Family Stability Research Articles

Defeating the ‘social danger’ of homosexuality while ‘forging the fatherland’: Sexual science and biotypology in Mexico’s national development, 1927–57

This article situates Mexican sexology, and how it engaged homosexuality and gender nonconformity, within more familiar nation-building projects in Mexico following the Revolution (1910–20). It argues that much like with understandings of race, Mexican sexologists, influenced by neo-Lamarckism and ‘Latin' eugenics, viewed sexuality as caused largely by social and environmental factors, rather than simply as a congenital characteristic. Such experts advocated for social solutions for what they saw as the ‘state of danger’ that homosexuality represented, targeting their interventions at youths, who were seen as pliable, future citizens, rather than adults, who were largely seen as irredeemable and best isolated from the national body. The article explores discursive, ideological, and methodological threads in Mexican sexology from the 19th to the mid-20th century, the field’s professionalization and transnational connections, case studies of youths in which the preferred solutions involved promoting family stability and coherence, and adult cases ranging from prison studies to the case of Marta Olmos, recipient of Mexico’s first widely known sex reassignment. Overall, it demonstrates important intersections between sexology and nation-building projects related to criminology, anthropology, and eugenics, and how the attempted management of homosexuality and gender nonconformity sheds light on Mexican development more broadly.

Sibling complexity and psychiatric disorders in late adolescence among the Finnish 2000 birth cohort

Abstract Background Due to the increasing family instability and multipartner fertility in Western countries, more children have half- and stepsiblings. While numerous studies link family instability and complexity with mental health problems, the focus has typically been on the parents while a small but growing literature suggest that sibling constellations with half- and stepsiblings may also be important for adolescent mental health. Methods This study is based on administrative register data of all children born in Finland in 2000 and residing there at ages 0 − 15 (n = 56,372). We identified the biological parents, their cohabiting partners, and any full, half and step siblings that the index child has from birth to age 15. We used Cox proportional-hazards models to compare differences in psychiatric disorders from age 16 to 19 for boys and girls by different sibling constellations. Psychiatric disorders were identified as any disorders treated in specialized outpatient or hospital care (n = 7,999). Results Almost one in five children in the birth cohort had a cohabiting half sibling and almost 4% had a step sibling. Psychiatric disorders in late adolescence were more prevalent among children in different sibling compositions with half or step siblings. For example, the preliminary results show that adjusting for confounders such as socioeconomic status and living with both biological parents or not, boys and girls with an older half sibling had a 44% (95% confidence interval 34-55) higher risk of psychiatric disorders when compared to children with biological siblings only. The corresponding difference in risk for those with younger half siblings was 24% (11-55). Conclusions Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in late adolescence among children with half and/or step siblings. Future studies on family complexity are likely to benefit from including information on sibling characteristics in addition to those of the parents. Key messages • Adolescents growing up with half or stepsiblings had a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders in late adolescence. • More studies on sibling composition and adolescent psychiatric disorders are needed to inform the type of supportive measures that may benefit children living with half and stepsiblings.

Physicians' perception about predictors of opioid abuse in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: a Delphi study.

Opioids are being prescribed widely, and increasingly, for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). However, several side effects are associated with mid- and long-term opioid use and, for certain patients, with the risk of problematic opioid use. The aim of this study is to know the perception of the physicians about which variables could be associated with increased risk of patients with CNCP developing a problem of abuse or misuse of the prescribed opioid medication. Twenty-nine physicians with experience in CNCP pain management and opioids prescription participated in a two-round Delphi study focused on the risk factors for opioid misuse and abuse. The variables that reached consensus regarding their relationship with the increased risk of suffering a problem of opioid abuse or misuse were: (1) Experiencing pain on a daily basis, (2) previous use of high-dose opioids, (3) generalized anxiety, (4) hopelessness, (5) benzodiazepine intake, (6) use of opioids for reasons other than pain, (7) family problems, family instability or family breakdown, and (8) having access to several opioid prescribers. The only variable that reached consensus regarding it not being associated to a possible risk of abuse or misuse was having mild pain intensity (0-4 on a NRS-11). This study provides useful information that could help make decisions about the use of opioids for CNCP treatment and prevent future difficulties. Prospective studies testing the relationship of the variables that reached consensus with the risk of opioid misuse and abuse are warranted. This study shows the variables of CNCP that the professional must take into account in order to avoid possible problems when prescribing opioids.

Pedagogical Basis of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Views in Ensuring Family Stability

Pedagogical Basis of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Views in Ensuring Family Stability

‘We have similar sad stories’: A life history analysis of left-behind children in Cambodian residential care

Globally, labor migration of parents has resulted in a growing number of children and adolescents being left behind in the areas from where migrants depart. In many countries a single parent or grandparents often act as children’s primary caregivers when parents migrate, while residential care has been found to an emergent caregiving arrangement for left-behind children in Cambodia. This phenomenon raises the questions: 1) how parental migration and other contextual factors contribute to Cambodian children’s entry to residential care, and 2) how do these children conceptualize and experience this type of care? This study adopts a qualitative research design to identify the major pathways into residential care for children of migrant workers in Cambodia, and to understand how the children perceive this type of care. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 25 children currently living in residential care institutions (RCIs) and 17 stakeholders, two primary pathways into RCIs in the context of migration in Cambodia are identified. The first pathway stems from the undocumented or irregular migration of parents where the children themselves are often engaged in child labor, leading to a child’s move into an RCI following detention. The second pathway stems from the interplay of parental migration, family poverty and family instability, influencing a child’s placement in an RCI. The results show there are perceived benefits of living in RCIs, but also highlight the children’s unmet emotional needs. Overall, this study increases our understanding of children’s pathways into RCIs in a high migration context, to better inform services for children who potentially face cumulative risks from parent-child separation induced by migration and living outside family care.

Exploring the Association Between Trauma, Instability, and Youth Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes Over Three Years

PurposeChildhood adversity plays a fundamental role in predicting youth cardiometabolic health. Our understanding of how adverse experiences in childhood should best be conceptualized remains elusive, based on one-dimensional measures of adversity. The present study fills a major gap in existing research by examining two distinct forms of threat and instability-related exposures that may impact cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in adolescence. MethodsWe explore two specific subtypes of adversity: trauma (e.g., badly hurt, victim of crime, loss of close person) and instability (e.g., moving, change of schools, change in household structure) as differential influences that can accumulate to impact early childhood onset of CMR (body mass index, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, insulin sensitivity). Secondary data were drawn from a randomized control behavioral trial of youth recruited during sixth grade from urban Cleveland (Ohio) schools beginning in 2012–2014 (n = 360) and followed for 3 years. Participants reported on 12 adverse experiences, six trauma- and six instability-specific. Multiple regression assessed effects of prospective and accumulative indices of trauma and instability with 3-year trajectories of eight objective CMR markers. ResultsInstability was associated with increased body mass index, decreased high-density lipoprotein, and increased C-reactive protein slopes. Trauma was associated with trends in triglyceride levels but not with any other CMR outcomes. DiscussionExperiences with instability distinctly impacted adolescent CMR. Future research is needed to examine factors that can enhance stability for families in marginalized communities.

A Pilot Study of the Adoption and Guardianship Enhanced Support (AGES) Program: Preventing Discontinuity by Walking Alongside Adoptive and Guardianship Families Who are Struggling

ABSTRACT Purpose There is a strong preference for evidence-based child welfare services, however, there are few well-researched programs for families that struggle post-permanence. Following adoption or guardianship, some families experience significant challenges, struggle to find effective programs, and run the risk of family instability. This study described the process used to develop the Adoption and Guardianship Enhanced Support (AGES) intervention and explored: 1) the needs of families participating in the program and 2) how AGES worked with families to address those challenges. Methods This descriptive study utilized quantitative structured assessment data and qualitative data from case records to explore the needs of families and provide context for qualitative, in-depth interviews with families regarding their experiences with the AGES program, presented using thematic analysis. Results Pre-service structured assessments indicated multiple dimensions of parenting strain, with case record reviews and interviews with families providing a nuanced picture of multiple sources of strain, suggesting the project was reaching the intended audience. Record review and interviews demonstrated strong alignment between needs of families and the support provided by AGES workers. Intended analysis of quantitative post-assessment data was not possible, due to lower enrollment and higher staff turnover than expected, as well as study timeframes. Discussion and Conclusion The approach utilized by AGES workers, one that walked alongside families and provided flexible responses to identified needs, showed promise for adoptive and guardianship families. Replication and additional research are needed to assess the program with a larger sample and more rigorous methods.

Peran Pendidikan Keluarga Yang Harmonis dan Yang Berkarakter Islami Terhadap Pembentukan Kepribadian Pada Anak Usia Dini di Desa Kramat Mengare Bungah Gresik

A harmonious family is a stable family with minimal conflict, serving as the first and most important educational institution for children. In shaping a child's personality, the family plays a crucial role as the initial foundation. Therefore, the roles of both parents are important in shaping the direction and tone of the family, especially since children are not yet able to be responsible for themselves and are highly dependent on their parents in various aspects, from physical needs to life perspectives. This study aims to describe the extent to which harmonious and Islamic-character family education plays a role in shaping the personality of young children. Using a descriptive qualitative approach through observation and interviews in Desa Kramat, Mengare, Gresik, it was found that community awareness of early childhood education is quite good, especially among those with a decent socio-economic status. This indicates that a harmonious family and strong religious education contribute significantly to the formation of a child's personality, particularly in the context of coastal communities like Desa Kramat.

An Application of Rouché’s Theorem to Delimit the Zeros of a Certain Class of Robustly Stable Polynomials

An important problem related to the study of the robust stability of a linear system that presents variation in terms of an uncertain parameter consists of understanding the variation in the roots of a system’s characteristic polynomial in terms of the uncertain parameter. In this contribution, we propose an algorithm to provide sufficient conditions on the uncertain parameter in such a way that a robustly stable family of polynomials has all of its zeros inside a specific subset of its stability region. Our method is based on the Rouché’s theorem and uses robustly stable polynomials constructed by using basic properties of orthogonal polynomials.

The occasional contracts of the LOSEP are a form of labor precariousness in the health sector

In public health, i.e., in hospitals or health centers, occasional contracts are usually issued for new personnel. However, this type of contracting violates several inherent principles of the workers, causing labor and family instability. This form of contracting does not strengthen the stability of the worker; on the contrary, it generates precariousness, since it does not provide the security and opportunities that those professionals with an appointment have. For this reason, the general objective of the following research is to analyze the figure of occasional contracting as a factor affecting job security in the public health sector. The study seeks to know the scope of the occasional contracts of the Organic Law of Public Service (LOSEP) as a form of labor precariousness which will form a kind of inequity and discrimination of professional staff working within this modality compared to the benefits that have the permanent appointment, which is achieved through a qualitative methodological approach with methods such as analytical-synthetic, historical-inductive and logical.

Culture, Gender, and Aggression in Psychodynamic Group Therapy: A Case of a Male-Only Group with Female Leaders in Iran

ABSTRACT The article focuses on a male-only therapy group that has been functioning for the last nine years in the Middle East, in Iran. The group has a permanent main female therapist and temporary, mostly female trainee cotherapists. We explore culturally specific factors that we believe impact expressions of aggression in the group. These factors include the Iranian gender segregation culture, the ideal of masculinity relating to the concept of “Gheirat” (moral vigilance), the legal acceptance of multiple wives in Iran (which often leads to family instability), and the cultural belief about the uncontrollability of sexual desires in men. We also comment on the role of a common dynamic in Iranian families, in which the relationships between mothers and sons are usually overwhelming while the emotional relationships between parents are somehow restrained. We close by discussing future directions for this area of study as well as by proposing interventions therapists may consider when encountering related group dynamics.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Social Relations among Jordanian Families in Amman

Objectives: This study aims to investigate how the Covid-19 pandemic affected social relations among Jordanian families, including social and parental relationships. Furthermore, it aims to highlight the influence of the pandemic on family cohesiveness and stability. Methods: A qualitative technique was used, being effective in extracting information on the influence of Covid-19 on Jordanian family relations (BTS Academy, 2018). The members of the study sample were sixteen Jordanian couples having children living in Amman. They were interviewed during November 2021. Results: The results reveal that Covid-19 has a significant impact on social relations among family members, because of drastic and dramatic changes in the social and economic lifestyle. These changes contributed to the increase of violence between spouses. Surprisingly, the results show that, during the pandemic, the level of disagreement and conflict between parents and children was reduced. The results also indicate that Covid-19 had an influence not only on family interactions, but also on family atmosphere, namely the stability and coherence within that atmosphere. Conclusions: The research recommends providing online counseling sessions by family-focused institutions to couples to assist them in adapting to the changes that have occurred in their relationships throughout the epidemic.

Family Stabilization Services for Unaccompanied Children in the United States

Unaccompanied children are a growing and vulnerable population of immigrants who are arriving to the United States in increasing numbers, mostly from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This study examines sociodemographic factors associated with unaccompanied children requiring family stabilization services as their primary need upon arrival to the United States. The sample includes children who received post-release services from nonprofits throughout the United States ( n = 851). Logistic regression analyses reveal that children from Honduras ( p < .05) and children who are placed with their fathers, compared with other sponsor types such as mothers or siblings ( p < .001), have greater odds of requiring family stabilization services as their primary need. In addition, older children have lower odds of requiring family stabilization services as their primary need ( p < .001). The study includes implications for practice and future research.

Positive development of orphans in kinship care: The role of family stability

AbstractFamily stability is considered the cornerstone of children's happiness and health. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between family stability and the positive development of orphans in kinship care in China. Based on cross‐sectional data related to orphans from LZ City, Sichuan Province, in 2020, the study conducted multiple linear regression model to analyse the relationship between family stability and other family variables and the positive development of orphans in kinship care. The results indicate that family stability is significantly related to the positive development of orphans. Orphans raised in families with married guardians and stable income tend to develop better. Further analysis, grouped by sex and age, revealed that boys are more prone to behaviour problems, while girls are more susceptible to family stability. The growth of younger orphans is associated with family economic stability, while older orphans are more influenced by the guardian's marriage. These findings provide evidence for differences in orphan development from the perspective of family stability. The evidence suggests that policymakers and stakeholders need to pay closer attention to the overall situation of kinship care families. It also provides useful enlightenment for the formulation of precise assistance policies.

Epimedin B exhibits pigmentation by increasing tyrosinase family proteins expression, activity, and stability

Epimedin B (EB) is one of the main flavonoid ingredients present in Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., a traditional herb widely used in China. Our previous study showed that EB was a stronger inducer of melanogenesis and an activator of tyrosinase (TYR). However, the role of EB in melanogenesis and the mechanism underlying the regulation remain unclear. Herein, as an extension to our previous investigation, we provide comprehensive evidence of EB-induced pigmentation in vivo and in vitro and elucidate the melanogenesis mechanism by assessing its effects on the TYR family of proteins (TYRs) in terms of expression, activity, and stability. The results showed that EB increased TYRs expression through microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-mediated p-Akt (referred to as protein kinase B (PKB))/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)/β-catenin, p-p70 S6 kinase cascades, and protein 38 (p38)/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK) and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)/MAPK pathways, after which EB increased the number of melanosomes and promoted their maturation for melanogenesis in melanoma cells and human primary melanocytes/skin tissues. Furthermore, EB exerted repigmentation by stimulating TYR activity in hydroquinone- and N-phenylthiourea-induced TYR inhibitive models, including melanoma cells, zebrafish, and mice. Finally, EB ameliorated monobenzone-induced depigmentation in vitro and in vivo through the enhancement of TYRs stability by inhibiting TYR misfolding, TYR-related protein 1 formation, and retention in the endoplasmic reticulum and then by downregulating the ubiquitination and proteolysis processes. These data conclude that EB can target TYRs and alter their expression, activity, and stability, thus stimulating their pigmentation function, which might provide a novel rational strategy for hypopigmentation treatment in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Locating Iranian Diasporas in Fifty Years of Academic Discourse: Critical Review of Acculturation Theory

: Over the past five decades, Iran has experienced a massive international emigration of its citizens. Consequently, Iranian diasporas formed in several Western countries as their main destinations. Diverse academic research in gender studies, sociology of the family, and migration has taken an acculturation approach to explaining the struggles of Iranians living abroad. This article aims to discuss the analytical issues that are involved in taking the acculturation framework and the binary view of either traditional/modern or religious/secular when studying Iranian diasporas. The study argues that many publications in the field have contributed to the hegemonic discourse of Iranian migrants as being problematic and whose ‘culture’ does not fit ‘Western modernity’. Such an analytical departure bypasses the intersecting structural inequalities that Iranian diasporas have encountered in Western societies. The article suggests that focusing on the politics of belonging and exclusion is a way out of viewing culture as a given and fixed entity with clear-cut boundaries.

Knowledge of Zygote Cryopreservation among Female Lecturers in Universities in Enugu State, Nigeria

One of the viral indices of stable family life and living in most societies is the capacity to procreate hence the need for examination of knowledge of female lecturers on possible ways to actualize it. The study investigated knowledge of oocyte cryopreservation among female lecturers in universities in Enugu State in a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 171 female lecturers from six out of seven universities in Enugu State. Purposive and proportionate sampling procedures were used in selecting the six Universities and 171 female lecturers used for the study respectively. Self-administered questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection while data analysis was carried out with frequency counts and percentages. The results showed that female lecturers in universities in Enugu State had low level of knowledge on oocyte cryopreservation, reasons for oocyte cryopreservation and procedure involved in oocyte cryopreservation (36.49%;38.36%;30.29%). Furthermore, majority of the respondents were not knowledgeable enough in most of the medical health challenges that could necessitate oocyte cryopreservation. It was concluded that there is low level of knowledge on oocyte cryopreservation, reasons for oocyte cryopreservation as well as the procedures involved in oocyte cryopreservation among female lecturers in universities in Enugu State. The recommendation among others is that Clinicians should endeavor to discuss the possibility of oocyte cryopreservation for medical and elective purposes during clinical meetings especially for single women of child bearing age who may wish to delaying procreation. Consequently, there is the need to set up counseling centres in major cities and towns in Enugu State in order to allay women ‘s fears about possible unfavourable outcomes of the procedures.

التضامن الأسري والاستدامة: دراسة حالة دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة 2023

The current research deals with the topic (family solidarity and sustainability), a case study of the UAE, as one of the axes of social development, important in facing social and economic problems facing families, thus directly affecting the factors of sustainability of family stability. The research aims to reveal the most prominent procedures, policies, and initiatives undertaken by the UAE in supporting families, and to identify its role in supporting family solidarity in its relationship to sustainability and sustainable development in international standards, especially related to the achievement of economic and social sufficiency of the families, and to confirm its role in supporting the cohesion of families, and the sustainability of their stability. The research was based on the descriptive-analytical method. To fit it with the nature of the subject studied, and relied on collecting information and analysing its content, reviewing the content of data, policy documents, and procedures that the UAE has implemented in the field of family care, and its approach to the concept of family solidarity, sustainability, and sustainable development goals, according to the Global Agenda 2030AD, in addition to a number of relevant statistical indicators. The research shows that the UAE has undertaken many initiatives and measures, and launched a number of policies that work to support family cohesion and enhance elements of solidarity among its members. It showed the integration of these procedures and policies with other dimensions of development, economy, and environment, and their compatibility with the sustainable development goals known as the “2030 Agenda”, the research revealed the existence of gaps that reduce family solidarity and negatively affect family cohesion, such as high divorce rates, and late age of marriage for women, and recommended a number of measures to avoid these gaps, which reflects positively on development, thus ensuring its sustainability.

Three membrane fusion pore families determine the pathway to pore dilation

During exocytosis secretory vesicles fuse with a target membrane and release neurotransmitters, hormones, or other bioactive molecules through a membrane fusion pore. The initially small pore may subsequently dilate for full contents release, as commonly observed in amperometric traces. The size, shape, and evolution of the pore is critical to the course of contents release, but exact fusion pore solutions accounting for membrane tension and bending energy constraints have not been available. Here, we obtained exact solutions for fusion pores between two membranes. We find three families: a narrow pore, a wide pore, and an intermediate tether-like pore. For high tensions these are close to the catenoidal and tether solutions recently reported for freely hinged membrane boundaries. We suggest membrane fusion initially generates a stable narrow pore, and the dilation pathway is a transition to the stable wide pore family. The unstable intermediate pore is the transition state that sets the energy barrier for this dilation pathway. Pore dilation is mechanosensitive, as the energy barrier is lowered by increased membrane tension. Finally, we study fusion pores in nanodiscs, powerful systems for the study of individual pores. We show that nanodiscs stabilize fusion pores by locking them into the narrow pore family.

Factors affecting resilience in Namibian children exposed to parental divorce: a Q-Methodology study.

Divorce is a contributor to family instability within sub-Saharan Africa, and specifically within Namibia, an increasing number of children are exposed to its impact. However, not all children react uniformly to the impact of parental divorce, and many children may be resilient. Understanding what promotes resilience in children post-divorce in African contexts is vital, given the unique socio-cultural context. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how some children are capable of resilience despite exposure to parental divorce in Namibia. A multiple case study design was employed to assess the lived experiences of children aged 9-12 post-parental divorce in Windhoek. Using the Child and Youth Resilience Measurement (CYRM-12) scale, 24 children exposed to parental divorce were screened for resiliency. The Q-Methodology, with visual material, was utilized with a sub-sample of 12 children who scored high on the CYRM (50% girls, mean age = 11) to eliminate some of the challenges associated with gathering qualitative data from younger children. The PQ Method 2.35 software program was used for data analysis. By-person factor analysis identified four statistically significant profiles. A third (33%) of participants loaded on a factor emphasizing "quality parent-child relationships" and a further 33% emphasizing "effective parent conflict resolution." The final two factors emphasized "healthy school attachment" (17%) and "strong community attachment" (17%). All children emphasized a stable, loving familial environment, and frequent visitation with the non-custodial father. Our findings suggest that multiple social ecologies nurture resilience in children exposed to parental divorce in Namibia. Support should be extended beyond the perimeters of the nuclear family, and relationships with extended family members, peer groups, school, and the wider community can play an important role in children's adjustment. The study highlights the importance of contextually grounded resilience as some factors that are emphasized for children from more Western communities do not reflect as strongly in the results of this study. Other factors, including a stronger reliance on community and factors such as the school, peers, and extended family members, may play a bigger role in child resilience post-divorce in Namibia.