40%) were at risk for delay compared to international norms and 68 children (16.0%) had lower-development than peers. This was driven mostly by the literacy/numeracy domain, with only 7% of children considered developmentally on track in that domain. 50.5% of children had moderate to severe stunting. 76 (17.6%) had > = 4 stimulation activities in past 3 days.Greater paternal engagement (OR 1.5 (1.09, 2.07)) was associated with increased delay vs. international norms. Adolescent motherhood (OR. 4.09 (1.40, 11.87)) decreased children’s development vs. peers. Engagement from a non-parental adult reduced odds of delay for both outcomes (OR (95%CI = 0.76 (0.63, 0.91) & 0.27 (0.15, 0 48) respectively). Stunting was not associated with delay risk (1.36 (0.85, 2.15) or low development (0.92 (0.48, 1.78)) when controlling for other factors.ConclusionsIn this setting of high child malnutrition, stunting is not independently associated with developmental risk. A low proportion of children receive developmentally supportive stimulation from adults, but non-parent adults provide more stimulation in general than either mother or father. Stimulation from non-parent adults is associated with lower odds of delay.

Cultivation of Natural Mentors to Strengthen Resiliency in Youth: A Program Theory of Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM)

Natural mentoring relationships are supportive relationships that form organically between youth and important non-parental adults (e.g., friends, teachers, athletic coaches, extended family members) from within their existing social networks. These relationships are thought to foster positive youth development and buffer against risks, particularly those associated with the transitions that characterize adolescence. Providing youth with the opportunity to identify and engage a non-parental adult from their social network in a mentoring relationship constitutes the Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM) approach. The current article describes the aim and context of this new approach, its target population, the intended individual and societal outcomes, and how these outcomes may be achieved. We also describe various YIM program models addressing universal, Dr. Levi Van Dam researcher at the University of Amsterdam and founder of the Dutch YIM foundation 4 Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice – 2020 – Volume 29, Issue 1 Cultivation of Natural Mentors to Strengthen Resiliency in Youth selective, and indicated preventative approaches. Our goal is to provide social work practitioners with the tools to carry out their work and to provide direction for researchers to test hypotheses about YIM.

Leveraging Relational Metaphors: An Analysis of Non-Parental Adult Roles in Response to Youth Needs

The present study takes a strength-based approach to understand how young people’s individual needs shape their relationships with significant non-parental adults across adolescence. The analyses drew from qualitative interviews with 27 youth across five time-points (3 years). Three types of youth needs were identified and labeled using metaphors that refer to other prominent relationships in youth lives: coach-like adults were providing help toward a specific achievement or skill development, friend-like adults were providing positive youth-focused companionship, and parent-like adults were nurturing a budding sense of self amid a plethora of life challenges. Each of these sets of youth needs was further examined through thematic analysis and case studies. Implications for future research and models of effective youth mentorship are discussed.

\u2018Just because she\u2019s young, it doesn\u2019t mean she has to die\u2019: exploring the contributing factors to high maternal mortality in adolescents in Eastern Freetown; a qualitative study

BackgroundIn Sierra Leone, 34% of pregnancies and 40% of maternal deaths are in the adolescent population. Risks are known to be higher for younger adolescents, this being borne out by a household survey in Eastern Freetown in 2015. This current qualitative study, funded by Wellbeing of Women’s international midwifery fellowship, was conducted to explore the causes of this high incidence of maternal death for younger teenagers, and to identify possible interventions to improve outcomes.MethodsThis qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (n = 19) and focus groups (n = 6), with a wide range of professional and lay participants, recorded with consent. Recordings were transcribed by the first author and a Krio-speaking colleague where necessary, and Nvivo software was used to assist with theming of the data around the three main research questions.ResultsThemes from discussions on vulnerability to teenage pregnancy focused on transactional sex, especially for girls living outside of their birth family. They included sex for school fees, sex with teachers for grades, sex for food and clothes, and sex to lessen the impact of the time-consuming duties of water collection and petty trading. In addition, the criminal justice system and the availability and accessibility of contraception and abortion were included within this major theme. Within the major theme of vulnerability to death once pregnant, abandonment, delayed care seeking, and being cared for by a non-parental adult were identified. Several obstetric risks were discussed by midwives, but were explicitly related to the socio-economic factors already mentioned. A cross-cutting theme throughout the data was of gendered social norms for sexual behaviour, for both boys and girls, being reinforced by significant adults such as parents and teachers.ConclusionFindings challenge the notion that adolescent girls have the necessary agency to make straightforward choices about their sexual behaviour and contraceptive use. For girls who do become pregnant, risks are believed to be related more to stigma and abandonment than to physical maturity, leading to lack of family-based support and delayed care-seeking for antenatal and delivery care. Two potential interventions identified within the research are a mentoring scheme for the most vulnerable pregnant girls and a locally managed blood donation register. A feasibility study of a pilot mentoring scheme is currently underway, run by the first author and a local partner.

Mentoring Relationship Quality and Maltreated Children's Coping

Coping strategies are believed to protect against the harmful effects of maltreatment on children's psychosocial outcomes. Caregivers are thought to be critical in helping children develop adaptive coping strategies, yet many maltreated children have poor and/or insecure relationships with their parents. A quality relationship with a caring, non-parental adult (e.g., a mentor), however, may be one strategy to promote healthy coping among maltreated children. Children (N=154) in this study participated in a mentoring and skill-based program for maltreated preadolescents placed in foster care. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the association between children's reports of their relationship with their mentor at the end of the intervention and four coping strategies (i.e., Active, Support-seeking, Avoidance, and Distraction) 6months following the intervention, while accounting for baseline coping strategies and other demographic factors. Above and beyond the covariates, better mentoring relationship quality was associated with children's greater use of Active and Distraction coping 6-month post-intervention. Mentoring relationship quality was not significantly associated with children's Avoidance or Support-seeking coping. The findings suggest that mentoring programs may be a fruitful approach to improving vulnerable children's coping skills. Healthy coping is hypothesized to protect against the harmful effects of maltreatment and to promote resilience in the face of multiple stressors (Banyard & Williams, ; Boxer & Sloan-Power, 2013; Cicchetti & Rogosch, 2009). It remains unclear, however, how best to promote positive coping among maltreated children, who are disproportionately exposed to numerous adverse childhood experiences (Raviv, Taussig, Culhane & Garrido, 2010). Theories of coping emphasize the importance of coping socialization through quality parent-child relationships (Kliewer etal., 2006; Skinner & Wellborn, ). Unfortunately, many maltreated children are exposed to poor quality and/or inadequate caregiving (Baer & Martinez, 2006), which may place them at risk for engaging in unhealthy or inappropriate forms of coping. It is reasonable to expect that positive relationships with other non-parental adults (e.g., mentors) would affect coping behaviors given the positive impact that quality relationships have on a myriad of emotional and behavioral child outcomes (DuBois, Portillo, Rhodes, Silverthorn & Valentine, 2011; Keller & Pryce, 2012; Thomson & Zand, ). Because children in foster care often transition in and out of schools and home environments, a quality relationship with a mentor (a consistent presence in the child's life) may be well suited to promote healthy coping strategies.

“I don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for them”: Emancipated foster care youth and their important non-parental adults

Research has identified the benefits of having non-parental adults for older youth in foster care, but less is known about the characteristics of these relationships, as well as the processes that support the foster youth as they transition from care to independence. The present study included a diverse group of 99 young adults, who recently emancipated from care in a major U.S. city. These young adults reported having a very important non-parental adult (VIP) and 63 of these VIPs were also included in this study. The youth participated in a two-hour in-person interview followed by a survey, and the VIPs underwent a phone interview; all of these interviews were later transcribed and qualitatively coded using thematic analysis. Overall, this study aimed to: 1) identify the characteristics of these VIPs, and 2) elucidate how the VIPs support youth during the transition from care. Prominent characteristics of the youth and VIP relationship identified in this study include the relationship being “parent-like”, respectful, and reciprocal with regards to communication. Moreover, it was found that both the youth and the VIPs viewed these relationships to be important in reducing negative outcomes for the youth. These results call for the foster care system to take steps in helping foster care youth find and build relationships with the non-parental adults in their lives — VIPs can serve as important sources of support to aid foster youth in their adaptation to young adulthood.

Important Non-parental Adults and Positive Youth Development Across Mid- to Late-Adolescence: The Moderating Effect of Parenting Profiles

Both parents and important non-parental adults have influential roles in promoting positive youth development (PYD). Little research, however, has examined the simultaneous effects of both parents and important non-parental adults for PYD. We assessed the relationships among youth-reported parenting profiles and important non-parental adult relationships in predicting the Five Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) in four cross-sectional waves of data from the 4-H Study of PYD (Grade 9: N = 975, 61.1% female; Grade 10: N = 1,855, 63.4% female; Grade 11: N = 983, 67.9% female; Grade 12: N = 703, 69.3% female). The results indicated the existence of latent profiles of youth-reported parenting styles based on maternal warmth, parental school involvement, and parental monitoring that were consistent with previously identified profiles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved) as well as reflecting several novel profiles (highly involved, integrative, school-focused, controlling). Parenting profile membership predicted mean differences in the Five Cs at each wave, and also moderated the relationships between the presence of an important non-parental adult and the Five Cs. In general, authoritative and highly involved parenting predicted higher levels of PYD and a higher likelihood of being connected to an important non-parental adult. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research on adult influences of youth development and for programs that involve adults in attempts to promote PYD.

Validating the NonParental Adult Inventory (NPAI) for Mental Health Assessment and Research

Survey data collected from 518 parent-adolescent dyads were used to examine the psychometric properties of the NonParental Adult Inventory (NPAI). Test-retest reliability, internal reliability, and factor structure were examined. Reliability analyses indicate adequate to good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses support three-factor models that differ for parent and adolescent samples, both of which explain approximately 54% of the variance. The NPAI reveals a three-factor structure that clearly differentiates between related and nonrelated adults in both adolescent and parent samples. This scale may be useful to both practitioners in assessment procedures and researchers for use in multivariate analyses.

Important Nonparental Adults as an Academic Resource for Youth

This study examined the associations between various sources of social support and academic achievement. Participants were 313 ethnically diverse students attending a low-income intermediate school in New Zealand (mean age = 11.96 years). They reported on the presence and nature of a relationship with a very important nonparental adult in their lives (VIP), and on parent, peer, and VIP warmth and acceptance. Indicators of academic achievement (standardized tests) were also gathered from the school. Results showed that 62% of the youth reported the presence of at least one VIP in their lives, and there was a significant, positive correlation between VIP presence and the majority of academic achievement variables. VIP warmth was uniquely associated with all achievement variables, while parent and peer warmth were nonsignificant in the presence of VIP warmth. The results indicate that VIPs are an important resource for youth who are at risk of low achievement.

Nonparental Adults as Social Resources in the Transition to Adulthood

This short-term longitudinal study examined whether the social resources of important nonparental adults (VIPs) perceived by youth during their senior year of high school had a significant relation to their educational and socioemotional adjustment 1 year later. One month before their high school graduation, a multiethnic sample of youths (N=754) reported on their grades, educational expectations, and selected psychosocial characteristics (i.e., depressed mood and misconduct); the educational attainment and perceived psychosocial characteristics of an important nonparental adult in their lives; and the educational plans and perceived psychosocial characteristics of their close friends. Key measures were included in a mailed survey 1 year later. VIP characteristics (particularly their educational attainment) were associated with post-high school adjustment, even after controlling for previous level of youth adjustment and contributions from demographic and peer characteristics. © 2010 The Authors. Journal of Research on Adolescence © 2010 Society for Research on Adolescence.

Exploring Adolescents’ Relationships with Non-Parental Adults Using the Non-Parental Adult Inventory (N.P.A.I.)

Adolescents’ relationships with non-parental adults is one identified protective factor that has received comparable little attention. Previous work indicates that significant, non-parental adults play an important role in adolescent development. This exploratory study examines the frequency of adolescent contact with non-parental adults, and their enjoyment of that contact using the Non-Parental Adult Inventory (N.P.A.I.). Gender and age differences among adolescent reports, and differences between parent and adolescent reports are explored. Frequency and reported enjoyment of adolescent contact within select categories of non-parental adults differed by gender. Parent and adolescent reports significantly differed with parents both underestimating and overestimating the strength of adolescents’ relationships with select adult groups. Results provide preliminary data regarding the nature of adolescents’ relationships with a broad range of non-parental adults.

Extended families and adolescent well-being

Purpose To examine the association between adolescent well-being and the presence of non-parental adults in the household. Methods The sample for this study was obtained from the 1995 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The sample consists of adolescents who reside with parents and at least one non-parental adult. Non-parental adults include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. Two measures of adolescent well-being are examined: depressive symptoms and deviant behavior. Regression analyses include controls for family structure, parent and child characteristics, and parent-child relations. Results The presence of grandparents in the household is associated with less deviant behavior overall, and fewer depressive symptoms among Blacks. The presence of other adults such as aunts, uncles, and other relatives is associated with greater depressive symptoms overall, but less deviant behavior among adolescents in households with large numbers of siblings. Conclusions The association between extended families and adolescent well-being is not as straightforward as often assumed. Results point to the need for caution when discussing the benefits of such families as their impact varies with outcome of interest, the relationship to the child, and other characteristics within the family.

Extended Family Members and Unrelated Adults in the Lives of Young Adolescents

The presence of caring adults in the extended family and unrelated adults, such as neighbors, teachers, youth workers, and clergy, is thought to make a positive contribution to young adolescent development. Many reports mention the importance of those relationships, but there is a sparse empirical literature describing their nature and role in young adolescents' lives. The available literature is reviewed here with respect to (a) identifying the nonparental adults who positively affect adolescents; (b) characterizing the kinds and frequency of contact between adolescents and nonparental adults; and (c) articulating the functions that the relationship serves and specifying the personal characteristics of the nonparental adult. Specifically addressed in this article are the ways in which age and grade, gender ethnicity, and socioeconomic status of the adolescent, and the characteristics of the community, affect adolescents' relationships with nonparental adults.

The Role of Urine in Parent‐Offspring Communication in a Cichlid Fish

AbstractThe fry of the Midas cichlid, Cichlasoma citrinellum, preferred over blank water, a urine solution from either parent or from a nonparental adult of either sex. They failed to show a preference for the urine of a predator, C. managuense, or for the mucus from the mother. It is possible that steroid titers in urine could provide information on sex, and that peptide chains in urine could indicate species. The chemosensory acuity of fry is high, as they were able to detect a “concentration” of pheromone as low as one sibling per 2 1 of water. This high acuity implies that olfaction rather than gustation mediated the chemosensory responses described above.