Family Norms Research Articles

Family Ties: Vatican Humanitarianism and Family Reunification at the End of Empire

This essay analyses the Holy See's engagement in the postwar discourse surrounding displaced minors by focusing on the case of displaced Italian children from Libya. Separated from their families and evacuated to Italy at the onset of the Second World War, they were placed in Italian Youth of the Lictor (Gioventù Italiana del Littorio; GIL) camps. In the aftermath of the war, these displaced children petitioned to return to their families who had remained in territories no longer part of the Italian empire. This article shows how the Papal Aid Committee for Assisting Refugees took part in the relocation efforts and contributed to the conversation on family reunification. By navigating postwar aid and forming unexpected alliances, the Holy See not only contributed to reshaping Italy's geopolitical presence in the Mediterranean but also solidified conservative family norms within the international discussion on humanitarianism.

Impact of fundamentalism on human capital, women's social status and demographics: Evidence from Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq

I analyze the impact of the religious fundamentalists’ rule on regional human capital development and women's social status by exploiting the unexpected rise and fall of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in northwestern Iraq (2014∼2017). I find a large downward impact of exposure to ISIS rule on female human capital and an upward one on fertility rate for women who were school-aged at the time of ISIS occupation. These women express more patriarchal family norms and are more likely to belong to a polygamous union, implying a decline in women's social status. This decline in human capital and the rise of patriarchal family norms doesn't cause a significant negative impact on the development of their pre-school-aged children, possibly implying that these women didn't decrease parenting effort for their children. In summary, even a brief period of extremist rule has potentially large impacts on human capital development and culture.

Which reference groups matter for Taiwanese high school adolescent smoking? A card sorting study

BackgroundAdolescence represents a pivotal period for the initiation of smoking behaviours. While family, peer and social groups serve as significant reference groups influencing adolescents’ decision-making process, there remains a paucity of research that examines how diversified reference groups influence their smoking decisions.ObjectiveThe objective is to compare normative and informative influences given by different reference groups on adolescents’ smoking decision-making.DesignThis study applied reference group theory and used the card sorting technique. Adolescents were presented with 16 cards portraying various reference groups and 27 cards portraying different types of reference group influences. They were asked to construct sentences as smoking-elicited and smoking-inhibited cues and ranked these influences based on their relevance to their smoking decision-making.ParticipantsThe participants were recruited from four cities in the North, Central, South and East regions of Taiwan. The study sample consisted of 297 Taiwanese 11th graders drawn from high schools, vocational high schools and night schools.Primary outcome measuresThe most influential reference group among smokers, former smokers and never smokers.ResultsOur results of multivariable logistic regression show that for current smokers, having a smoking best friend (aOR=7.58,p<0.01), having a smoking colleague (aOR=3.83,p<0.01) and participating in ceremonial dance performances (aOR=4.62,p<0.01) are more likely to smoke. Peers play an important role in providing smoking-elicited cues for current smokers. Families provided the most smoking-inhibited cues for former and never smokers. Normative influences such as encouraging adolescent smoking provided more cues for adolescents than informative influences such as releasing stress by smoking.ConclusionsAdolescent smoking behaviour was influenced by peer norms, while former and non-smoking behaviours are associated with family norms. Therefore, tobacco prevention efforts should focus more on family-level interventions to discourage smoking initiation. Smoking cessation programmes for current smokers should address the reduction of peer pressure to smoke. Moreover, schools and community partners should collaborate to develop effective smoking cessation strategies, particularly for high-risk groups such as adolescents who involved in ceremonial dance performance.

The prohibitions against murder and incest: transgressions and consequences

The link between incest and domestic violence is explored. Violence is an inherent characteristic of humanity, but its expression is supposed to be channeled by family and societal norms, notably the fundamental prohibitions of murder and incest. The aggressor's act lies outside these common norms, while the victims are often made vulnerable by a family past marked by violence.

Social Aspects of Food and Nutrition: An Overview

This article explores the multifaceted social aspects of food and nutrition, examining how cultural, economic, and social factors influence dietary habits and health outcomes. It discusses sociological perspectives, including structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, highlighting their relevance to food and nutrition. The article also addresses food as a social problem, focusing on issues such as food safety, biotechnology, and dietary disorders, and the role of public health policies in managing these concerns. Cultural influences on food and nutrition are analyzed with examples from various societies, illustrating how traditional foods, religious beliefs, and globalization shape dietary practices. Social influences on eating behavior, including family, peer, and societal norms, are explored, emphasizing their implications for nutritional interventions. The article delves into socio-economic inequalities in nutrition, discussing barriers to healthy eating faced by low-income populations and proposing strategies to address these disparities. Finally, the emerging field of nutritional epigenetics is examined, considering its social and biological implications for long-term health outcomes.

The Effect of Gendered Power Relations on Food Production among Female-headed Households in Mbarara District, Southwestern Uganda

Gendered power relations refer to the way males and females exercise influence at the household level in terms of decision-making, planning, resource utilization and executing family affairs from time to time(Agarwal, 1997; Manser & Brown, 1979). These relations define how females and males interrelate while taking steps to handle issues of managing and utilizing resources as well as handling overall family welfare at the household level(Bohren et al., 2024; Weeratunge et al., 2016). Drawing from the traditional African society perspective, gendered power relations are that aspect that defines family norms, roles and values (Heise et al., 2019; Ponthieux & Meurs, 2015). Gender power relations influence food production in many developing countries, as land which is a major factor of production is largely seen and viewed as a preserve of men to control(Croppenstedt et al., 2013; Rao, 2006). The situation is even more complex among female-headed households, where despite females being household heads, society seems not to trust them with the absolute power they deserve to manage and utilize resources for food production(Agarwal, 1997; Fonjong et al., 2013). This puts the female heads of these households in a more vulnerable state as well as their families (Yoosefi Lebni et al., 2020). In effect, their livelihoods are affected as manifested in terms of inadequate household income, food insecurity, health status, as well as compromised psychological well-being (Myers, 2020; Yoosefi Lebni et al., 2020).

The Role of Family Members on Decision Making Related to Fast Food

When it comes to consumer behavior, the impact that family members have on choices surrounding the consumption of fast food is a significant factor that plays a vital role. An investigation of the ways in which the dynamics of families influence preferences, choices, and consumption patterns within the fast-food sector is presented in this paper. The purpose of this study is to expose the complex web of decision-making processes that occur inside families by analyzing the roles and dynamics that exist within families, such as parental authority, sibling influence, and preferences that are passed down from generation to generation. In addition, it investigates the role that family norms, beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds have on the decisions that people make about fast food, offering insight on the ways in which these elements jointly affect consumer behavior. For marketers and politicians who want to encourage healthy eating habits and address social problems connected to nutrition and health within family groups, it is essential to have a solid understanding of these interactions.

Administrative control mechanisms in the descent-based family reunification of refugees

ABSTRACT Since it establishes differentiated socio-legal eligibility categories among different migrant groups, family reunification constitutes a prime example of the internal border. In my article, I investigate how the border is produced and negotiated in the context of family reunification of refugee children and parents by focusing on discretionary practices of German immigration bureaucracy through the lens of counselling actors in the city. Taking the city of Frankfurt am Main as my research site, I identify ignorance, verification, and temporalization as three administrative control mechanisms over descent-based refugee families. I argue that family reunification constitutes a highly selective and culturalized field of border control, in which refugee families are filtered according to their conformity to a certain family norm and European bureaucratic standards. By examining how counselling actors understand administrative practice, I also discuss how they respond to it, including their own participation in de- and (re-)bordering.

LIFE AFTER STROKE AND THE KEY ROLE OF COORDINATED REHABILITATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE STROKE SURVIVOR FAMILIES

Introduction. Stroke significantly affects the lives of survivors, requiring adaptation to lost capabilities while impacting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Stroke is a leading cause of acquired disability in adults and a significant contributor to mortality, particularly among older individuals and in low-income countries. A stroke is described as a neurological deficit caused by acute damage to the central nervous system. Aim. The study's main aim was to explore the use of coordinated stroke rehabilitation before, during, and after hospital discharge. It examined components of coordinated rehabilitation, focusing on the needs of the client's family. This study was conducted as part of the GAJU 066/2022/S project and approved by the ethics committee under 6/2022. Materials and methods. This study used a qualitative research approach and semi-structured interviews with family members caring for stroke patients. The data collected was then analyzed using various coding strategies with the assistance of ATLAS.ti software. This rigorous methodology ensured the reliability and validity of the study's findings. Results. The effects of strokes are profound, not only on patients but also on their families and caregivers. Adapting to life after a stroke necessitates significant changes in family dynamics, values, and norms. The importance of effective communication and support from healthcare staff during patient hospitalization cannot be overstated. Respondents highlighted the role of quality care and communication in ensuring a positive hospital stay. However, they also pointed out certain deficiencies, such as delayed stroke diagnosis and inadequate information about post-discharge care and rehabilitation. The study underscored the importance of at-home rehabilitation in familiar environments for functional improvement. Conclusions. Life after a stroke presents a substantial challenge for patients and their families, requiring physical, psychosocial, and emotional adaptation. Coordinated rehabilitation facilitates post-stroke adjustments for patients and families and increases overall quality of life. Improved coordination and communication among healthcare providers, development of multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams, and effective post-discharge monitoring and support systems are essential for comprehensive care tailored to the needs of the patient and their families. Stroke patient family members advocate for enhanced support and services for better rehabilitation and for coping with post-stroke challenges.

What is the cure for absolute infertility? Biomedicalisation and routinisation of surrogacy and uterus transplantation in Nordic medical journals

AbstractThis article investigates 20 years of discursive struggles in Nordic medical journals around the process of legitimating and routinising gestational surrogacy and uterus transplantation in Finland and Sweden. The comparative analysis through critical discourse analysis suggests that influential health care professionals have contributed to different levels of legal and cultural adaptation of the methods, prioritising non-commercial gestational surrogacy in Finland and uterus transplantation in Sweden. The article identifies central discursive turning points in the medical journal discussions by interpreting them against the background of medical and policy developments in Finland and Sweden during the analysed twenty-year period. Legitimation and routinisation of surrogacy and uterus transplantation were developed through biomedicalisation by representing them as infertility treatments and emphasising the relational dynamics between donors and recipients—a connection that in the Nordic context is often based on kinship or close relationships. The diagnosis of absolute uterine factor infertility was central to representing women as on the boundary between fertile and infertile, as they may have functioning ovaries. Through the biomedicalised rhetoric of equal opportunities for biogenetic motherhood, the diagnosed women’s ambiguous reproductive status was used to legitimise the two methods as cures for absolute infertility, thereby reinforcing hegemonic family and kinship norms.

서울가정법원의 소년법원적 기원과 비인간화의 기술

The Seoul Family Court was established on October 1, 1963 as the successor to the Juvenile Branch Court of the Seoul District Court. The Seoul Family Court considered the investigation of juvenile cases and the investigation and mediation of family cases as the main principles of the family court. This meant that the knowledge and system of the juvenile court, which punished juvenile delinquency, and the techniques of dehumanization using various disciplines were justified under the system of the family court. In this way, the mediators of the Seoul Family Court assumed the role of “therapeutic justice,” which expanded social norms and control over the family and continuously disseminated relevant content to society. This “therapeutic justice” was a combination of public and private intervention, realized primarily through the reconstruction of common-law marriage norms and the reinforcement of heterosexual normal family norms through family court decisions. This technique of dehumanization, which does not recognize the self-determination of the individual, encompassed both heterosexuals and homosexuals in Korea at that time.

Thematic analysis of the experiences and perceptions of family business successors prior to their mantle of leadership in Nigeria

The experiences and perceptions of family business successors prior to their choice as the successors of their family business were explored to determine the qualities that attracted their choice as family business successors and how these qualities impacted their success since they assumed the mantle of leadership. Fifteen successful family businesses with successors controlling the businesses were purposively selected to suit the research goals. The selection was done through snowball sampling, while convenience sampling was used to select participants for face-to-face interviews. Each interview averaged 15 minutes. Thematic interpretive text analysis was performed on the data, and interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were coded into categories, namely prior experience, training of the successor, education of the successor, passion, and commitment of the successor. Findings revealed that commitment without passion for the business might not be sustainable due to potential business challenges that could undermine commitment and focus. However, strong passion for the business could foster determination to succeed despite challenges. The family believed that education would guide the successor, providing exposure, confidence, and opportunities to bolster the family business image globally. Prior experience gave family business successors the confidence to settle down easily and meet family and community expectations, addressing challenges faster while maintaining business culture and capabilities. Community and family norms perceived education as essential in choosing a successor. Passion was a key success factor in choosing successors, and successors' passion grew upon realizing their formidable role in the family business.

Fostering family values and norms among students as a prerequisite for preventing an axiological crisis in society

The article presents the results of a series of focus groups with Perm University students (n=36) on «Searching in optimal practices for promoting family values and norms among students». Analysis showed, inter alia, that 1) growing distrust of students towards the state, as well as schools and universities as conductors of state policy, weakens the disciplinary function of these institutions, yet 2) it is from schools and universities that students expect effective help in terms of sex education, and from the state they expect the suppression of «digital uncared-for-ness», which gives rise to sexual promiscuity and lack of cultural norms; 3) adults as agents of socialization are required to increasingly engage the students in socially significant activities and events, which would ultimately boost the level of his/her responsibility for his/her nears and dears, including future children; 4) it is essential to use game-like approaches to helping students solve their psychological issues by involving graduates of drama schools and/or psychology departments, 5) all activities at school, including academic disciplines of the arts and humanities cycle, should influence the teenager’s consciousness in terms of adopting models of successful interpersonal, and intergender, relationships; 6) it is advisable to fully support the projects of bloggers who are student opinion leaders and actively engage bloggers in the development of government initiatives. The article contributes to the plans by axiologists and the government to elaborate effective methods for regulating family relationships among students and maintaining traditional values in society.

Comparative View of Marriage Law in the period of Republic of China

The study of comparative marriage law in the Republic of China took the impact of western institutional thoughts as the thrust and the mission of modern national salvation as the gravity. It extensively referenced the marriage and family system of different countries, different traditions and different regions while constantly reflecting on the reform road of domestic marriage and family system. Thus, three views are formed, namely, the theory of overall Westernization, the theory of Respect oneself and be contemptible and treating the condition of the country. Among them, the theory of Respect oneself and be contemptible is deeply criticized by the theory of overall Westernization and the theory of considering national conditions. On the other hand, the theory of overall Westernization and the theory of considering national conditions have their own arguments, and they are interwoven in the comparison of Chinese and Western marriage and family system views and the comparison of specific marriage and family norms. No matter how different their positions are, they are both deeply influenced by Western liberalism and individualism. Therefore, the perspective of comparative marriage law in the Republic of China shows distinct characteristics of The Times, criticism and westernization.

Lenjeh, Gittal, Kanyi dll: Kata-Kata Lokal untuk Mengontrol dan Menekan Ekspresi Tubuh Perempuan

This article discusses the existence of the term "flirtatious" in various regions of Indonesia on women's behavior, particularly in public spaces, reflecting symbolic power dynamics. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach with FGDs and in-depth interviews involving individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and occupations, it explores how these local expressions regulate women's conduct. Using Bourdieu's theory about symbolic violence, the findings reveal that such terms primarily target women to modify their behavior and are enforced by authoritative figures, shaping girls' interactions with men beyond the family sphere. These local expressions evolve into entrenched beliefs and practices, representing not only familial norms but also perpetuating symbolic violence within Indonesia's patriarchal cultural framework

The Intersectionality Experiences of Executive, Female Minorities Ascending in STEM: A Qualitative, Transcendental, Phenomenological Study

Female minorities are represented scarcely in leadership positions within STEM. Previous research focused on increasing STEM education of minorities, not exploring the underlying issues affecting these groups in the workforce. It has driven the relevance of this study, which focuses on examining the intersectional experiences of cisgender, female minority leaders on their career paths, and examines the coping mechanisms which created resilience allowing these women to rise to high-level positions in STEM. The theoretical construct used is the 360-Degree Gender Sphere, which describes the barriers that prevent women from moving up the corporate ladder. The results of the study indicate that minority women who are leaders in STEM fields did indeed face a 360-Degree Gender Sphere, in particular challenges and obstacles from direct leaders, family, gender structures, themselves, peers and social norms. Further, they were encapsulated by a “360-degree intersectionality sphere” a peripheral and tangentially related outer layer of challenges and obstacles, including cultural stereotypes, cultural micro-attacks, cultural macro-aggressions, microaggressions from the H/R environment, cultural isolation, cultural doubts, cultural naivety, cultural micro-attacks, cultural stereotypical threats and geographical cultural macroaggression. The results also showed that women overcame these difficulties by creating resilience to these challenges that influenced their practice, education and leadership. The impact of this research can be useful in the process of initiating and shaping impulses for changes in society, women’s communities, business, geopolitical formations and political systems in the world. The practical significance of this study is that it deepens the knowledge and equips minority females with information and skills for self-realization and successful career building in STEM fields.

IJCM_226A: Bridging the Gap: Model Immunization Centers in Urban Bihar - A Study on Factors Shaping Community Acceptance and Utilization for Improved Immunization Coverage

Background: Despite significant strides in immunization coverage, Full Immunization coverage in urban areas of India lags behind rural regions, with Urban India recording 75.5% compared to 76.8% in rural areas. Additionally, the prevalence of zero-dose children is higher in Urban India (7.5%) compared to rural counterparts (6.3%). Urbanization introduces a complex dynamic marked by poverty, migration, and growing disparities in health access, social services, and economic resources that necessitate innovative strategies to address immunization inequities in urban settings. In this direction, the Government of Bihar in 2017 introduced the concept of Model Immunization Centers (MICs) to provide high-quality immunization services to urban poor and marginalized to improve coverage and build trust, confidence and motivation for public immunization services. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to assess and identify the factors that shape the community’s acceptance and utilization of immunization services at MICs in Patna and Siwan. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data analysis of immunization records and demographic information with qualitative assessments of community perceptions through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study site i.e., Patna and Siwan Districts of Bihar was purposively selected. Results: The study found that the effectiveness of MICs was significantly influenced by family, community, and social norms. Additionally, MICs played a pivotal role in enhancing people’s trust, confidence, and motivation through the provision of a favourable environment, hygiene maintenance, the availability of free vaccines, reduced waiting times, and courteous staff behaviour. These factors have collectively led to improved immunization coverage, increased footfall, and improved rates of full immunization. Conclusion: The success of MIC in gaining people’s trust and confidence has been a driving force behind the increase in footfall coverage at session sites and high Full Immunization Coverage in Patna and Siwan

The educational diffusion of divorce: The role of gender and context

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines the educational diffusion of divorce in Europe and the role of women's decision‐making therein.BackgroundAs the contextual barriers to divorce have lowered, the divorce rates of less‐educated women have increased in many societies. Changes in divorce barriers are likely more pertinent to married women than to married men. However, no previous study has tested whether less‐educated women increasingly take the initiative to divorce or whether less‐educated women are increasingly left by their husbands.MethodThe authors used retrospective panel data from the Generations and Gender Survey, covering 39,650 marital unions across 49 country‐cohort contexts in Europe. Multilevel models showed how divorce barriers were associated with the educational gradient in divorce. Competing‐risks models decomposed the associations into a wife‐initiated share and a husband‐ or jointly‐initiated share.ResultsLower divorce barriers are associated with the educational diffusion of divorce. This diffusion is largely driven by women's own divorce initiation.ConclusionMore permissive family norms and greater economic autonomy enable less‐educated women to leave a dissatisfying marriage.

Perspective: Nutrition Health Disparities Framework: A Model to Advance Health Equity

Disparities in nutrition, such as poor diet quality and inadequate nutrient intake, arise from multiple factors and are related to adverse health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. The aim of the current perspective is to present a nutrition-centric socioecological framework that delineates determinants and factors that contribute to diet and nutrition-related disparities among disadvantaged populations. The Nutrition Health Disparities Framework (NHDF) describes the domains (biological, behavioral, physical/built environment, sociocultural environment, and healthcare system) that influence nutrition-related health disparities through the lens of each level of influence (that is, individual, interpersonal, community, and societal). On the basis of the scientific literature, the authors engaged in consensus decision making in selecting nutrition-related determinants of health within each domain and socioecological level when creating the NHDF. The framework identifies how neighborhood food availability and access (individual/built environment) intersect with cultural norms and practices (interpersonal/sociocultural environment) to influence dietary behaviors, exposures, and risk of diet-related diseases. In addition, the NHDF shows how factors such as genetic predisposition (individual/biology), family dietary practices (interpersonal/behavioral), and food marketing policies (societal) may impact the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages and increase chronic disease risk. Family and peer norms (interpersonal/behavior) related to breastfeeding and early childhood nutrition interact with resource-poor environments such as lack of access to preventive healthcare settings (societal/healthcare system) and low usage of federal nutrition programs (societal/behavioral), which may increase risk of poor nutrition during childhood and food insecurity. The NHDF describes the synergistic interrelationships among factors at different levels of the socioecological model that influence nutrition-related outcomes and exacerbate health disparities. The framework is a useful resource for nutrition researchers, practitioners, food industry leaders, and policymakers interested in improving diet-related health outcomes and promoting health equity in diverse populations.

The digitalization of family life: A multilevel conceptual framework

AbstractThe internet and digital technologies have penetrated all domains of people's lives, and family life is no exception. Despite being a characterizing feature of contemporary family change, the digitalization of family life has yet to be systematically theorized. Against this backdrop, this article develops a multilevel conceptual framework for understanding the digitalization of family life and illustrates the framework by synthesizing state‐of‐the‐art research from multiple disciplines across global contexts. At a micro level, as individuals “do” family online, digitalization influences diverse aspects of family practices, including family formation, functioning, and contact. How individuals “do” family online is not free‐floating but embedded in macro‐level economic, sociocultural, and political systems underpinning processes of digitalization. Bridging the micro–macro divide, family‐focused online communities serve as a pivotal intermediary at the meso level, where people display family life to, and exchange family‐related support with, mostly nonfamily members. Meso‐level online communities are key sites for forming and diffusing collective identities and shared family norms. Bringing together the three levels, the framework also considers cross‐level interrelations to develop a holistic digital ecology of family life. The article concludes by discussing the contributions of the framework to understanding family change and advancing family scholarship in the digital age.