Nuclear Family System Research Articles

Exploring the Association between Sexual Orientation Beliefs and Ambivalent Sexism in Young Adults

This paper investigated the association between sexual orientation beliefs and ambivalent sexism in young adults. It was hypothesized that sexual orientation beliefs would correlate with and predicate ambivalent sexism, while there would be significant sociodemographic differences across the study variables. Selecting a cross-sectional (correlation) approach, a non-probability convenient sample of 221 young adults (Mage = 24.84, SDage = 5.82) was recruited. After filling out a detailed sociodemographic information sheet, the participants responded to original (English) versions of the Sexual Orientation Beliefs Scale (Arseneau et al., 2013) and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996). The analysis revealed that all sub-scales of the Sexual Orientation Beliefs Scale (discreetness, naturalness, informativeness and homogeneity) had positive correlations with hostile sexism and benevolent sexism. Moreover, discreetness, informativeness, and homogeneity beliefs predicted hostile sexism, while only the homogeneity belief predicted benevolent sexism. The socio-demographic variables of age and education emerged as significant correlates. Muslims held stronger ambivalent sexism than non-Muslims but no difference was found in sexual orientation beliefs. Hostile sexism was higher in men and those from a nuclear family system. Benevolent sexism was higher in unemployed and non-heterosexual individuals. Lastly, the discreetness belief was stronger in men and heterosexuals. This study would be a valuable addition to the academic scholarship as it provided insights into the indigenous patterns of sexual orientation beliefs and their relationship with specific forms of sexism.

Frequency of Autism in Nuclear and Joint family system

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects individual’s communication and interaction with others, as well as their understanding of the world. There is limited literature available from Pakistan, therefore this study was designed to find the frequency of autism in nuclear and joint family systems. This was a Cross-sectional observational study conducted in various healthcare settings, including the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Orion Center, and Sehat Medical Complex, Pakistan from February 2023 to July 2023. Purposive sampling was the method of sampling used in this investigation (n=133). Parents or caregivers who have a minimum of one ASD-diagnosed child were included in this study. Parents or caregivers who do not have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were excluded from this study. The investigation into the frequency of autism within joint and nuclear families’ reveals that a majority of families with autistic children lean towards nuclear family structures. While joint families exist, they are less prevalent. The study also underlines that parental engagement is high across both family types, with over 90% actively participating in caregiving and decision-making.

Navigating the Role of Emotional Health and Positive Life Outlook on Work‐Life Balance in Professional Married Women

A diverse workforce is innovative and women are equally contributing to the country’s economic development along with men. In a dynamic business community, women are more enthusiastic and progressively using their potential for financial growth and providing benefits to their families as well. In the subcontinent, women also participate in the workforce and contribute to improving their quality of life and financial responsibilities. The objective of current research is to find out the relationship between emotional health, positive life orientation, and work‐life balance in professional married women. A correlational research design and purposive sampling strategy were utilized to conceptualize the study. A total of 300 professional married women who served in various positions in different organizations were selected. Standardized instruments were used to measure study variables along with sociodemographic Performa. Statistical findings of the study revealed a significant positive relationship between emotional wellness, positive life orientation, and work‐personal life enhancement ( ∗∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗p < 0.1, ∗p < 0.05) by using Pearson product‐moment correlation. Mediation through PLS revealed that positive life orientation mediates the relationship between emotional wellness and work‐life balance. Independent Sample T‐test results also revealed that working women living in the nuclear family system have higher work interference with personal life and personal life interference with work than those women who live in a joint family system. This research will be helpful for organizations to design a conducive and women‐friendly job environment and use women’s potential for constructive and productive professional growth and organizational progress.

Nuclear and Joint Family System: Youth Perspective in Quetta, Balochistan

Every human being is a part of either a joint family or a nuclear family. Both types of families have multiple positive and negative consequences on individuals' lives, as previous literature represented various advantages and disadvantages of joint and nuclear families. According to Khatoon, A. (2008), in a joint family, the children's self-decision is discouraged due to the dominancy of the family head in all their choices. The aim of the present study was to analyze the actual experiences and perceptions of youth regarding joint and nuclear families in Quetta City. Even though the existence of joint and nuclear families has a strong influence on individuals' lives, there is still no scholarly work on them. Henceforth, the study selected a qualitative approach to analyze the experiences of youth (B.S. students) from the University of Balochistan. One Focus Group Discussion(FGDs) and nine interviews were conducted on the basis of data saturation through convenient sampling. Data collection tools included interview guide schedules in order to obtain rich pieces of information for targeted phenomena. Further data was analyzed through a thematic analysis tool. However, the findings of the present study portrayed the experiences and perceptions of respondents belonging to both family systems.

An Investigation on the Church’s Impact on Elderly care in Ghana in the Context of Increasing Poverty and Political Polarisation

Social problems in society, such as the care of the aged, hinder people’s full potential and often arise from societal neglect. In Ghana, a significant percentage of the elderly population requires assistance with daily activities, but poverty and political polarization can hamper their care. The church has played a crucial role in addressing social problems, including the neglect, poverty, and poor health faced by the elderly. However, the church’s ability to intervene is limited, and traditional beliefs often stigmatize the elderly as witches or wizards. The healthcare sector also faces challenges in providing care for the elderly, with high costs and low coverage of health insurance. The study thus emphasized the importance of understanding the difficulties experienced by the elderly through theories such as Disengagement Theory and Convoy Theory. The study employed interviews to gather data from a sample of 12 individuals who were directly involved in caring for the elderly or had knowledge of their issues. The data analysis focused on the lived experiences of the interviewees. The weak social system, including pension systems and health insurance schemes, were found to be contributors to the struggles faced by the elderly. The elderly face challenges such as frailty, illness, poverty, and neglect. The study suggests that policymakers should review existing health insurance policies to better support the elderly. The church’s role in promoting a more inclusive and supportive society for the elderly is crucial, but it faces challenges in the changing cultural landscape and the dominance of the nuclear family system. Keywords: Old Age, Poverty, Political Polarization, Political System, Democracy and Ghana.

ROLE OF COGNITIVE EMOTION REGULATION STRATEGIES AND FAMILY STRUCTURE AS DETERMINANTS OF AGGRESSION IN PAKISTANI ADOLESCENTS

While cognitive emotion regulation strategies are viewed as mental approaches which impact emotionality and decision making of individuals, they are also viewed as mechanisms for controlling the level of aggression. This purpose of the present study was to assess the role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies as well as family structure with regard to impacting aggression in Pakistani adolescents. A sample of 300 (150 belonging to joint and 150 belonging to nuclear families) adolescents (aged 13-18 years) was recruited from schools in urban and rural areas of Pakistan. The participants completed questionnaires assessing cognitive emotion regulation strategies, family structure, and aggression levels. SPSS 21.0 and associated interventions were used for data analysis. reappraisal and refocus on planning had a significant negative association with physical and verbal aggression. However, cognitive emotional regulation strategies including self-blame, others blame, catastrophizing and other disruptive strategies were positively associated with physical and verbal aggression. It was also found that adolescents raised in nuclear family system used more disruptive strategies including rumination, catastrophizing, self-blame, others blame along with higher levels of verbal aggression and hostility while adolescents belonging to joint family systems used acceptance, positive refocusing, putting into perspective along with having a higher emphasis on planning which further allowed them to minimize their aggression. Keywords: family structure, joint family and aggression, nuclear family and aggression, cognitive emotional regulation strategies, hostility, anger

ROLE OF COGNITIVE EMOTION REGULATION STRATEGIES AND FAMILY STRUCTURE AS DETERMINANTS OF AGGRESSION IN PAKISTANI ADOLESCENTS

While cognitive emotion regulation strategies are viewed as mental approaches which impact emotionality and decision making of individuals, they are also viewed as mechanisms for controlling the level of aggression. This purpose of the present study was to assess the role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies as well as family structure with regard to impacting aggression in Pakistani adolescents. A sample of 300 (150 belonging to joint and 150 belonging to nuclear families) adolescents (aged 13-18 years) was recruited from schools in urban and rural areas of Pakistan. The participants completed questionnaires assessing cognitive emotion regulation strategies, family structure, and aggression levels. SPSS 21.0 and associated interventions were used for data analysis. reappraisal and refocus on planning had a significant negative association with physical and verbal aggression. However, cognitive emotional regulation strategies including self-blame, others blame, catastrophizing and other disruptive strategies were positively associated with physical and verbal aggression. It was also found that adolescents raised in nuclear family system used more disruptive strategies including rumination, catastrophizing, self-blame, others blame along with higher levels of verbal aggression and hostility while adolescents belonging to joint family systems used acceptance, positive refocusing, putting into perspective along with having a higher emphasis on planning which further allowed them to minimize their aggression. Keywords: family structure, joint family and aggression, nuclear family and aggression, cognitive emotional regulation strategies, hostility, anger

Appraisal of Eating Disorders in Females of Reproductive Age by Using Scoff Questionnaire

Background: Unhealthy, jumbled eating habits and irregular eating behavior, often associated with body image and weight concerns, are known as abnormal eating behaviors. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders are common disordered eating behaviors. Females are more likely than males to experience eating disorders. Objective: The research was conducted to determine the frequency of eating disorders in women of reproductive age group and identify the factors associated with it. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out at Central Park Medical College, Lahore. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from 196 females of the reproductive age group (15-49 years) using the Scoff Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was applied to observe the association of eating disorders with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Results: About 82.8% of the females belonged to urban areas and out of those 44.5% had an eating disorder. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds of developing eating disorders were 85% high for obese women. Approximately 12.6% of the females agreed or strongly agreed that they overeat. Overeating was observed as a statistically significant associated factor with eating disorder (p value=0.048). Conclusion: Approximately 45.5% of the females were identified as either having anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Females living in cities and nuclear family systems had a higher percentage of eating disorders.

Rethinking sustainable urban management: Effects of urbanization on the socio-spatial structure of the Tamale Metropolis

The urbanization process in countries in the global south has enormous implications for the social and the spatial structure of cities. Despite the complexities associated with urbanization and the socio-spatial structure of urban centers, there is limited research in this area of study. This study seeks to assess the effects of urbanization on the socio-spatial structure of the Tamale Metropolis. The research relied on both secondary and primary sources of data. The primary data was collected through the interview of 68 respondents in the Central Business District of the Tamale Metropolis. The researchers also interviewed representatives of the Physical Planning Department, Development Planning Office and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority. The results of the study showed that there is a major shift from the extended family system to the nuclear family system. The changes in the social structure have led to a considerable urban expansion with the built-up area increasing from 12% to 24%. The urbanization process has led to the creation of sub-CBDs to respond to the changes on the spatial structure. This has resulted in the paradigm shift in the spatial structure of the metropolis from a monocentric structure to a polycentric structure. This research therefore concludes that there is a direct relationship between the social structure and the spatial structure of the Tamale Metropolis and this has implication for sustainable urban management.

Internet Addiction: Predictor of Disturbed Emotion Regulation, Sleep quality and General Health in University Students

Excessive practice of using internet may result to behavioral addiction that is associated with detrimental physical, emotional and psychological health in university students by using between-groups correlational research design. The present research explored differences in university students with and without internet addiction regarding disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues. Further, the research explored internet addiction as a predictor of disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues in university students identified with internet addiction. The sample contained 600 students (375 with & 225 without internet addiction) from different public universities of Lahore. Findings revealed higher mean scores for the students with internet addiction on disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues (p < 0.01). Besides internet addiction, gender and nuclear family system emerged as significant predictors of disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues (p < 0.01) in university students. Research implications suggest that young adults from universities should be given counselling for appropriate usage of internet rather develop internet addiction so that they can be able to utilize internet rather than deteriorating their health and time

Self-Perception of dental problems among intermediate school children in Abha, KSA

Background and objective: Oral health is one of the essential elements of the overall health status of the people. Dental hygiene and dental diseases concern to have a major public health problem. The aim of this study was to know the proportion self-perception of dental problems and their relation with the socio-demographic characteristics among female students at intermediate governmental schools in Abha. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among girls students of two intermediate government schools of Abha city during October 2016 to April 2017 academic year by using self-administered questionnaire and informed verbal consent was obtained, using simple random sampling techniques for choosing 400 students. Results: Mean age of the students was 12.30±1.82, 163(41%) of students were 12-13 years of age and 200(50%) from 1st year of intermediate scholastic year. Almost all students belong to nuclear family system and 64%lived in rented houses. Working status of father and mothers was 94% and 53% respectively, 88% family’s monthly income >10000 SAR/per month, 203 (51%) fathers and 171 (43%) mothers had secondary school or higher education. Illiteracy was 13% among fathers and 19% among mothers. The proportion of self-perceived dental problems was 43% among students, malocclusion of teeth was most frequent while bad smell was the least frequent complaints among all dental problems. Only 38% of the students were considering dental problem as a serious problem. Dental problems were found to have significantly (P value <0.001) associated with age, scholastic year, father’s education and occupation, and income. Conclusion: It is concluded that although prevalence of dental problems were higher but frequency of self-perceived problems were much lower which highlighted that there is need to increase the awareness of dental problems among population to have a better general health status.

Social Support as Predictor of Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Social support plays an important role in the satisfaction with life in older adults. The purpose of present research was to find the social support as predictor of life satisfaction in older adults. Main hypothesis of the study was social support (significant others, family and friends) would be positive predictor of life satisfaction in older adults. Two more sub-hypotheses were also formulated. Correlational cross sectional research design was used with convenient sampling technique. Total 100 participants were selected which consisted of 50 couples from both nuclear and joint family system. The Multidimensional Social Support Scale (Zimet et al., 1988) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) were used. The results revealed social support including, significant others, friends and family, had positive relationship as well as positive predictor of life satisfaction in older adults. Moreover, older adults from joint family system were found to be more satisfied as compared to the older adults from nuclear family. Findings have significant implications in Pakistani culture for the purpose of counselling.

Are Women Better Energy Managers in a Developing Country?

Energy Management at household level is multifaceted issue due to factorsinvolving gender, education and awareness to energy usage. This study wasconducted in Peshawar city, Pakistan which is capital city of the provinceand densely populated. This study identifies the role of women in energymanagement at household level keeping in view household’s characteristicsin an underdeveloped country. The key factors included were (1) educationand job status (2) characteristics of nuclear and joint family system (3)energy consumption pattern of the households and (4) awareness of energymanagement and its implementation amongst the females in the household.One-way ANOVA test shows that women spend more than three hours whileutilizing energy appliances. In addition, awareness of high billing cost perunit, electricity consumption during peak hours’ unit, idea of renewableenergy sources and their use cum awareness level was found to be extremelylow. The results show that the education of husband and wife is indistinguish-able and the females are the major decision makers in carrying the householdchores. Males are the sole bread winners of the house and majority of thefemales are housewives despite of attaining higher education. Despite thefact that women are aware of household energy management, there is still a need for full implementation and awareness among women in the household.Lastly, trend of nuclear family system is making pace in the Pakistan andenergy management and utility bills are handled independently. The resultscan be used for policy making in developing countries.

Psychological Distress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Protective Role of Hope.

The COVID-19 outbreak and the worldwide lockdown measures had an impact on the global mental health and psychological well-being of the general population. Several studies attempted to investigate the protective and risk factors for psychological distress related to the pandemic. However, to date, little is known about the role of hope in this context. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between hope and psychological distress related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the general population. The sample consisted of 504 Pakistani people who completed cross-sectionally the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) and the Adult Hope Scale (AHS). Bivariate Pearson correlation analysis was run to measure the relationship between hope and psychological distress; hierarchical regression analysis was run to investigate the association between demographics and hope with psychological distress. Higher levels of hope predicted lower levels of psychological distress. Being female, being older, lower level of education, urban residence, being married and living in nuclear family systems were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. The study highlights the protective role of hope on psychological distress related to COVID-19, contributing to knowledge on factors promoting positive mental health during emergency times and providing useful information for implementing effective public health policies and programmes.

The Role of Social Media in Proliferating Violent Behavior Among College Students in District Layyah, Pakistan

The usage of social media is the biggest catalyst that causes behavioral transitions among the younger age cohort. In the recent era of digitalization, the youth especially college students are addicted to various social media apps such as Facebook, Tik Tok, Twitter, Whats app, and Youtube. This younger age bracket used digital media to watch violent-based entertainment content, pornographies, and video games. Aligning this,cross-sectional survey research design was conducted in the four registered colleges of Layyah, Pakistan. A total sample size of N=263 respondents was selected through a de-facto method. Questionnaire was used as a tool for the data collection process. The responses of the participants were gathered and analyzed through SPSS Version-21. The findings of the study revealed that the younger students above the age of 18 years i.e. n=157 (59.7%), who belonged to the nuclear family system(n=123, 46.8%), had low parental education (n=53, 20.2%), and had a family income of ?30,000PKR (n=96, 36.5%) were more involved in the usage of social media apps which proliferates their violent behavioral conduct. Moreover, playing violent video games (n=210, 79.8%), watching action-based movies (n=217, 82.5%), destruction of someone's possessions (n=164, 62.4%), and watchinga person shooting (n=177, 67.3%) were the major parameters that played an imperative role in amplifying the violent behavior among college students. In conclusion, to share carrier goals, information, innovations, and methods of expression, students used social media sites for various action-based audio-visual content. The vigilance provided by the parents along with college administration and teachers can help to mitigate the role of social media in proliferating violence among youth in the study context.

L’enfant dans la famille sénégalaise : entre tradition et modernité

The family is the basic social unit from which young members of society are transmitted values, beliefs and as well as skills useful in everyday life. It is also the basic economic environment necessary for the growth of infants and children. Finally, the family is the primary biological environment where reproduction and biological continuity take place. In Senegal, lack of development and social change can be traced back to the family. Indeed, it is mainly the family that suffers from poor housing conditions, poor state of health, lack of drinking water, nutritional deficiency, unemployment, etc. Moreover, the concept of “family” is broad as it includes parents, children, grandparents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, all of whom may have their own children and other dependents. However, with modernity, there is a tendency to have nuclear family systems which implies new modes of transmission of values and customs. In this regard, this paper examines the new types of socialization of children within the family and within the school system where a new language is learned

Shame and guilt activations: Associations and sociodemographic differences among ploysubstance abusers.

Shame and guilt in polysubstance abusers are still understudied despite their significance in substance use disorders (SUD). The goal of the current study is to develop a better understanding of how shame and guilt interact among polysubstance abusers who are receiving residential treatment. The sample of two hundred four males with SUD admitted to five rehabilitation centers from two cities in Pakistan participated in this study. For comparison, 215 age-matched healthy individuals were recruited (control). All participants reported their scores on the state shame and guilt scale (SSGS) and demographic form. A cross-sectional study design was adopted. The group with SUD reported greater activations on SGSS (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) as compared to healthy (control) individuals (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). Further, multivariate analysis indicated that people with SUD who were of older age, unemployed, living in a nuclear family system, with a higher level of education, and low income, experienced higher levels of shame and guilt. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that people with SUD in the age group 41-60 years (OR 5.2, 95%CI 2.4-6.8), unemployed (OR 4.4, 95%CI 3.2-4.7), nuclear family system (OR 5.9, 95%CI 4.5-6.4) and low monthly income group (OR 5.4, 95%CI 3.5-5.8) had a significantly high risk of shame and guilt than the control group. Findings of the current study indicate an association between shame and guilt activation and SUD. These results suggest that polysubstance users may benefit from therapeutic interventions to avoid a generalization of shame and guilt toward their substance use. Reducing shame and guilt should be considered a priority in treating adults with multiple SUD.

Optimalisasi Kesejahteraan Left-behind Children pada Keluarga Pekerja Migran di Pedesaan melalui Penguatan Sistem Keluarga Inti: Sebuah Perspektif dari Sisi Anak

Children who are left by their parents who work outside the region or abroad as migrant workers will face various well-being problems. This requires a further study to explore the well-being of left-behind children of migrant workers' families in Indonesia, both circular migrant workers and international migrant workers. This study aimed to analyze left-behind children's subjective well-being condition and its relation to family-based social capital and social support that children of migrant worker families perceive. This study is expected to be an initial finding to direct further studies related to strengthening the nuclear family system for families of migrant workers who can optimize the left-behind children's well-being of families of migrant workers. This research was conducted in Juntinyuat, Limbangan, and Dadap Villages, Juntinyuat District, Indramayu Regency. The sampling technique used snowball sampling with samples of children aged 12-18 years from families of migrant workers, both circular and international. The total respondents were 120 children whose data were collected through a self-administered method. The study found that left-behind children whose mothers worked as international migrant workers were more vulnerable to their well-being than other left-behind children. The role of family-based social capital and social support as components in strengthening the nuclear family system of migrant worker families is discussed further in this article

Differences in perceived parental practices across attachment styles in adult children of alcoholic fathers

BackgroundAlcoholism is a growing problem in Pakistan. Problems related to alcoholism affects the family members especially children of alcoholics who are likely to have biased perceptions of parental practices which in turn affects their attachment patterns. ObjectiveTo analyze the differences in perceptions of parental practices across three attachment styles namely avoidant, anxious/ambivalent, and secure attachments of the adults who are children of alcoholic parents. MethodThe study is a correlational research design with a sample of 330 participants selected through purposive sampling technique. The participants were adults who are children of alcoholics from nuclear family systems, whose fathers were admitted in a rehabilitation center for the treatment of alcoholism for the second time. ResultsMANOVA computed to examine differences in perception of parental practices across attachment styles was significant [F(12, 632) = 53.130, p < .001, Pillai's Trace = 1.003, partial eta squared = .501], indicating that those with different attachment styles perceive parental overprotectiveness, emotional warmth, and rejection differently. ConclusionPerceptions about parental practices for father can be linked with alcoholism, while for mother the perceptions about parental practices are a product of attachment mainly. ImplicationsThe findings can be used to devise counseling and therapeutic plans for adults who are children of alcoholics and help in educating them about the condition of alcoholism.

Strabismus as a Psychosocial Disease in Pakistani Cultural Context

Purpose: to find out the relationship between psychosocial issues, self-concept, and interpersonal difficulties in patients with strabismus. Study Design: Descriptive observational study Place and Duration of Study: This study is conducted in university of Management and Technology from September 2019 to January 2020 Method:This study included 100 participants (male to female ratio of 1:1), recruited from one government and two semi-government eye hospitals of Lahore, through purposive sampling technique. A demographic sheet including the information about the participant’s age, gender, marital status, family system, reason of strabismus, and duration of strabismus were included in the study. The measures of the study included the indigenous Psychosocial Issues Scale, Self-concept scale,and Interpersonal difficulties scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.5+2.17. Among 100 patients, 41% were married and 64% were living in a nuclear family system. There were 21% with matriculation, 24% had intermediate and 55% had graduation or masters level of education. The cause of strabismus was genetic (20%), congenital (16%), and due to different health issues such as diabetes (63%). The analysis was carried out by using Pearson product-moment correlation analysis which showed that Psychosocial Problems (PSP) had a significant positive relation withInterpersonal Difficulty (ID) (r=.51, p&lt;0.001) and negativeSelf-Concept(NSC) (r=.55, p&lt;0.001), and a non-significant relationship with positive SC (r.08=p&gt;0.05). The most frequently reported psychosocial verbatim werecryingbehavior (72%), difficulty in finding a job (72%) and feeling worthless (69%). Conclusion:The results of the study revealed that negative self-concept contributesto causinginterpersonal difficulties in persons with strabismus.