Perceptions Of Family Environment Research Articles

AGE DIFFERENCE VIS-À-VIS PERCEIVED FAMILY AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT – A STUDY ON KOLKATA CITY

The aim of the present investigation is to study the family environment and social environment as perceived by the inhabitants between the ages 41 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years belonging to North, Central and South zone of Kolkata city. A group of 360 individuals (180 male and 180 female) belonging to three zones of Kolkata city were selected as sample. Perceived Family Environment Questionnaire and Perceived Social Environment Questionnaire along with a General Information Schedule were administered to the selected group of subjects by giving proper instruction. Findings revealed that inhabitants between the ages 41 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years belonging to North and Central zone of Kolkata city differ significantly in terms of perceived family and social environment. On the contrary, inhabitants between the ages 41 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years belonging to South zone of Kolkata city do not differ significantly in terms of perceived family environment but differ significantly in terms of perceived social environment. Adequate measures may be taken to reduce the problem

Perceived Family Environment and Self-Concept Among Young Adults in Indian Context

'Self' can be described in a very extensive manner, but it stays to be exclusively individualistic to a person's existence and experience. Family Environment has been known to influence the Self Concept as it was observed to have a tangible impact, with many roles inclusive in collectivistic cultures such as India. The purpose of the paper was to establish the link between Family Environment and Self Concept in Indian Context among Young Adults. The methodology used for the paper is Qualitative Research on the basis of a survey conducted upon 40 young adults questioning them about Perceived Family Environment and Self Concept. The survey resulted that in the family environment, people when in accordance to family's expectations receive affection, support, expressiveness and other conditions show positive Self Concept. But, the results also established individual components such as hating self in situations of failures, prioritizing expectations of others over own. This proves that all other factors were dependent on expectations of family, reflecting that their Self Concept is interdependent of societal roles and of roles assigned by the family. Our traditional family system (collectivistic culture) and environment, conditions us to create our Self Concept based on the parameters and expectation framework created by the family.

Trajectories of suicidal ideation after first-episode psychosis: a growth mixture modeling approach.

The period immediately after the onset of first-episode psychosis (FEP) may present with high risk for suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts, although this risk may differ among patients. Thus, we aimed to identify trajectories of SI in a 2-years follow-up FEP cohort and to assess baseline predictors and clinical/functional evolution for each trajectory of SI. We included 334 FEP participants with data on SI. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories of SI. Putative sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive predictors of the distinct trajectories were examined using multinomial logistic regression. We identified three distinct trajectories: Non-SI trajectory (85.53% sample), Improving SI trajectory (9.58%), and Worsening SI trajectory (6.89%). Multinomial logistic regression model revealed that greater baseline pessimistic thoughts, anhedonia, and worse perceived family environment were associated with higher baseline SI followed by an Improving trajectory. Older age, longer duration of untreated psychosis, and reduced sleep predicted Worsening SI trajectory. Regarding clinical/functional evolution, individuals within the Improving SI trajectory displayed moderate depression at baseline which ameliorated during the study period, while the Worsening SI subgroup exhibited persistent mild depressive symptoms and greater functional impairment at follow-up assessments. Our findings delineated three distinct trajectories of SI among participants with FEP, one experiencing no SI, another in which SI might depend on acute depressive symptomatology, and a last subset where SI might be associated with mild but persistent clinical and functional impairments. These data provide insights for the early identification and tailored treatment of suicide in this at-risk population.

Family Functioning among Rural Teens and Caregivers: Interactive Influence on Teen Dating Violence.

Multi-informant assessment of family functioning is considered best practice in research and clinical settings. However, in the area of teen dating violence, multi-informant assessment of family functioning has received limited attention. The current study investigated whether and to what extent caregiver and adolescent perceptions of family functioning interact in their influence on adolescent dating violence. Participants were 493 adolescents and their primary caregivers from a rural southeastern community in the United States. As hypothesized, a paired-samples t test showed that adolescents' scores on the family functioning measure were significantly lower than their caregivers' scores. Logistic regressions revealed that adolescents' positive views of family functioning were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of dating violence victimization but not perpetration and that caregivers' views on family functioning moderated the impact of adolescent-reported family functioning on both dating violence outcomes. Post hoc analyses showed that adolescents with negative perceptions of family environment were most likely to be victims and perpetrators of dating violence when their parents also reported more negative views of family environment. The article concludes with a discussion of how these findings can: (a) advance our understanding of the impact of family functioning on teen dating relationships and (b) inform practical efforts aimed at preventing dating aggression among teens.

Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Family Environment: The Perceptions of Same Reality?

The use of several sources of information (parents and children) is scarce in family studies. Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is still considered the most hidden and stigmatized form of family violence. One objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perceptions of family environment as a function of the informant (parent or child), child’s sex, and parents’ sex in a community population. The study also aimed to analyze the predictive power of family conflict and aggressive family discipline in child-to-parent violence depending on the informant. A sample of 586 adolescents (49% boys, aged between 12 and 18) and their parents (40%) participated in the study. The Family Environment Scale and the Conflict Tactics Scales were administered. Results showed good consistency between adolescent reports and parent reports for physical CPV, but adolescents perceived worse family environments than their parents. Multiple regression models revealed that aggressive family discipline and family are important risk factors for CPV. Early intervention to prevent CPV is recommended, focused on promoting family relationships and avoiding harsh discipline practices. It is important that parents are able to ask for help when they need it.

Patterns and predictors of family environment among adolescents at high and low risk for familial bipolar disorder

Children's perceptions are important to understanding family environment in the bipolar disorder (BD) high-risk context. Our objectives were to empirically derive patterns of offspring-perceived family environment, and to test the association of family environment with maternal or paternal BD accounting for offspring BD and demographic characteristics. Participants aged 12–21 years (266 offspring of a parent with BD, 175 offspring of a parent with no psychiatric history) were recruited in the US and Australia. We modeled family environment using latent profile analysis based on offspring reports on the Conflict Behavior Questionnaire, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and Home Environment Interview for Children. Parent diagnoses were based on the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies and offspring diagnoses were based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children. Latent class regression was used to test associations of diagnosis and family environment. Two-thirds of all offspring perceived well-functioning family environment, characterized by nurturance, flexibility, and low conflict. Two ‘conflict classes’ perceived family environments low in flexibility and cohesion, with substantial separation based on high conflict with the father (High Paternal Conflict), or very high conflict and rigidity and low warmth with the mother (High Maternal Conflict). Maternal BD was associated with offspring perceiving High Maternal Conflict (OR 2.8, p = 0.025). Clinical care and psychosocial supports for mothers with BD should address family functioning, with attention to offspring perceptions of their wellbeing. More research is needed on the effect of paternal BD on offspring and family dynamics.

The role of the perception of family environment in relation to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and difficulties in close relationships.

Invalidating childhood environments have been characterised as those in which caregivers do not validate a child's personal experiences and the communication of emotions is considered inappropriate, being either ignored or punished. The current study assessed the relationships among invalidating childhood environments, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and difficulties in close relationships in a sample of college students. In this study, 362 non-clinical participants with ages ranging from 17 to 25years (M = 20.02, SD = 1.51) completed self-report measures. Difficulties in close relationships, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating were significantly higher in invalidating families than in validating families. Invalidating childhood environments were associated with higher body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and both associations were mediated by difficulties in close relationships. Finally, body dissatisfaction mediates the effects of BMI and difficulties in close relationships on eating disorder symptoms. Perceived experiences of invalidation in childhood may be associated with eating disorder symptomatology. In addition, difficulties in close relationships during adulthood possibly contribute to the emergence of eating disorder symptoms. Level V,descriptive study.

Role of perceived family environment in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

Background: Family plays an important role in mental health of its member, thus its contribution can also be discerned in pathogenesis. Maintenance and relapse of several mental illnesses have been also attributed to the family environment (FE). This study explores FE as perceived by schizophrenia patients. Methodology: A case–control study was conducted in Chhattisgarh, India, to measure the association of perceived FE with schizophrenia. Between February 2014 and January 2015, 100 paranoid schizophrenia patients and 100 neighborhood-based healthy (based on 28-item General Health Questionnaire) controls were recruited. Minimum school-educated individuals aged 20–35 years were eligible if they/their caregivers provided consent. Interpersonal relationships and FE were assessed by an interviewer-administered 69-item FE scale. Results: The odds of suffering from schizophrenia increased with age, decreased with education, income, and found to be less among married. Schizophrenia risk was negatively associated with mean scores for cohesion, acceptance/caring, active-recreational orientation, and organization. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia were less pronounced among patients belonging to joint families. Conclusion: Thus, to minimize the burden and morbidity associated with schizophrenia, interventions to improve FE by minimizing conflict and improving cohesion, acceptance/caring, active-recreational orientation, and organization, and specifically targeting older, less-educated, poor, and married individuals in nuclear families seemed necessary.

Predicting video game play from perceived family environment among university students

ABSTRACTVideo games occupy a significant portion of leisure time for many university students. This study explores whether the aspects of perceived family environment (active-recreational orientation, achievement orientation, and family conflict) could predict the amount of time that university students play video games. A sample of 93 students from a regional campus of a university in the United States completed three subsections of the Family Environment Scale and answered questions pertaining to video game play. Results of the study find that active-recreational orientation is a significant predictor of video game play. Achievement orientation and family conflict were not found to be significant predictors. Discussion and limitations of the study are also undertaken.

Family functioning in bipolar disorder: Characteristics, congruity between patients and relatives, and clinical correlates.

Functional improvement has become one of the aims of the treatment of bipolar disorder. However, scant attention has been given to family functioning, even though it has a role in the illness outcome and is affected by the disorder. The aims of this study were to compare family functioning reported by euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls; explore the level of congruence in the perception of family environment between patients with bipolar disorder and their relatives; and analyse the relationship between clinical variables and family functioning. The sample comprised 82 adult euthymic subjects with bipolar disorder, 82 family caregivers of these patients and 47 healthy controls. Participants completed the Family Environment Scale. Results showed moderate correlations and a mean pattern almost identical between relatives' and patients' reported scores in family functioning subscales. There were significant differences between patients and controls, favourable for the latter, in the subscales cohesion (p<0.005), expressiveness (p=0.002), conflict (p=0.038), intellectual-cultural orientation (p=0.001), active-recreational orientation (p<0.005), and a non-significant trend in organization (p=0.064). Significant associations were found between family environment and clinical variables of severity. These findings contribute to increasing the understanding of family functioning in bipolar disorder and highlight the importance of family work.

Risk and Protective Factors, Perceptions of Family Environment, Ethnicity, and Schizophrenia Symptoms.

The family environment can play either a detrimental or a protective role in symptom severity for people with schizophrenia. The current study examined both patient and caregiver perspectives of the family environment in an ethnically diverse sample of 221 patients with schizophrenia. We hypothesized that environments characterized by high levels of perceived caregiver criticism, low perceived caregiver warmth, and low family cohesion (from both the patient and caregiver perspective) would predict greater symptom severity. As expected, results demonstrated that lower patient ratings of family cohesion and caregiver warmth were associated with greater symptom severity. However, once put into a hierarchical regression analysis, only patient ratings of family cohesion remained significant. Ethnic patterns were also examined and revealed that family cohesion may be particularly protective for ethnic minorities. Study implications are discussed.

Depression among Indian university students and its association with perceived university academic environment, living arrangements and personal issues.

The aim of the study is to ascertain the level of depression among university students across gender, academic stream, semesters, perception of family environment and relationship with parents, academic performance, and family income. In addition, the study examines the association between students' perceived university academic environment, living arrangements, personal issues, and depression. Seven hypotheses were formulated for verification. A total of 717 students were recruited following the multistage cluster sampling method, and data were collected by a specially designed structured questionnaire, academic achievement record and a standardized University Students Depression Inventory. Findings disclosed that 37.7%, 13.1%, and 2.4% of the students were suffering from moderate, severe, and extremely severe depression. A significant difference was found across semester, that is, semester II students reported a higher level of depression than semester III students. So far as academic stream is concerned, students from humanities and social science were found to be suffering from more depression compared to students from science and management streams. The study further disclosed that the students who reported positive views about the university academic environment and living arrangements had lower level of depression compared to their counterparts. Personal resilience's such as being able to sharing personal problems with others and doing regular exercise were found to be associated with positive mental health. The findings of the study emphasize the need for immediate mental health support services for about 15.6% of the students who were either suffering from severe or extremely severe depression at the University.

북한이탈주민 어머니가 지각한 가정의 심리적 특성과 유아의 자아 탄력성 간의 관계: 사회적 지지의 조절효과

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relationship between North Korean refugee mothers’perceived home psychological characteristics and ego-resilience of their young children focusing on moderating effect of social support. For this purpose, we sampled 96 North Korean refugee mothers with 3-5 year old children. Home psychological characteristics consisting of family strength, family environment and family functioning, social support, and ego-resilience was analyzed by Pearson correlation analyses and hierarchical regression method. The results of this study were as follows. First, there is a significant correlation between North Korean refugee mothers’perceived home psychological characteristics and ego-resilience of their young children. Second, the perceived factors by North Korean refugee mothers of home psychological characteristics explained their young children’s self-resilience 73.4% of the time and social support had a significant moderating effect. These results suggest that more effective social support to North Korean refugees has to be offered. Not only financial but emotional support is also needed.▶Key Words: North Korean Refugee mothers’perceived family stren gth, North Korean Refugee mothers’perceived family environment, North Korean Refugee moth ers’perceived family functioning, North Korean Refugee mothers’perceived social support, ego-resilience, moderating effect논 문 투 고 2015. 10. 15.수정원고접수 2015. 12. 02.최종게재결정 2015. 12. 11.

Prevalence of major depressive disorder and socio-demographic correlates: Results of a representative household epidemiological survey in Beijing, China

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent mental disorder in the general population and has been associated with socioeconomic factors. Beijing has undergone significant socioeconomic changes in last decade, however no large-scale community epidemiological surveys of MDD have been conducted in Beijing since 2003. AimsTo determine the prevalence of MDD and its socio-demographic correlates in a representative household sample of the general population in Beijing, China. MethodData were collected from the 2010 representative household epidemiological survey of mental disorders in Beijing. The multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select qualified subjects in 18 districts and counties, and then face-to-face interviews were administered using the Chinese version of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders-Patient Edition (SCID-I/P) during November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. Results19,874 registered permanent residents were randomly identified and 16,032 (response rate=80.7%) completed face-to-face interviews. The time-point and life-time prevalence rates of MDD were estimated to be 1.10% (95% CI: 0.94–1.26%) and 3.56% (95% CI: 3.27–3.85%) respectively. Significant differences were found in sex, age, location of residence, marital status, education, employment status, personal/family monthly income, perception of family environment and relationship with others, when comparing residents with MDD to those without MDD.Those who were female, aged 45 or above, reported low family income, or reported an “average” or “poor” family environment were associated with a higher risk of MDD. ConclusionsThe prevalence of MDD reported in this survey is relatively lower than that in other western countries. Female sex, age older than 45, low family income, and poor family environment appear to be independent risk factors for MDD.

The role of family experiences for adolescents’ readiness to use and participate in illegal political activity

This study used reactance theory as a starting point to explain what role a perceived undemocratic and controlling family has for adolescents’ readiness to use illegal political activity. Additionally, we examined whether adolescents’ readiness to use illegal political means was related to actual political behaviour, which has been lacking in research. Data came from a longitudinal sample of 424 younger (Mage = 13.44) and 296 older (Mage = 16.62) adolescents collected in a mid-sized city in Sweden. Results showed that adolescents who perceived their families as undemocratic and controlling increased in readiness to use illegal political means over time. In addition, but only for older adolescents, readiness was associated with an increase in actual political behaviour. The findings highlight the role a perceived family environment has on adolescents’ development of political values and behaviours in today’s democratic societies.

Perceived family environment in spouses of alcohol-dependent patients

Objective: To assess the perceived family environment of spouses of alcohol-dependent individuals in comparison to control subjects.Participants and Methods: Sample consisted of 30 spouses of patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome (ICD-10 DCR) and 30 spouses of normal controls (GHQ-12 score <3). The Hindi version of the Family Environment Scale was administered to all the participants.Results: Spouses of alcohol-dependent patients scored significantly lower on cohesion (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 1.47), expressiveness (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 1.49), independence (p = 0.0002, Cohen’s d = 1.04), achievement orientation (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 1.67), intellectual cultural orientation (p = 0.0002, Cohen’s d = 1.06), active recreational orientation (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 1.15), moral religious emphasis (p < 0.0001,Cohen’s d = 1.33) and organization (p = 0.0009, Cohen’s d = 0.92) than control group. However, there was no difference in control and conflict domains between the two groups.Conclusion: From the spousal perspective, family environment is disrupted in alcohol-dependent patients.

Contextual Variables Associated with Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents

This study investigated associations of contextual variables of risk (stressful events and exposure to community violence), variables of protection (family environment, connectivity to the school and community perceptions) and demographic variables (gender and age) with indicators of psychosocial adjustment (self-esteem, involvement in illegal activities and alcohol use in past month) among adolescents. The participants were 685 students (61.5% girls) aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 15.10, SD = 1.52) of public schools in southern Brazil. They answered a questionnaire with 77 questions and an inventory for assessment of family relationships. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the negative perception of family environment, poor connectivity to the school and exposure to community violence were associated with low self-esteem. Involvement in illegal activities was associated with low connectivity to school, stressful events, exposure to community violence and male sex. Finally, alcohol use/month was associated with negative perception of the community, community violence, stressful events, and particularly at the ages of 15-16 years.

Mothers’ and Adolescents’ Perceptions of Family Environment and Adolescent Social-Emotional Functioning

Research has emphasized the importance of the relationship between family functioning and adolescent behavioral development. The present study examines family environment and social-emotional functioning of primarily minority adolescents, viewed from both adolescents’ and mothers’ perspectives. Participants were a school-based sample of adolescents with and without risk for emotional and behavioral disabilities and their mothers (N = 86 dyads). Results suggested an association between the mothers’ views of their adolescent children’s problem behaviors and the adolescents’ self-ratings of risk-taking behaviors across 5 years. Overall, mothers of the at risk youth receiving special education services reported higher ratings of youth problem behaviors, but results also indicated that mothers of the at risk adolescent boys not receiving special education services perceived greater depressive symptoms in their children and more family conflict in their homes. Mothers of youth at risk but not receiving special education services experienced higher levels of stress associated with being a parent than mothers of the not-at-risk adolescents. The parent measures of adolescent behavior and depressive symptoms, family conflict, and parental stress were not predictive of the social-emotional functioning of these adolescents in the multilevel models. Implications of these findings for early identification and family focused intervention programs are discussed.

Differences in the Relationship Between Family Environments and Self-Determination Among Anglo, Latino, and Female Students With Disabilities

The role of gender and ethnicity as moderators of the relationship between perceived family environments and levels of self-determination was examined in a sample of students with disabilities. A sample of 157 Latino and Anglo students with disabilities completed the Family Environment Scale and the Arc Self-Determination Scale. Results indicated Latino and female students reported significantly higher levels of self-determination than Anglo male students. Differences were also found among Latino, Anglo, and female students in the relationship between perceived family environments and self-determination. Implications include developing ways families and schools can provide conditions to nurture self-determination and transition planning that are sensitive to ethnic and gender differences.

ROLE OF HOME ENVIRONMENT, PARENTAL CARE, PARENTS' PERSONALITY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADOLESCENTS' MENTAL HEALTH

BackgroundHome environment and parent's personality are crucial for good mental health of the children and adolescents.ObjectiveThe broad objective of the study was to examine the relationships between home environment, parental...