Socioenvironmental Stressors Research Articles

The Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Cross-Validation in Croatia

The aim of this study was to cross-validate the Child Abuse Potential Inventory by Milner in Croatia. The inventory was translated and administered to 59 parents reported to centres of social work for child abuse or neglect and to a sample of 383 in the general population of parents. Data on sociodemographic variables and socioenvironmental stressors on the family were also collected. A significant difference in scores on the inventory's Abuse Scale between groups of parents was found. Discriminant analysis indicated an over-all correct classification rate for the Abuse Scale of 87.59%. The coefficient of internal consistency for the Abuse Scale for all respondents was 0.91. Results were interpreted as supportive of concurrent predictive validity in the Croatian sociocultural context.

The Classification and Assessment of Intellectual and Other Psychological Impairments in the Mentally Disabled

Psychiatric rehabilitation of the chronically mentally ill requires conceptual distinction among psychological abnormalities of the nervous system, representing active pathology or a disease state; impairment of functions by means of which those abnormalities can be inferred; disabilities, i.e., losses of functional ability consequent upon an impairment; and handicaps, which are the social disadvantages resulting from disability [1-3]. These various levels of functioning cannot be separated from the environment. Socioenvironmental stressors, defined by Mechanic [4] as a discrepancy between demands presented to a person and his or her capacity to deal with them, influence the appearance of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps. Wing [5] lists three factors that can cause and exacerbate social disablement in cases of frequent relapse or chronic impairment: environmental overstimulation or understimulation, social disadvantage, and adverse personal reactions (secondary disablement) caused by acceptance by the handicapped person of limitations that are not actually necessary. It is clear that assessment and evaluation of impairments are important in avoiding understimulation and overstimulation and preventing or correcting adverse personal reactions. Although premorbid and environmental factors play an important role, we can expect the more severely impaired also to be the more severely disabled. Patients with schizophrenia are especially subject to

Young Children's Responses to Expressions of Anger and Affection by Others in the Family

CUMMINGS, E. MARK; ZAHN-WAXLER, CAROLYN; and RADKE-YARROW, MARIAN. Young Children's Responses to Expressions of Anger and Affection by Others in the Family. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1981, 52, 1274-1282. The responses of 1-2k-year-old children as bystanders to naturally occurring and simulated expressions of anger and affection by others were recorded by their mothers, who were trained to act as observers. Expressions of anger seemed to act as socioenvironmental stressors, frequently causing distress in young children. The probability of distress responses was heightened when others' angry interactions included physical attack. Repeated exposure to interparent anger increased the likelihood of a negative emotional reaction by children and also of efforts by children to become actively involved in the conflicts. It was hypothesized that frequently viewing such incidents threatened children's sense of security with regard to their social environment. Affectionate interactions between others were most often responded to with affection and overt signs of pleasure, although jealous responses were not uncommon. The results suggest that, by approximately 1 year of age, children are not only aware of others' angry or affectionate interactions but are also quite likely to evidence an emotional reaction to them.