Psychological Well-being Of Children Research Articles

How are parents affected when their child has an appearance-altering injury?

In the UK, around 6400 children experience a burn injury every year. This can have a profound impact on a child's psychological and physical wellbeing—but how are parents affected when their child suffers a burn? Catrin Griffiths explores the effect of a child's burn injury on parents' coping skills and wellbeing, and highlights the importance of adequately assessing parents' needs and providing appropriate support

Effectiveness of Queen’s Parenting Program on Psychological Well-Being of Pre-School Children with Neuropsychological/Developmental Learning Disabilities

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the Queen’s Parenting Program on psychological well-being of pre-school children with neuropsychological/developmental learning disability (NDLD). The population included all pre-school children with (NDLD). To conduct the research, using the stratified random sampling, 40 children with inclusion criteria were selected and then randomly put in the experimental and control groups. To collect data, the Wechsler Pre-school and primary Scale Intelligence (WPPSI) and Behavior Rating Inventory for Executive Function-Pre-school (BREIEF-P) for determining the inclusion criteria and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for measuring psychological well-being were used. The results of analyzing data using ANCOVA and MANOVA indicated that psychological wellbeing and its dimensions improved significantly in children of the experimental group in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, Queen’s program is effective on the psychological wellbeing of children with pre-school children with neuropsychological/developmental learning disability.

Contemporary Chinese parents’ socialization priorities for preschoolers: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACTThis mixed methods study focused on the socialization goals for preschool-aged children among parents from three small-sized cities located in northeastern China. A total of 154 parents with preschool-aged children completed questionnaires measuring parental socialization goals for children's social-emotional competence and academic achievement. Quantitative results showed that parents generally placed more importance on children's social-emotional skills than academic skills. Ten mothers were selected from the sample and participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview to help understand reasons for parents’ prioritization of social-emotional well-being over academic performance. Four themes emerged, including parents’ concerns about children's psychological well-being under excessive academic pressure, their desires to ‘protect’ children's childhood, their awareness of children's individual differences in intelligence and talent in learning, and their belief that good grades did not guarantee future success in life. Our findings highlight the importance of using mixed methods to deepen understanding of contemporary Chinese parents’ child-rearing ideologies.

Community-based organizations for vulnerable children in South Africa: Reach, psychosocial correlates, and potential mechanisms

Community-based organizations (CBOs) have the potential to provide high quality services for orphaned and vulnerable children in resource-limited settings. However, evidence is lacking as to whether CBOs are reaching those who are most vulnerable, whether attending these organizations is associated with greater psychosocial wellbeing, and how they might work. This study addressed these three questions using cross-sectional data from 1848 South African children aged 9–13. Data were obtained from the Young Carers and Child Community Care studies, which both investigated child wellbeing in South Africa using standardized self-report measures. Children from the Child Community Care study were all CBO attenders, whereas children from Young Carers were not receiving any CBO services, thereby serving as a comparison group. Multivariable regression analyses were used to test whether children attending CBOs were more deprived on socio-demographic variables (e.g., housing), and whether CBO attendance was in turn associated with better psychosocial outcomes (e.g., child depression). Mediation analysis was conducted to test whether more positive home environments mediated the association between CBO attendance and significantly higher psychological wellbeing. Overall, children attending CBOs did show greater vulnerability on most socio-demographic variables. For example, compared to children not attending any CBO, CBO-attending children tended to live in more crowded households (OR 1.22) and have been exposed to more community violence (OR 2.06). Despite their heightened vulnerability, however, children attending CBOs tended to perform better on psychosocial measures: for instance, showing fewer depressive symptoms (B=−0.33) and lower odds of experiencing physical (OR 0.07) or emotional abuse (OR 0.22). Indirect effects of CBO attendance on significantly better child psychological wellbeing (lower depressive symptoms) was observed via lower rates of child abuse (B=−0.07) and domestic conflict/violence (B=−0.03) and higher rates of parental praise (B=−0.03). Null associations were observed between CBO attendance and severe psychopathology (e.g., suicidality). These cross-sectional results provide promising evidence regarding the potential success of CBO reach and impact but also highlight areas for improvement.

ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF PROTECTIVE REFLECTION OF RATIONALIZATION BY CIRCUMSTANCES OF MOTHER AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF CHILD

The article shows the relationship of protective reflection of rationalization by circumstances of mother and psychological well-being of the child. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of parent-child relationship, the mother causes the protective reflexes that promote the appearance of certain indicators of psychological distress of the child. The article points out that it is on the extent to which manifested a protective reflex to rationalize the circumstances of mothers with projective character. The scientific novelty of the research is to what extent a manifestation of character accentuations closest to the child rearing adults - mothers, manifested in a protective reflex to rationalize the circumstances and characteristics of parent-child relationships, cause indicators of psychological distress of children. Relevance of the research in the article content is determined by studying the significance of this aspect in connection with the need to create a family and educational institution environment conservation psychological well-being of the child. Baseline confidence in the world, to themselves and people around the child is formed in early childhood with significant adults bringing up and, to a greater extent - the mother. The study has been confirmed the assumption that the psychological disadvantage preschool children, manifested in the form of insecurity, aggression and increased impulsiveness, a substantial originality in the affective, cognitive and behavioral areas. The mechanism that triggers a psychological disadvantage of the child, are not constructive relationship with the child bringing up an adult (in the family - mother), due to safety (pathogenic) reflection. Protective strategies of the Child expressed its cautious and defensive, or aggressive and offensive position, arising in response to the non-constructive attitude towards him adult, contribute to the manifestation of insecurity, aggressiveness, impulsivity, isolation, and other indicators of psychological distress developing the child's personality. These studies have confirmed the dependence of protective reflexes rationalization circumstances of mothers with high and low rates of projective character, the manifestation of them in the parent-child relationship and the impact on the psychological well-being of children.

Psychological Well-being of Ghanaian Children in Transnational Families

This study is one of the first large-scale analyses on child psychological well-being in the context of parental migration when children remain in an African country. As such, it contributes to the literature by investigating some of the insights gained from in-depth transnational family studies, and it also provides evidence from Africa where normative contexts around family life differ from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and East Asia where most studies have been conducted to date. A survey was conducted in 2010/2011 with 2,760 secondary school children and youths in high out-migration areas of Ghana. Using multiple regression analysis, we find that being in a transnational family is associated with lower levels of psychological well-being, yet only in families where parents are divorced or separated. Furthermore, when parents are in a relationship, specific characteristics of transnational family arrangements are associated with lower levels of child psychological well-being, while others are not. In particular, whether a parent migrates internally or internationally, who the caregiver is, and having a good relationship with the migrant parent are not associated with poorer well-being outcomes. Instead, if a father migrates, if the child changes caregivers more than once, and if the child has a bad relationship with his or her migrant father are associated with lower levels of well-being. This study adds nuance to a field of research that has emphasised negative outcomes and helps identify policy areas to improve the well-being of children in transnational families. Copyright (C) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Promoting Psychological Well-being in Children and Families

Promoting Psychological Well-being in Children and Families

Children's humor types and psychosocial adjustment

Attempting to understand how humor styles relate to psychological adjustment by correlating these two constructs fails to address the emerging understanding that individuals use combinations of humor styles, and that different combinations may be differentially associated with psychosocial adjustment. Indeed humor types have been identified in adult samples (Galloway, 2010; Leist & Müller, 2013). The main aim of the study was to explore whether similar humor types are evident at a younger age and whether these types can be distinguished in terms of children's psychological and social well-being. Participants were 1234 adolescents (52% female) aged 11–13years, drawn from six secondary schools in England. Self-reports of humor styles and psychosocial adjustment were collected at two time points, 6months apart. A cluster analysis was performed using the child humor styles scores at Time 1. Four humor types were identified: ‘Interpersonal Humorists’ (high on aggressive and affiliative humor, low on self-defeating and self-enhancing humor), ‘Self-Defeaters’ (high self-defeating humor, low on the other three), ‘Humor Endorsers’ (high on all four humor styles), and ‘Adaptive Humorists’ (high on self-enhancing and affiliative humor, but low on aggressive and self-defeating humor). ‘Self-Defeaters’ scored highest in terms of maladjustment across all of the outcomes measured. Our analyses support the presence of distinctive humor types in childhood and indicate that these are related to psychosocial adjustment.

Surrogacy: outcomes for surrogate mothers, children and the resulting families-a systematic review.

Surrogacy is a highly debated method mainly used for treating women with infertility caused by uterine factors. This systematic review summarizes current levels of knowledge of the obstetric, medical and psychological outcomes for the surrogate mothers, the intended parents and children born as a result of surrogacy. PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases up to February 2015 were searched. Cohort studies and case series were included. Original studies published in English and the Scandinavian languages were included. In case of double publications, the latest study was included. Abstracts only and case reports were excluded. Studies with a control group and case series (more than three cases) were included. Cohort studies, but not case series, were assessed for methodological quality, in terms of risk of bias. We examined a variety of main outcomes for the surrogate mothers, children and intended mothers, including obstetric outcome, relationship between surrogate mother and intended couple, surrogate's experiences after relinquishing the child, preterm birth, low birthweight, birth defects, perinatal mortality, child psychological development, parent-child relationship, and disclosure to the child. The search returned 1795 articles of which 55 met the inclusion criteria. The medical outcome for the children was satisfactory and comparable to previous results for children conceived after fresh IVF and oocyte donation. The rate of multiple pregnancies was 2.6-75.0%. Preterm birth rate in singletons varied between 0 and 11.5% and low birthweight occurred in between 0 and 11.1% of cases. At the age of 10 years there were no major psychological differences between children born after surrogacy and children born after other types of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or after natural conception. The obstetric outcomes for the surrogate mothers were mainly reported from case series. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were reported in between 3.2 and 10% of cases and placenta praevia/placental abruption in 4.9%. Cases with hysterectomies have also been reported. Most surrogate mothers scored within the normal range on personality tests. Most psychosocial variables were satisfactory, although difficulties related to handing over the child did occur. The psychological well-being of children whose mother had been a surrogate mother between 5 and 15 years earlier was found to be good. No major differences in psychological state were found between intended mothers, mothers who conceived after other types of ART and mothers whose pregnancies were the result of natural conception. Most studies reporting on surrogacy have serious methodological limitations. According to these studies, most surrogacy arrangements are successfully implemented and most surrogate mothers are well-motivated and have little difficulty separating from the children born as a result of the arrangement. The perinatal outcome of the children is comparable to standard IVF and oocyte donation and there is no evidence of harm to the children born as a result of surrogacy. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution. To date, there are no studies on children born after cross-border surrogacy or growing up with gay fathers.

Relationship of Attachment Styles and Locus of Control among Third Year Girls of Secondary School

Background: Attachment is an emotional bonding between child and his mother and quality of this relationship may impact the psychological wellbeing of child in next steps of life. Main purpose of this study was to study the Relation of attachment styles (secure, avoidant, anxious and ambivalent) and locus of control (Internal-External) among third year girls of secondary school in Iran. Materials and Methods: The Sample of the present research was selected by Random sampling method from 3 educational regions north, center and south of Tehran. The total sample consisted of 305 students. Two questionnaires were used, including revised Adult attachment scale (secure, avoidant and anxious/ambivalent) by Collins and read (1990) and locus of control questionnaire by Julian Rotter (1966-1972). Regarding analysis of Hypothesis, Pearson correlation test and multiple regression were conducted. Results: The result indicated that secure attachment style maintains no relationship with internal locus of control. While, avoidant attachment style maintain a meaningful positive relation with external locus of Control. No meaningful relation was found between attachment style and locus of control adolescents and their parent’s age. A positive meaningful relation was found between adolescents’ attachment style and their parent’s educational levels. Father’s high educational level (MSc, PhD) showed a positive relation with anxious/ambivalent attachment style. Additionally, fathers’ low educational level (diploma and lower degrees), showed a positive relation with secure attachment style. The mother’s high educational level showed positive relation with anxious ambivalent attachment style. No relation was found between adolescent locus of control and parent’s education and parent’s job.

Safeguarding the Children: The Cancer Journey of Young Mothers.

To investigate how young mothers manage their maternal roles and responsibilities during their journey as patients with cancer . Semistructured face-to-face interviews and analysis . Rural and urban communities in eastern Canada. 18 mothers aged 27-45 years when diagnosed and who were concluding or had concluded treatment for breast or non-ovarian reproductive cancer. Glaserian Grounded Theory. During the various phases of the cancer journey, mothers focus their efforts on protecting their children from psychological harm. Safeguarding the Children is the explanatory model generated from the interview data that consists of four strategies-customizing exposure, reducing disruption to family life, finding new ways to be close, and increasing vigilance-which mothers implement to protect their children . Young mothers with cancer manage their maternal roles and responsibilities by strategizing how they can mitigate threats to their children's psychological well-being . Nurses are ideally suited to address holistic needs and concerns of women with cancer who are mothers. Safeguarding the Children, as an explanatory model for practice, may equip oncology nurses with requisite knowledge and understanding to better anticipate resource, counseling, support, and referral needs of young mothers during their cancer journey .

Depressive Symptomatology in Greek Preadolescents: The Role of Parenting Style Perceptions

The relationships between preadolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ parenting style and depressive symptomatology were examined in a sample of 640 Greek preadolescents (mean age = 11.82 years, SD = .83). Children completed the Paternal Style and Dimensions Questionnaire, the Maternal Style and Dimensions Questionnaire, and the Children's Depression Inventory. According to the results, there is a significant link between parenting style (both for mothers and fathers) and depressive symptoms as manifested by preadolescents. In this study, gender differences were not found. Furthermore, the results indicate that preadolescents’ perception of their parents’ style is a significant factor in predicting depressive symptomatology. Finally, the present findings highlight the influence of parenting styles on children's psychological wellbeing.

The Challenge of Developing a Brief Intervention Service for Couples

The authors outline the development in the United Kingdom of a service commissioned by the Department for Education from the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships. The purpose was to develop and evaluate a well-being service for couples. The service offered a brief therapeutic intervention of four sessions and was primarily aimed at younger couples in the early stages of parenthood presenting with a focused concern. The authors examine the contextual factors that lead to the development of the service; namely, the importance of prevention and the need for early intervention in regard to securing children's emotional and psychological well-being. Particular emphasis was placed on the couple relationship as a foundational factor. The authors also explore the purpose and effectiveness of the brief therapeutic approach and the theoretical underpinnings that informed their work. Case studies are presented to illustrate the application of the four-session model. In addition, a set of DVDs was specifically commissioned to enhance the brief intervention and their impact is examined and assessed. The report concludes with an evaluation of the service.

The Impact of Parental Detention on the Psychological Wellbeing of Palestinian Children.

BackgroundSince 1967, the Palestinian Occupied Territories are marked by a political conflict between Palestinians and Israel. During this conflict, about one fifth of the Palestinian population has been detained; about one quarter of these are parents. Although we know that father’s incarceration might impact their children’s psychological wellbeing, little is known about the impact of father’s imprisonment on young children (under 11 years old), and when the incarceration is framed in contexts of political conflict. Therefore, this study aimed at gaining insight into the impact of parental detention on young children’s psychological wellbeing, and the impact of witnessing the detention process itself.MethodsBased on the list of imprisoned Palestinian men with children living in the West Bank, a group of 79 (3- to 10-years old) children was randomly composed. Above, through schools and health centers, a comparison sample of 99 children who didn’t experience imprisonment of a family member was selected. Mothers of these children completed two cross-culturally validated questionnaires on their children’s psychological wellbeing, the UCLA-PTSD-Index and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).ResultsResults showed higher levels of PTSD and general mental health problems associated with father’s capturing. Above, when the children watched the arrest process of their fathers, scores still increased further. Younger children tended to show higher SDQ scores, and children living in villages reported higher posttraumatic stress scores compared to children living in urban areas or refugee camps. Little gender differences were found.ConclusionThis study shows the important impact of parental detention on the psychological wellbeing for young children and urges for more psychological care and support for family members – in particular children – of detainees.

The association between parental imprisonment and the mental health of Palestinian adolescents.

Since 1967, the Palestinian Occupied Territories are marked by a protracted political conflict. During this conflict, about one fifth of the Palestinian population has been detained; a considerable part of them having children outside prison. Although parental detention negatively impacts children's psychological well-being, little is known about this impact within contexts of protracted armed conflict. Therefore, this study aimed at gaining insight into the impact of parental detention onto adolescents' psychological well-being. Of 314 (11- to 18-year old) Palestinian adolescents who took part, the fathers of 204 adolescents were detained in Israeli prisons. The adolescents completed two self-report questionnaires: the UCLA-PTSD-Reaction Index, investigating symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, looking at overall psychological problems. Several hierarchical regression analyses investigated mental health differences between both the groups, and possible associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the witnessing of the father's arrest, and the mental health outcomes. Parental detention largely impacted adolescents' mental health, with one fifth to two thirds of the adolescents reporting considerable mental health problems. Witnessing the arrest of the father even increased this risk considerably. Above, girls, younger adolescents, participants living in refugee camps, and those living with extended families also reported higher scores on both questionnaires. Detention of fathers in the context of protracted armed conflicts has a large impact on adolescents' mental health. Besides an overall plea to end armed conflicts as fast as possible, the study also delineates considerable implications for the support and care for these adolescents and their families.

Parenting Mediates the Impact of Caregivers' Distress on Children's Well-Being in Families Affected by HIV/AIDS.

Parental illness imposes great challenges to children's life and mental health. Having a parent infected by HIV may further challenge children's psychological well-being. Existing studies have demonstrated a negative impact of caregiver's distress on children's well-being. Limited studies examined the potential pathways of the link. This study aims to examine whether parenting stress, parenting competence and parental responsiveness can explain the relationship between caregivers' distress and children's well-being. A community sample of children of parents living with HIV and their current caregivers (n=754 dyads) was recruited in rural central China. Children completed the measures on their psychological well-being and perceived parental responsiveness of their caregivers. Caregivers reported on their psychological well-being, parenting stress, and parenting competence. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that caregivers' distress indirectly affect children's well-being through parenting stress, parenting competence and parental responsiveness. Parenting stress explained the impact of caregiver's distress on parental responsiveness and showed pervasive effects on parenting competence. Our findings lend credence to family-based intervention for children affected by HIV and affirm the importance of incorporating the cognitive, emotional and behavioral components of parenting practices in such intervention.

Emotional and psychological well-being in children: the development and validation of the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale

The Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale (SCWBS) was developed by the Stirling Council Educational Psychology Service (UK) as a holistic, positively worded measure of emotional and psychological well-being in children aged eight to 15 years. Drawing on current theories of well-being and Positive Psychology, the aim was to provide a means of measuring the effectiveness of interventions and projects designed to promote children’s well-being and emotional development.A total of 18 schools and 1849 children participated in the construction and validation of the scale, which ultimately emerged as a short, robust measure comprising 12 items. The scale is offered for use by educational and health professionals interested in promoting and measuring the emotional development and well-being of children and the effectiveness of interventions.

Disclosure and silencing: A systematic review of the literature on patterns of trauma communication in refugee families.

This systematic review aimed to explore the effects of different degrees of parental disclosure of traumatic material from the past on the psychological well-being of children in refugee families. A majority of studies emphasize the importance of the timing of disclosure and the manner in which it takes place, rather than the effects of open communication or silencing strategies per se. A pattern emerged in which the level of parental disclosure that promotes psychological adjustment in refugee children depends on whether the children themselves have been directly exposed to traumatic experiences, and whether the children are prepubescent or older. The process of trauma disclosure is highly culturally embedded. Future research needs to address the culturally shaped variations in modulated disclosure and further explore how modulated disclosure can be facilitated in family therapy with traumatized refugee families.

Recurrent respiratory infections and psychological problems in junior school children

Background. Recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) are among most common diseases in school-aged children. Little is known about possible associations between RRI and children psychological well-being. Aim. To study possible associations between RRI in junior school pupils and their emotional/behavioural characteristics. Methods. The RRI group comprised 30 first-to-fourth-year pupils from the community setting in whom 4 and more episodes of practitioner-attended respiratory tract infections during the preceding year had been diagnosed. Children were born in St. Petersburg, did not have any inborn abnormalities, disabilities, chronic and progressive diseases. Control group was made up of 30 healthy children matched to the cases for age at study, sex and date of birth as close as possible. The school class masters were approached with the Child Behavior Checklist Teacher's report form for ages 6–18 aimed at assessing emotional and behavioural characteristics. Results. Children from RRI group presented with statistically significantly higher values (more problems) for the following subscales: withdrawal/depression, somatic complaints, social problems, as well as rule-breaking behaviour. Overall, children with RRI had significantly higher values of the internalising and externalising behavioural problems. These associations remained significant after adjustment for major potential confounders. Children with RRI were more commonly reported to work less hard, behave less appropriately, learn less and be less happy at school. Structural equation modelling was used to test whether RRI influenced school success of the child and resulted in his/her psychological problems, which revealed good fit. Conclusion. Junior school children with RRI may have more psychological problems.

Do Positive Feelings Hurt? Disaggregating Positive and Negative Components of Intergenerational Ambivalence.

Ambivalence has become an important conceptual development in the study of parent-adult child relations, with evidence highlighting that intergenerational relationships are characterized by a mix of positive and negative components. Recent studies have shown that ambivalence has detrimental consequences for both parents' and adult children's psychological well-being. The underlying assumption of this line of research is that psychological distress results from holding simultaneous positive and negative feelings toward a parent or child. The authors question this assumption and explore alternative interpretations by disaggregating the positive and negative dimensions commonly used to create indirect measures of intergenerational ambivalence. Data for the analyses were collected from 254 older mothers and a randomly selected adult child from each of the families. The findings suggest that the negative component is primarily responsible for the association between indirect measures of ambivalence and psychological well-being. Implications of these findings for the study of intergenerational ambivalence are discussed.