Perceptions Of Family Functioning Research Articles

The Relationship between Recent Stressful Life Events, Personality Traits, Perceived Family Functioning and Internet Addiction among College Students

Internet addiction (IA) is an emerging social and mental health issue among youths. Analysis of risk factors, as well as their interactions, is crucial for understanding the development of IA. This study investigated the relationship between recent stressful life events, personality traits, perceived family functioning and IA in 892 college students. Subjects were classified into categories (non-addicted, mild IA or severe IA) using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. Stressful life events, personality traits and family functioning were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, respectively. The results indicated that compared with non-addicted subjects, subjects with severe IA (9.98%) had lower family functioning, lower extraversion, higher neuroticism and psychoticism, and more stressful life events, and subjects with mild IA (11.21%) had higher neuroticism and more health and adaptation problems. Neuroticism and health and adaptation problems were potential predictors of IA. An interaction effect between psychoticism and total life stress on IA was also found. These findings highlight the role of personality traits and life stress and their interactions in college students' IA. Further research should explore the mechanisms underlying the interaction effect of psychoticism with life stress on IA.

Family Functioning and Its Predictors among Disaster Bereaved Individuals in China: Eighteen Months after the Wenchuan Earthquake

BackgroundThe 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China resulted in great loss of life and property, and previous studies have focused on psychopathological symptoms in survivors after disasters. This study examined perceived family functioning and its predictors in disaster bereaved individuals eighteen months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.Methodology/FindingsThis was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 264 bereaved individuals. The instruments used in the study included Family APGAR Index, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale??, Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale, and a range of items eliciting demographic characteristics and disaster-related variables. The results indicated that the rates of moderate family dysfunction and severe family dysfunction in bereaved individuals were 37.1% and 12.9%, respectively. Less financial loss during the earthquake was a significant predictor for positive family function. Better self-rated health status after the earthquake was significantly related to positive family function, cohesion, and adaptability. Scores on family cohesion and adaptability in bereaved individuals from extended or nuclear families were significantly higher than those from single-parent families. The ability to give birth to another baby of bereaved parents was a significant predictor for positive family function and cohesion. Poorer family function, cohesion and adaptability were significantly related to greater loneliness.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study found a high prevalence of family dysfunction in bereaved individuals eighteen months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Strategies can be designed to facilitate post-disaster recovery, particularly for the bereaved at high risk for family dysfunction. The study provides useful information for post-disaster rebuilding and relief work.

Parental beliefs and family functioning in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong

Abstract The relationships between parental beliefs (i.e., Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity, attribution of children’s success and failure to effort, and expectations of children’s future) and family functioning were examined in 550 Chinese parents experiencing economic disadvantage. Results showed that perceived Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and parental expectations on children’s future were positively related to family functioning in both fathers’ and mothers’ samples. In addition, paternal expectations of children’s future emerged as the most important predictor of perceived family functioning. The findings underscored the important role of the fathers in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning and developmental outcomes in Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage

Abstract The relationships between parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning and adolescents’ achievement motivation and psychological competence were examined. The respondents included 275 Chinese intact families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Results indicated that parents and adolescents had different perceptions of family functioning. Father-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were negatively related to adolescent achievement motivation; both father-adolescent and mother-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were also negatively associated with the psychological competence in poor adolescents. The present findings provided support for the thesis that family functioning plays an important role in shaping the developmental outcomes of adolescent experiencing economic disadvantage.

Family adaptation model for spousal caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis: Testing the stress-processing theory

Caregivers provide assistance for their family member with multiple sclerosis (MS) for an indefinite amount of time. Using Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress process theory as a theoretical framework, this study investigated the relationship of gender, current health problems, perceived stress, ways of coping, social support, control of internal states, and family adaptation to develop an adjustment model for caregivers of people with MS. Ninety caregivers participated in this study. Path analysis was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationships. The test of this model showed fit indices that indicated an excellent fit for the model (χ 2 = 18.373, p = 0.366; NFI = 0.892; CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.03). The finding shows that positive coping strategies enhanced caregiver's control of internal states and subsequently led caregivers to seek social support and in turn, caregivers perceived family function positively. control of internal states, positive coping strategies, and social support buffered the negative effect from caregiver's stressors on family adjustment.

Discrepancies in military middle-school adolescents' and parents' perceptions of family functioning, social support, anger frequency, and concerns

Previous literature suggests that adolescents' and parents' perceptions of family functioning are typically quite disparate and that perceptual discrepancies increase when a family is under stress. During the years of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan adolescents in military families have faced uniquely stressful circumstances which may exacerbate difficulties commonly experienced during adolescence. For this study 91 middle-school adolescent–parent dyads from U.S. Army families were surveyed about their perceptions of family functioning, social support, the adolescent's frequency of anger, and the adolescent's concerns. Findings indicated significant differences in parents' and adolescents' matched ratings for all variables except adolescent concerns. Adolescent–parent perceptual discrepancies were greatest for families who had never experienced deployment and during or following the first deployment. The results of this study may be useful to those supporting military families as they develop strategies to help family members understand the others' perceptions and learn to communicate and solve problems despite the differences.

Adolescent and caregiver perception of family functioning: Relation to suicide ideation and attempts

This study assessed the relationship between perceived family functioning and two indicators of suicidality in an adolescent sample. A total of 103 adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized for suicidal ideation and/or behavior completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing family functioning, negative affectivity, suicidal ideation in the past week assessed by Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS; Beck et al., 1979), and past suicide attempts. Participants' primary caregivers also completed a questionnaire on family functioning. A paired samples t-test evaluated overall discrepancy between adolescent- and caregiver-reported family functioning. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the simple associations between perceived family functioning and suicidal indicators (BSS and previous attempt status), as well as the associations between perceived family functioning and suicidal indicators after controlling for negative affect. Results indicated that adolescents' ratings of family functioning were significantly worse than caregivers' ratings, and positively associated with BSS scores and a history of suicide attempt. When negative affect was controlled for, adolescent-reported family functioning was significantly associated with BSS, but only trended toward significance with attempt status. Findings suggest that adolescents' perceptions of family functioning may be a key contributing factor to suicidal ideation in adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Factores de riesgo asociados a síntomas depresivos post parto en mujeres de bajo riesgo obstétrico atendidas en el sistema público

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health problem with high prevalence in Chile. Many factors are associated with PPD. To analyze the factors associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms (SD) in women with low obstetric risk. Cross-sectional analytical study on a sample of 105 postpartum women with low obstetric risk assessed by the Edinburgh Depression Scale at the eighth week postpartum. A 37% prevalence of depressive symptoms was found. Univariate analysis showed that the perception of family functioning, overcrowding and number of siblings, were significantly associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. A multiple regression model only accepted family functioning as a predictor of depression. Perception of family functioning was the only variable that explained in part the presence of depressive symptoms in women with low obstetric risk.

Abstract 3861: The Effect of Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Family Function and Mutuality on Post Stroke Depression

Background: Post-stroke depression is common among both stroke survivors and their caregivers. This secondary data analysis explored the effect that stroke survivor and caregiver family function and mutuality, a measure of the perceived positive aspects of the caregiving relationship, had on the depression of spousal dyads over the first 12 months post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Longitudinal meditational analysis was employed to examine the mediating effect of mutuality on the dyads’ perception of family function and caregiver and stroke survivor depression over time. The model was estimated in MPlus version 6.1 using bootstrap estimation with 1000 draws. The final structural model had good model fit to the data with a chi square ( df= 16; N = 132) of 17.55, p =.35, a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.996, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.027 (CI = 0-.087). Results: This study included 159 stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers who were an average (standard deviation) age of 66.4 (9.1) and 62.5 (10.5) years, respectively. The majority of stroke survivors were predominately male and non-Hispanic white, although almost 40% of the sample was represented by ethnic minorities. Mutuality was not found to mediate the relationship between caregivers’ and stroke survivors’ perception of family function at baseline and their own or their partners’ depression at 12 months as hypothesized. However, caregivers who perceived healthier family functioning at baseline and stroke survivors who had higher perceived mutuality at 12 months had lower depression at one year post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (-.117, p=.048; -1.007, p=.034, respectively). Additionally, caregiver mutuality at 6 months, but not at baseline or 12 months, was found to be inversely related to caregiver depression at 12 months (-1.06, p=.04). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of focusing on the relational aspects of stroke. A stroke does not only happen to the stroke survivor. It affects his or her family, and it oftentimes changes the life of both the stroke survivor and their spousal caregiver. Health professionals should encourage couples who have experienced a stroke to focus on the positive aspects of the caregiving relationship to mitigate post-stroke depression.

Pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment, which involved four mediating variables-family functioning, psychosomatic problems, child maltreatment allegation, and perceived needs. I used a subsample of data (n = 1000) of Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). The model fitted the data well and supported some of the hypothesized pathways. The effect of social support on service use was mediated by family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms, which in turn was associated with caregivers' perceived needs for outside assistance for a personal or emotional problem. The hypothesized pathways from perceived family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms through CPS report were not supported. The study's findings contribute to understanding the role that social support can play in caregivers' seeking service use for emotional or personal problems.

The influence of discrepancies between adolescent and parent ratings of family dynamics on the well-being of adolescents.

The present study examined whether discrepancies between adolescent and parent ratings of family dynamics predict adolescent well-being over time. Self-report data from 972 adolescent-parent dyads collected at two time points separated by one year were analyzed. Both adolescents and parents rated a variety of family dynamics (e.g., cohesion), and adolescents reported on their levels of well-being (confidence, purpose in life, and positive relations with others). Significant discrepancies between adolescents' and parents' perceptions of family functioning were found for all positive family dynamics, but not for family conflict. Furthermore, discrepancies increased over time and larger discrepancies were noted for older adolescents. Results from the residualized path model showed that discrepancies were bidirectionally related to adolescent well-being. In addition, age was found to moderate the predictive model. Specifically, 14-15 year olds (year 10) were found to be more stable in their well-being over time than younger adolescents. Also, results indicate that well-being is a significantly stronger negative predictor of discrepancies over time for the 14-15 year olds (year 10) than the for 10-11 year olds (year 6). The authors suggest that future research would benefit from investigations of the relationship between divergent perspectives of family members and adjustment outcomes of adolescents.

Development and Testing of the Survey of Family Environment (SFE): A Novel Instrument to Measure Family Functioning and Needs for Family Support

Hohashi's Concentric Sphere Family Environment Model (CSFEM; Hohashi & Honda, 2011) is a newly proposed family nursing theory for holistically understanding the family environment that acts on family well-being. The purpose of this article is to develop and psychometrically test the Japanese version of the Survey of Family Environment (SFE-J), grounded in the CSFEM, for measuring family's perceived family functioning and family's perceived needs for family support. The SFE-J is a 30-item self-administered instrument that assesses five domains (suprasystem, macrosystem, microsystem, family internal environment system, and chronosystem) and has been subjected to rigorous reliability and validity investigations among paired partners in child-rearing families (N of family = 1,990). Internal consistency reliability was high as measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Temporal stability over a 2-week interval was supported by high (substantial or perfect) and significant intraclass correlation coefficients. The total score for the SFE-J was significantly correlated with the Japanese version of the Feetham Family Functioning Survey (FFFS-J), indicating an acceptable concurrent validity. Construct validity was supported by a confirmatory factor analysis that evaluated the five-factor structure to measure the concept of CSFEM. Results also demonstrate that the SFE-J family functioning scores show no significant differences between paired partners. The SFE-J is a reliable and valid instrument to assess not only intrafamily functioning but also interfamily functioning and, by identifying items/domains with high requirements for family support, serves to facilitate the providing of appropriate support to families.

Comorbidity between psychological distress and drug use among patients in treatment centres in Jamaica: implications for policies and programme design

This research explored comorbidity between psychological distress and drug use among patients in treatment centres in Jamaica and the possible implications for policy and programme design for treatment centres. The study was cross-sectional and consisted of 56 adult patients of Jamaican nationality, ages 18 to 70 years old being treated in centres for substance use across three parishes. Patients completed a questionnaire consisting of an adapted version of the EULAC-CICAD Admission form; the Kessler Intrument-10; and the Family APGAR scale. Results indicate that 10.7% of the patients were categorized to have severe psychological distress; 32.1% categorized with severe psychological distress. Across the general sample 66.1% have high perceived family functioning, 16.1% perceive moderate family dysfunction and 17.9% perceive severe family dysfunction. The predominant treatment received across the centres was counseling 83.9% and 83.9% of patients reported being satisfied with their treatment. Overall, results may serve as a stepping stone to larger work to be done in the area; so as to capture a better picture of the phenomena as it exists in Jamaica.

Perceived Family Functioning and Suicidal Ideation

: Suicidal ideation has been identified increasingly as a problem among university students in Hong Kong. Understanding the relationships among hopelessness, perceived family functioning, and suicidal ideation is essential to designing effective interventions. : The aims of this study are to explore the relationships among hopelessness, perceived family functioning, and suicidal ideation and to examine the moderating and mediating roles played by hopelessness on suicidal ideation. : A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted. A questionnaire was administered to 350 university students with ages 18 to 25 years. The questions measured levels of suicidal ideation, perceived family functioning, and hopelessness of the students. Data analyses, including correlation and multiple hierarchical regression analyses, were conducted to examine the mediating and moderating roles of hopelessness on suicidal ideation. : Perceived family functioning (B = -.10, p < .05) and hopelessness (B = .56, p < .001) were shown to be significant predictors of suicidal ideation. Hopelessness was found to mediate only partially but moderate the impact of perceived family functioning on suicidal ideation (B = -.88, p < .05), hence expanding Beck's cognitive theory of suicide. : Perceived family functioning and hopelessness are significant predictors, whereas hopelessness is a partial mediator and a significant moderator of suicidal ideation. Therefore, interventions that enhance family functioning and lower the sense of hopelessness may be effective in decreasing suicidal ideation among university students.

Parenting Stress and Perceived Family Functioning of Chinese Parents in Hong Kong: Implications for Social Work Practice

This article reports the results of a telephone survey (n = 1002) conducted in November 2008, which aimed to identify parenting stress and perceived family functioning of Chinese parents in Hong Kong; to explore the effects of the parents’ socio-demographic characteristics (gender, family income, education and family structure) on the aforementioned stress and functioning variables; and to examine the interrelationship among these characteristics and the two variables in question. Results showed that the reported parenting stress was at average level, while the perceived family functioning was slightly below average. The results also indicated that the parenting stress of mothers, single parents, the low-income and the less-educated was higher than that of fathers, parents of nuclear and extended families, the high-income and the better-educated. Socio-demographic characteristics except the parent’s gender had similar effects on perceived family functioning. Higher parenting stress was associated with lower family functioning, and explained a larger variance in the perceived family functioning than the socio-demographic characteristics taken alone. The results of the study have provided empirical support regarding the interrelationships among the vulnerable groups in society, parenting stress and perceived family functioning. Implications of the study for social work practice are discussed.

Differential Relationship Between Depression Severity and Patients' Perceived Family Functioning in Women versus in Men

Previous research suggests that depression and family functioning are related and that women and men may differ in how they respond to and cope with depression. Significantly less attention has been paid to whether sex moderates the relationship between family functioning and depression. In the current study, the relationship between depression severity and perceived family functioning, both generally and in specific areas, was examined in women and men (N = 117) hospitalized with major depression. The level of depression severity was not significantly different in men and in women. Correlations between depression severity and most domains of family functioning were significant and positive for men only. Furthermore, sex statistically moderated the associations between depression severity and family functioning in the areas of problem solving, communication, affective responsiveness, and behavior control. The implications for the assessment and treatment of family dysfunction in severely depressed patients are discussed.

P03-164 - Relationship between perceived family functioning and recovery from surgery

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the impact of several psychological and/or biological variables in the recovery from surgery.MethodsThe selected sample was composed of 42 patients (age range: 25–70) admited for surgical treatment to a University Hospital. The patients who presented impaired cognitive functioning were excluded from the study. Prior to surgical intervention (48 to 72 hours), patients were administered the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-II). Salivary cortisol was measured 24 hours before surgery. Following surgical intervention, recovery was coded as “good” or “poor” accordingly to Moix et al.’s criteria (1995). Dietary intake, resting and sleeping time, fever, perceived pain and surgery-related complications were assessed on a daily basis.ResultsSignificant relationships between better recovery, family cohesion and salivary cortisol level were found. The patients with lower scores in the cohesion dimension of the FACES-II and higher cortisol levels had more complications during the recovery phase (F = 10.96, p = 0.006).ConclusionsOur results suggest that social support (family cohesion) and the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (cortisol levels) can have a significant influence on postoperatory recovery. Taking these data into account, it would be suitable to assess psychopathology and social support in patients waiting for surgically interventions.

Substance Use and its Relationship to Family Functioning and Self-Image in Adolescents

This study examined associations between substance use, family functioning, and self-image among four ethnic adolescent groups. Three thousand three hundred and fifteen 8th and 9th grade students were recruited from 10 schools in Los Angeles County. Participants completed a paper-and-pencil survey regarding their alcohol and marijuana use, along with their perceived family functioning and self-image and other demographic variables. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to examine associations. Results indicated that both family functioning and self-image were significantly associated with alcohol and marijuana use. Those who scored lower on family functioning and self-image were at increased risk for substance use. Furthermore, students who scored low in both family functioning and self-image were about twice as likely to report using alcohol.

Family Processes and Suicidal Ideation among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

Based on the responses of 5,557 Chinese secondary students in Hong Kong, the relationships between perceived family functioning (systemic correlate), parent-adolescent communication (dyadic correlate), and suicidal ideation were examined in this study. Results showed that suicidal ideation was negatively related to global family functioning and parent-adolescent communication. Regression analyses indicated that the dyadic and systemic factors had similar importance in predicting suicidal ideation. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

An exploratory study of the impact of an adolescent's eating disorder on Chinese parents' well-being, marital life and perceived family functioning in Shenzhen, China: implications for social work practice

In this paper, the author reports the results of an exploratory study conducted in Shenzhen, China on how an eating disorder in an adolescent or adult child in the family would affect the parents' well-being, quality of marital life and the perceived family functioning. Out of 33 patients suffering from eating disorders and referred for family treatment, 18 mothers and 15 fathers participated in this study. The data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire comprising three measures, namely the Symptom Check-List-90-R, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Family Assessment Device. The results of the study have shown that the parents' well-being was negatively affected, especially for the mothers, whose self-reported depression and anxiety levels were higher than the fathers'. The parents also perceived family functioning to be less satisfactory since the onset of the disorder, with least satisfaction reported on Affective Involvement, Affective Responsiveness, Roles and Behaviour Control. However, the onset had no negative effect on the parents' marital life. Implications of the study for social work practice are discussed.