Ratings Of Family Functioning Research Articles

The parental psychological distress caused by separation from their critically ill child during the COVID-19 pandemic: A tale of two cities.

IntroductionA child’s critical illness is a stressful event for the entire family, causing significant emotional distress among parents and changes to family functioning. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has abruptly caused modifications in visitation policies of Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) in many countries. We hypothesized that caregivers with no or severely restricted access to PICUs would demonstrate increased psychological distress as compared to those who had limitless access (LA) to PICUs.MethodsSociodemographic variables, levels of psychological distress, ratings of family functioning, and ability to cope with stressful events were collected with an online survey in a group of caregivers after their child’s hospitalization. Ratings of psychological distress were compared between caregivers with no/severely restricted (NA) and with LA to PICUs.ResultsMeasures of depression, anxiety, and global severity index (GSI) of psychological distress were significantly higher in NA caregivers as compared to LA. Among demographic characteristics of the sample, only gender influenced the severity of psychological symptoms: women showed an increased score on levels of somatization, depression, anxiety, and GSI. Avoidant coping style positively correlated with measures of depression. Univariate General Linear Model (GLM) analyses of the effects of sex, age, visitation policies of PICUs, and score of avoidant coping strategies on measures of psychological distress confirmed a significant univariate effect of no access to PICUs on parents’ psychopathological scores.ConclusionRestrictions imposed on visitation policies in PICU during the pandemic negatively impacted families’ psychological wellbeing. A balance between the safety of patients, families, and health care professionals and meeting the needs of families is of utmost importance.

Family functioning moderates the impact of psychosis-risk symptoms on social and role functioning

BackgroundYouth at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis often experience difficulties in social and role functioning. Given evidence that family stress and support can impact psychosis-risk symptoms, as well as an individual's ability to fulfill social and role functions, family dynamics are hypothesized to moderate the effect of psychosis-risk symptoms on functioning. MethodsParticipants at CHR (N = 52) completed the clinician-administered Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS) and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) General Functioning Scale, a self-report measure of family functioning including cohesion and support. Interviewers rated participants' current social and role functioning using the Global Functioning: Social and Role Scales. ResultsRegression results indicated that positive symptoms, but not ratings of family functioning, statistically predicted social and role functioning. Perceived family functioning, however, moderated the effect of symptoms on social/role functioning. For individuals who perceived lower levels of family functioning, symptoms were moderately associated with social and role functioning (f2 = 0.17 and f2 = 0.23, respectively). In contrast, psychosis-risk symptoms were not significantly associated with social/role functioning for individuals with higher levels of perceived family functioning. Notably, positive symptoms and perceived family functioning were not associated with one another, suggesting that perceived family functioning did not directly impact symptom severity, or vice versa. ConclusionsFindings support the notion that family functioning may be a clinically meaningful factor for individuals at CHR. Although this cross-sectional data limits our discussion of potential mechanisms underlying the pattern of findings, results suggest that familial support may be beneficial for individuals at risk for psychosis.

Family Functioning and Mood and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents Born Extremely Preterm.

To (1) compare adolescent- and parent-perceived family functioning between extremely preterm/extremely low birth weight (<28 wk/<1000 g, EP/ELBW) and normal birth weight (>2499 g, NBW) adolescents and (2) determine whether adolescents' or parents' ratings of family functioning were related to concurrent depression and anxiety symptoms in the adolescent and whether these relationships varied by birth group. One hundred ninety-three EP/ELBW and 151 NBW adolescents (aged 15-20 yr) and their parents rated aspects of family functioning on the Family Environment Scale. Adolescents rated current depression and anxiety symptoms on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Family functioning was compared across the groups using linear regression, and logistic regression was used to assess relationships between family functioning domains and elevated depression and anxiety scores. Compared with NBW controls, EP/ELBW adolescents reported similar levels of family Cohesiveness and Expressiveness, but less Conflict, and more Organization and Control. Parent ratings of family functioning were similar between groups except for higher Control scores in EP/ELBW group parents. Poorer family functioning as rated by adolescents, but not parents, was associated with increased depression/anxiety symptoms. These findings were generally consistent across both the EP/ELBW and control groups. EP/ELBW adolescents report generally positive family functioning. While adolescents' perceptions of family functioning are associated with concurrent adolescent mental health, parental perceptions of family functioning may not be indicative of adolescents' mental health. Importantly, EP/ELBW adolescents do not appear to be more vulnerable to anxiety/depression in the context of poorly perceived family functioning than their NBW peers.

The Impact of Family Functioning and Mental Health Condition on the Child's Behavioral Problems

We examined correlates of mental health conditions among family members and explored the effects of mothers' and fathers' mental health and family functioning on their child's behavioral problems. Participants were 119 couples in China, of whom the majority were parents in 1-child families. These parents reported their own anxiety and depression symptoms, behavioral problems of their child, and perceived family functioning. Results indicated that the mental health condition of the father, mother, and child were closely correlated, and that parental mental health was positively correlated with family functioning. Further, the couples had relatively high consistency in their ratings of family functioning and the child's behavioral problems, with rating discrepancies being positively correlated with mental health conditions. Finally, paternal mental health made a unique contribution to prediction of the child's behavioral problems when father-reported data were used, but this effect was not significant when the mother-reported data were applied.

Childhood cruelty to animals in China: the relationship with psychological adjustment and family functioning

The current study broadened the general scope of research conducted on childhood cruelty to animals by examining the association between psychological adjustment, family functioning and animal cruelty in an Eastern context, China. The mothers and fathers of 729 children attending primary school in Chengdu, China participated in this study. Each parent completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument, and the Children's Attitudes and Behaviours towards Animals questionnaire. Findings from an actor partner interdependence model demonstrated that parents' ratings of family functioning and of their child's externalizing coping style predicted only modest amounts of variance in animal cruelty. In particular, parents' ratings of their child's externalizing coping style most consistently predicted animal cruelty. Family functioning, fathers' ratings in particular, played a minor role, more so for boys compared with girls. This study provided the first insight into childhood animal cruelty in China, and suggests that further research may enhance our understanding of these phenomena.

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.

A multilevel analysis of whole family functioning using the McMaster Family Assessment Device.

This study demonstrates the use of multilevel modeling to examine influences on ratings of whole family functioning collected from multiple family members (N=26,614) living in 11,023 families with 1 or more dependent children aged 0 to 24 years. Results indicate that 45.7% of the variance in ratings of whole family functioning was shared among family members, whereas 54.3% was nonshared. Family-level characteristics, such as socioeconomic status (SES), family structure and composition, and family well-being, accounted for 30.6% of between-family variation (i.e., shared perceptions). Individual-level characteristics, such as sex, age, dependent child status, education, and well-being, accounted for 5.6% of within-family variance (i.e., unique perceptions). There was significant between-family variation in the relationship between dependent child status and ratings of family functioning, and increased rating discrepancies among members of the same family were linked with higher levels of family SES. The findings attest to the validity of measuring whole family functioning directly from self-report ratings provided from multiple family members. However, caution is warranted when assessments are available only from single respondents.

Family Functioning, Early Intervention Support, and Spoken Language and Placement Outcomes for Children With Profound Hearing Loss

This study investigated parents' perceptions of their family's functioning and the level of early intervention support they received as they reflected on their involvement at an oral early intervention centre for children with hearing loss. Overall, parents reported high levels of family functioning and satisfaction with the services they had received. Parental ratings of family functioning were not associated with either the child's language performance or the device used. The parents of the four children who entered mainstream classes on exit from the early intervention programme appeared to rate their family functioning slightly lower than did parents of the children who entered oral facilities or special schools for the deaf. Case studies indicated that family functioning is dependent on many factors and that early intervention professionals should be sensitive to individual needs, strengths and priorities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Family functioning, early intervention support, and spoken language and placement outcomes for children with profound hearing loss

This study investigated parents' perceptions of their family's functioning and the level of early intervention support they received as they reflected on their involvement at an oral early intervention centre for children with hearing loss. Overall, parents reported high levels of family functioning and satisfaction with the services they had received. Parental ratings of family functioning were not associated with either the child's language performance or the device used. The parents of the four children who entered mainstream classes on exit from the early intervention programme appeared to rate their family functioning slightly lower than did parents of the children who entered oral facilities or special schools for the deaf. Case studies indicated that family functioning is dependent on many factors and that early intervention professionals should be sensitive to individual needs, strengths and priorities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Opiate Withdrawal Outcome: The Predictive Ability of Admission Measures from the Family Assessment Device (F.A.D.)

The Family Assessment Device (F.A.D.) was administered to a sample of 57 opiate misusers at admission for inpatient detoxification. Logistic regression analyses showed that the odds of a premature discharge against medical advice from the Unit were increased by progressively poorer ratings of family functioning in the areas of problem solving and roles, while progressively poorer ratings of functioning in the areas of communication and behavioral control were associated with decreasing odds of a premature discharge. It was concluded that further research was required to better understand and utilize the potentially supportive role of families in this phase of treatment.

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia: psychological adjustment, family functioning, coping, and functional disability.

1) To determine the importance of psychological adjustment and family functioning in primary juvenile fibromyalgia by assessing these factors in children with fibromyalgia and in their parents, compared with children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and with pain-free control children and their parents. 2) To examine which of these factors predict functional disability. Fifteen children in each of the 3 study groups, and their parents, completed self-report questionnaires and pain diaries. A medical evaluation of each child was performed, including assessment of tender points by palpation and by dolorimetry. All children in the fibromyalgia group met the Yunus and Masi criteria for fibromyalgia, and 11 met the American College of Rheumatology criteria. There were almost no significant group differences in the children's or parents' psychological adjustment, ratings of family functioning, or coping strategies. Significant group differences in functional disability, pain, fatigue, tender point threshold, and control point tolerance were found. A number of the psychological adjustment, pain, fatigue, and coping variables were significantly associated with functional disability. The notion that fibromyalgia is a psychogenic condition is not supported by these results. Fibromyalgia is associated with disability of a magnitude comparable to that of other chronic pain conditions. Disability among children with fibromyalgia or JRA is a function of the children's psychological adjustment and physical state, and of the parents' physical state and method of coping with pain.

Self-concept, family functioning and problem type: A replication and extension of a study of clinic and non-clinic adolescents

This study replicates and extends previous research into self-concept and perceptions of family functioning held by clinic and nonclinic adolescents (1). Thirty-five male and 28 female adolescents who sought help from a school counselor for family problems (n = 26) and for educational problems (n = 37) formed the clinic group. A nonclinic group was formed by adolescents who had experienced the same problems but had not sought help. The two groups were matched in terms of age and sex of respondents. Respondents' were clustered into two groups based on their ratings of family functioning. One cluster was characterised by high conflict, the other by high democratic parenting style and intimacy. Three MANOVAs with sets of scales (academic, social, and other scales) from the Self-Description Questionnaire II (2) as the dependent variables and with group (clinic/nonclinic), family functioning cluster, and sex as the independent variables confirmed the findings of the previous research. That is, there were multivariate effects on the three sets of self-concept scales. Significant univariate differences between the clinic and nonclinic groups were present for seven of the 11 individual self-concept scales, with higher mean ratings of self-concept shown by the nonclinic group. A range of sex effects and cluster effects were found, however, differences between the reported problem types did not show any consistent effect. The major point to be drawn from this research is the identification of a very clear difference between the self-concept of adolescents who seek professional care and those who do not.