Parental Relationships Research Articles

Risk for referral to the child welfare system following parental relationship transitions in Norway

BackgroundThere is a lack of knowledge concerning how changes in family structures are associated with involvement in child welfare systems. Particularly little attention has been paid to the role of parental relationship transitions, which may involve major changes in the lives of children and parents in terms of housing, finances, and relationship boundaries between family members. ObjectiveTo investigate how transitions in parental relationship status are linked to referrals to the child welfare system. Participants and settingAll children born in Norway in 1995 (N = 60,218) and 2005 (N = 56,644) and their parents. MethodsThis retrospective birth cohort study consisted of child welfare statistics merged with various registers from Statistics Norway. Logistic panel-data models were used to examine the relationship between the occurrence of a parental relationship transition and referral to the child welfare system. Four types of relationship transitions were analyzed: (1) couple to a single mother, (2) couple to a single father, (3) single mother to a couple, and (4) single father to a couple. ResultsThe occurrence of any type of relationship transition increased the likelihood of referral to the child welfare system in the year that the transition occurred, with the transitions to single motherhood, to single fatherhood, and from single fatherhood to a couple associated with greater odds of referral than the transition from single motherhood to a couple. ConclusionsUnderstanding how parental relationship transitions are associated with referrals to the child welfare system is important to appropriately facilitate help to families in need.

Looking Beyond the Sorting Hat: Deconstructing the “Five Factor Model” of Alienation

ABSTRACT One of the most common dilemmas encountered in today’s family courts is the child who is strongly aligned with Parent A and rejects parent B. In the interest of supporting these children’s opportunity to enjoy a healthy relationship with both of their caregivers, one can work to determine which parent is to blame or what combination of parent behavior, relationship dynamics, and practical circumstances result in this outcome. The Five Factor Model (FFM) does the former, promoting a stepwise approach to “diagnosing” parental alienation. This paper demonstrates that for all of its appeal, the FFM is deeply flawed and promotes a binary (good guy/bad guy) approach that readily exacerbates family tensions. We reject the FFM and advocate instead for a balanced conceptualization of the child’s larger relationship ecology. A rubric guiding this ecological approach (Garber, in press 2023) is recommended.

Social network usage among medical students and its relationship with stress

Objective: The increasing use of social network sites has become a globally widespread phenomenon. It is also known that medical students are being exposed to several stress factors. This study aims to predict the social networking habits and stress levels of medical students, as well as investigating the relationship between social network usage and stress levels, including personal attributes. Methods: A questionnaire, involving the perceived stress scale and other characteristics of the participants, was carried out on 1311 medical students, educated at Xxxxxxx University Medical Faculty during the 2017-2018 academic years. This is a cross-sectional study, and the dataset was analysed by logistic regression. Results: Students who use any one of the three main social network sites (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) were 1203 (91.8%), and there were found to be 108 students who used no social media (8.2%). Of the students, 992 (75.7%) used Facebook, 928 (70.8%) used Instagram and 512 (39.1%) used Twitter. 269 students (20.5%) used Facebook previously and now have stopped using it. A total of 766 (58.4%) students spent more than one hour per day on social media. According to the logistic regression analysis; the academic year of students, gender, unhappiness with being in the medical faculty, feeling lonely, stress coping scores and stable parental relationships were related significantly to stress level. After adjusting other variables, frequent social media users were 1.3 times more stressed than others (OR=1.35; 95% CI=1.05-1.74; p

The Impact of Covid-19 on Social Relations among Jordanian Families in Amman

Objectives: This study aims to investigate how the Covid-19 pandemic affected social relations among Jordanian families, including social and parental relationships. Furthermore, it aims to highlight the influence of the pandemic on family cohesiveness and stability. Methods: A qualitative technique was used, being effective in extracting information on the influence of Covid-19 on Jordanian family relations (BTS Academy, 2018). The members of the study sample were sixteen Jordanian couples having children living in Amman. They were interviewed during November 2021. Results: The results reveal that Covid-19 has a significant impact on social relations among family members, because of drastic and dramatic changes in the social and economic lifestyle. These changes contributed to the increase of violence between spouses. Surprisingly, the results show that, during the pandemic, the level of disagreement and conflict between parents and children was reduced. The results also indicate that Covid-19 had an influence not only on family interactions, but also on family atmosphere, namely the stability and coherence within that atmosphere. Conclusions: The research recommends providing online counseling sessions by family-focused institutions to couples to assist them in adapting to the changes that have occurred in their relationships throughout the epidemic.

PSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMACE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate and examine the social and psychological factors which are influencing the student’s academic performance. The study focuses on opinions of undergraduate and graduate students on psychosocial factors which are influencing their academic performance. STUDY DESIGN The qualitative research design was used in the present research. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The present study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan from December-September, 2020. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Purposive samples of 35 female university student’s age range 18-25years from Lahore College for Women University were interviewed. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were employed as a tool for data collection. Five Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were conducted. All the collected information was than analyzed and interpreted. Thematic Analysis (TA) research was used. RESULTS Results of thematic analysis showed that financial issues, mobile misuse, Teacher student relationship, Role of family, Peer group, Environment, Stress, Child parent relationship, learning issues and Distance were the most frequently occurring psychosocial determinants which were influencing the academic progress of university students. CONCLUSION Based on the above-mentioned result it can be concluded that student’s educational progress is determined by psychosocial factors such as financial issues, mobile misuse, roles of family, peer group, teacher student relationship, parent child relationship, and environment, stress, distance and learning issues. KEYWORDS Psychosocial, Academic Performance, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Thematic Analysis (TA)

Biological sensitivity to adolescent-parent discrepancies in perceived parental warmth

IntroductionParenting behaviors are formative to the psychological development of young people; however, parent and adolescent perceptions of parenting are only moderately correlated with each other. Whereas discrepant perceptions may represent a normative process of deindividuation from caregivers in some adolescents, in others a discrepancy might predict psychological maladjustment. The biological sensitivity to context model provides a framework from which individual differences in development can be estimated in adolescents whose perceptions of parenting diverge from those of their parents. MethodsAt baseline we obtained diurnal cortisol samples from US adolescents (M = 13.37 years of age, SD = 1.06) as well as parents' and adolescents’ ratings of parental warmth; we obtained adolescent-reported symptoms of psychopathology at baseline and again at follow-up two years later (N = 108, 57.5% female). We estimated waking cortisol, cortisol awakening response, and daytime cortisol slopes using piecewise regression models. ResultsLower adolescent than parent ratings of parental warmth predicted increased externalizing symptoms at follow-up. Higher waking cortisol and steeper cortisol awakening response and daytime slopes predicted increased internalizing symptoms at follow-up. Further, discrepant ratings of parental warmth interacted with cortisol awakening response and daytime slopes such that greater discrepancies predicted greater increases in externalizing symptoms in adolescents with steeper cortisol slopes. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that steeper changes in cortisol production throughout the day index a greater sensitivity to perceived parental warmth. Lower adolescent than parent ratings of parental warmth may represent dysfunction in the parental relationship rather than a normative process of deindividuation in adolescents with steeper diurnal cortisol slopes.

Parent-preferred childcare environment styles: A latent class analysis and association with parental stress

In recent years, child-rearing dimensions have been widely used as predictor variables. However, they are rarely examined as outcomes. Moreover, little is known about what constitutes good parenting. We aimed to identify the potential groups related to parents’ childcare environment preferences and examine its association with parental stress. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in government-licensed childcare centers among families with children aged 3–5 years across Japan. We investigated the childcare environment based on five dimensions—human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of restriction, parent cooperation, and social support—and sources of high parental stress, including childcare, health status, relationships, work, and others. The potential childcare environment groups were explored using latent class analysis. The relationship between parental stress and childcare environment was analyzed using a chi-square test and logistic regression model. Moreover, data from 928 families were collected and used for the analysis. Two latent class models were identified: a favorable childcare environment with high parent cooperation (F-H; probability = 76.4 %) and moderate childcare environment with low parent cooperation (M-L; probability = 23.6 %). High stress from childcare, health status, relationships, work, and other stressors were significantly related to M-L. Knowing the results would add evidence to childcare practice.

Parental and Child Factors Associated With Internet Addiction in Children.

Internet addiction has negative effects on psychological development, interpersonal relationships, and social adaptation in 10-year-old elementary school students. This study aimed to identify parental and child characteristics related to Internet addiction in lower-grade elementary school children. This study used a secondary data analysis. Data from the tenth Panel Study on Korean Children were used. In total, 1224 ten-year-old elementary school students were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included general, parental, and child characteristics. Of all child participants, 18.5% were in the high-risk group for Internet addiction. Lower paternal and maternal spousal satisfaction, maternal education level of high school graduate or lower, and greater permissive parenting by the mother were associated with higher odds of Internet addiction among their children. Moreover, boys and children who spent more than an hour per day without adults showed higher odds of Internet addiction. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of an intervention that improves parenting and family relationships and positively changes the environment in which children are brought up is necessary.

Relational and physical aggression in preschool-age children: Associations with teacher, parent, sibling, and peer relationship quality.

Early childhood relationships with teachers, parents, siblings, and peers are foundational factors for later social functioning. High rates of childhood aggression have been associated with negative developmental consequences, however, the associations between child aggression on the quality of these formative relationships have not been studied extensively. In a sample of young children attending preschool (N = 114, Mage = 46.27 months, SD = 9.94, 40% girls), this study investigated associations between early childhood relational and physical aggression and the quality of concurrent teacher-child and parent-child closeness and conflict, sibling relationship quality, and positive peer interactions and peer rejection. Early childhood relational and physical aggression was associated with negative teacher-child relationships, and this was true for boys and girls. Differential patterns of prediction were found for relational and physical aggression on the other relationship variables. Relational aggression strongly predicted more positive peer interactions, whereas physical aggression predicted fewer positive peer interactions and greater peer rejection. Early childhood relational aggression predicted higher levels of teacher-child closeness, whereas physical aggression predicted lower levels of teacher-child closeness and fewer positive sibling interactions. These findings challenge common perceptions that aggression is negatively associated with relationship quality. Notably, relational aggression relative to physical aggression may be associated with some favorable relationship outcomes. We did not find support for an additive model of aggression whereby children who were both relationally and physically aggressive (co-morbid) were at higher risk for negative relationship quality. Implications of these findings for future research and prevention and intervention are discussed.

How Schroth Therapists Vary the Implementation of Schroth Worldwide for Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Mixed Methods Study.

(1) Background: Schroth is a type of physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercise (PSSE) prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Studies have investigated the effectiveness of Schroth but are yet to elucidate how Schroth is applied clinically and the factors that influence their prescription. (2) Methods: A mixed methods design was used comprising an anonymous survey and semi-structured interviews of Schroth therapists who treated AIS and who were publicly listed on the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School or the International Schroth 3-dimensional Scoliosis Therapy School websites. The survey included 64 questions covering demographics, session and treatment characteristics, and whether therapists included other treatment modalities in their clinical practice. A convenience sample of survey participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to further explore the factors that influenced their prescription of Schroth for AIS. Results from the survey were analyzed descriptively (n, %), whereas inductive thematic analysis was used for the interviews. (3) Results: of the 173 survey respondents (18% response rate), most were from Europe and North America (64.0%), female (78.6%), physiotherapists (96.0%), and worked in private settings (72.3%). Fifty-two per cent of participants used other types of PSSE as an adjunct to Schroth, the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) being the most frequently used (37.9%). Non-PSSE methods were used 'at some point' as an adjunct by 98.8% of participants, including massage and other soft tissue techniques (80.9%), Pilates (46.6%), and Yoga (31.5%). The Schroth techniques used by all survey respondents included breathing and pelvic corrections. Seven participants were interviewed, but data saturation was achieved after only four interviews. Thematic analysis revealed four, inter-related broad themes describing the factors that influenced Schroth prescription for AIS: (1) the adolescent as a whole, including physical, emotional and mental characteristics, and patient goals, (2) family, including parent relationship with the adolescent and the motivation of parents in regard to Schroth, (3) the systems within which the treatment was being offered, such as vicinity to the clinic and the presence of financial insurance support, and (4) therapist characteristics, such as their training and experience. (4) Conclusions: Schroth therapists worldwide use a variety of adjunctive methods to treat AIS. Therapists prescribing Schroth exercises to AIS consider the complex interplay of intra-, inter- and extra-personal factors in clinical practice. These considerations move beyond the three components of evidence-based practice of research, patient preferences, and clinical expertise, towards a systems-based reflection on exercise prescription.

Proximal Processes and Contextual Factors Associated with Early Socio-emotional Competence Development.

There is growing interest in child socio-emotional competence from parents, educators, employers and policy makers, with emphasis on developing it as early as possible. The aim of the present study was to examine contextual and proximal factors that influence socio-emotional competence development across the first five years of a child's life. We used data from 3200 mothers and their children drawn mostly from four major data collection waves (antenatal, 9 months, 2 years and 4.5 years) of the population-based longitudinal study, Growing Up in New Zealand. Regression analyses were carried out to identify the predictors of socio-emotional competence after controlling for demographics and prior score(s) of socio-emotional competence. We found that specific maternal behaviours, such as playing games and playing with toys with children, singing songs or telling stories to them, reading books with them, having rules around viewing TV, DVDs and videos, and praising children have a positive effect on socio-emotional competence. Parental relationship warmth and less family stress at 9 months also made positive contributions to socio-emotional competence at 9 months and 2 years. In contrast, attending childcare and having more siblings at home negatively predicted socio-emotional competence at 9 months. Mother's unemployment, living in neighbourhoods perceived as negative and being in contact with family and social services were negatively associated with concurrent socio-emotional competence at 2 years. Overall, more and/or stronger contemporaneous effects were found suggesting that negative effects of contextual factors may not have lasting impact on socio-emotional competence. In addition, the results showed that maternal behaviours need to be practised regularly to have positive impact on child's socio-emotional development.

An intergenerational study of parental bonding on perceptions of parental and spousal criticism and marital relationship quality in Singapore.

Criticism is a form of interpersonal social rejection and destructive conflict behavior which has been associated with poor relationship outcomes in both parent-child and marital relationships. However, the role of the individual's perceptions of parental and spousal criticism in influencing the perceptions of criticism of other members in the family unit has not been examined. This study investigated the associations between parental bonding and perceptions of parental and spousal criticism across generations in Singapore. In all, 134 Singaporean married parent dyads (G2) and one child (G3) of each dyad were recruited. G2 parent participants completed the Perceived Criticism measure for their parents (G1) and spouses, the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Quality of Marriage Index. G3 children participants completed the Perceived Criticism measure for their parents (G2). Path analysis found that G2 perceptions of parental bonding were significant predictors of G2's perceptions of G1 parental criticism, which significantly predicted both G2's perceptions of spousal criticism and G3's perceptions of G2 parental criticism. Perceptions of spousal criticism were also found to predict marital relationship quality in G2 participants. Findings highlight the intergenerational transmission of perceptions of criticism across relationships in the family unit, providing support that parenting practices and communication patterns in one generation can predict those in the next generation in the Singaporean context. Future studies can look to replicate the findings in other cultures and include further investigations into sibling relationships as well.

3 Defining loneliness for older adults: a multi-study synthesis

Abstract Background Loneliness is an unpleasant experience linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, but we lack effective interventions to reduce or prevent it. Most interventions are based on a social psychological definition of loneliness (“a perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships, but such interventions are typically unsuccessful. A recent umbrella review of loneliness interventions suggests that they should target specific population subgroups to be effective. This means that we may need more specific definitions of loneliness. In this presentation, I will integrate data from across studies to present an integrated definition of loneliness for older adults. Methods Across two qualitative grounded theory studies, we interviewed two samples of adults aged 60 and over: one living rurally and identifying as socially isolated; the other spousal dementia caregivers whose spouse recently moved to long term care. Data from these studies were integrated and framed in the context of a theoretical synthesis of loneliness we published and recently updated. Results Loneliness was defined in multiple ways, arising from boredom or inactivity, vulnerability, passivity, giving way to predictable behavioural patterns such as distracting tasks, and affective responses such as self-pity. We integrated this with our theoretical synthesis, which frames loneliness as arising from factors on proximate levels (loss of intimate partners, parental relationships, life transitions), as well as more distal influences such as the social network, and culture). Conclusion We argue for cohort-specific definitions of loneliness since these are likeliest to lead to effective interventions. We offer some possible definitions and aspects of loneliness to focus upon in interventions for older adults.

Explaining children’s social relationships in early childhood: the role of parental social networks

ABSTRACT In this article, we examined young Finnish children’s social relationships, characteristics of their parents’ social networks and the role of parental networks in children’s peer relationships. We drew on the data collected from a Finnish longitudinal study known as Steps to the Healthy Development and Well-Being of Children. The data from two measurement points were included in the analyses to explore children’s peer relations at 13 months (N = 1, 212) and 4 years (N = 795). We further studied the association between children’s social networks at different time points and the role of parental sociodemographics and parental social relationships in predicting children’s social networks. Special emphasis was placed on examining how parental social networks are linked with children’s peer relations. Our results revealed a significant association between children’s social relationships at different time points and the significance of parental social networks for children’s peer networks.

Parental Migration, Social Relationships, and Left-Behind Adolescents’ Mental Health in Rural China: Examining Gender Differences

Parental Migration, Social Relationships, and Left-Behind Adolescents’ Mental Health in Rural China: Examining Gender Differences

Ebeveynin Okupasyonel Dengesi ve Çocuk-Ebeveyn İlişkisi

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between parental occupational balance and the child-parent relationship and its effect on the child-parent relationship. 
 Materials and Methods: The study included parents of children aged 4-6. In this cross-sectional study, all participants completed the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ), the Child‒Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS), and the sociodemographic data survey. 
 Results: The study included 216 parents (81.9% female, with a mean age of 34.6±5.2 years). There was a significant inverse correlation between the CPRS and the OBQ scores (r=-0.266, p

Genetic study of two populations of Sitophilus oryzae following two types of maize: Yellow maize and yellow-white maize from two different localities in Senegal

The objective of this study is to determine the genetic diversity and structure, demographic evolution and phylogenetic relationships of Sitophilus oryzae (S. oryzae) in two types of maize: yellow maize and yellow-white maize from two localities in Senegal. Thus, individuals of S. oryzae from each locality are used, after sampling and massive rearing. The Cyt-B gene of the mitochondrial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was targeted and sequenced. The obtained sequences are corrected, aligned and exploited. Overall, haplotypic diversity (Hd) is non-significantly high (0.895 ±0.058) while nucleotide diversity (Nd) is significantly low (0.016±0.003), even when populations are considered separately; the Salemata population (Hd=0.949 ±0.051, Nd= 0.015±0.003) is more diverse with P-values≤0.05. Results confirmed by polymorphism with a high number of singletons and haplotypes. This genetic variability can be explained by the fact that we had two different substrates but phenotypically very similar. The parameters of genetic differentiation, demographic and phylogenetic evolution revealed a weak genetic structuring of S. oryzae, populations in demographic expansion and poorly defined parental relationships between populations. This study provided further insight into the genetic characteristics of Sitophilus.

The myth of gender neutrality in family court: A clinician's perspective on determinations of “the best interest of the child”

AbstractMisogyny is a universal prejudice against women manifest in all areas of society. To interrogate the nature of this prejudice, the author uses the family court system as her focus. The myth of gender neutrality in family court is pervasive. Current laws are framed around the assumption that both parents are on a level playing field. The reality is that our legal system is biased against mothers. This often reveals itself in the way courts make determinations of “the best interests of the child”. Family court is a microcosm of societal attitudes about parents, especially mothers, and related beliefs about what protects children. A brief review of family law and the “best interest” standard follows as well as a review of what we know and do not know about what is protective for children. The author reviews the problems inherent in family law and mental health training and practice—forensic and clinical. Although mandated to protect children, family court decisions sometimes have the opposite impact, and at times, even endangering the most protective parent and the child. This occurs mainly by devaluing the caretaking role while requiring the more responsible parent to facilitate the other parent's relationship with the child—regardless of the impact on her and the child. There are many reasons for this, but the basic one is the misogyny built into this system. This essay describes how social science research, psychological theory, and developmental principles are misused by both the legal and mental health professions to that end.

Factors That Reduce Parental Concern for Concussion Risks in Youth Tackle Football

This study sought to identify factors that reduce parental concern of concussion risks for children who play youth tackle American football. Interviews were conducted with parents who allowed children between the ages of 10 and 15 years to play on tackle football teams. Factors that reduced parental concern included advances in equipment safety and helmet technology, active parental monitoring and relationship building with coaches, and social comparisons to other youth athletes regarding their own child’s athleticism and ability to avoid injury. Although these factors reduced parents’ concern for concussion risks, the findings highlight biases that influence parental risk judgments, suggest that interventions to reduce concussions must account for competing narratives of concussion prevention, and offer recommendations for improving education efforts focused on player safety in contact sports.

Exploring Perinatal Biopsychosocial Factors and Epigenetic Age in 1-Year-Old Offspring

Background: Little is known about the determinants of epigenetic aging in pediatric populations. Methods: Epigenetic age was estimated from 258 1-year-olds, using pediatric buccal epigenetic and Horvath clocks. We explored associations between epigenetic age and maternal indicators of mental and relational health, substance use and general physical health assessed during trimester three. Results: Higher anxiety and stress, BMI and higher parent–parent relationship quality were associated with pediatric buccal epigenetic clock differences. High blood pressure during pregnancy was associated with Horvath age acceleration. Third-trimester smoking and pre-pregnancy weight were associated with acceleration and deceleration respectively, and concordant across clocks. Conclusion: A broad range of maternal factors may shape epigenetic age in infancy; further research is needed to explore the possible effects on health and development.