Strong Family Relationships Research Articles

Synergistic Effect of Learning Environments, and Familial Factors on Generation Z Learners’ Academic Achievement in Science

This descriptive-predictive study examined the interplay among learning environment factors (school, home, and community), familial factors (socioeconomic status and family relations), and academic achievement of 186 randomly selected Generation Z (Gen Z) learners. Factorial analysis demonstrated significant impacts of school and home learning environments on science academic achievement, while the community environment, in isolation, lacked significant effect. Interaction effects emphasized synergies between school and community, as well as school and home environments. However, there was an absence of a three-way interaction, suggesting limited combined impact. Analysis of data further unveiled a significant, large main effect of family relations on academic achievement, while economic and social status showed no significant impact. The interaction between family relations and social status was statistically significant which indicates a more substantial combined influence on science academic achievement than individual factors. Multiple linear regression analysis identified four significant predictors – positive family relations, higher family social status, and robust home, and community support – contributing to a model explaining 49.4% of variance in their science academic achievement. These results emphasize the importance of nurturing home and community environments, alongside fostering strong family relationships, as pivotal factors in Generation Z learners' academic pursuits.

The support and influence of the family on the career decisions of Young Orang Asli in Selangor

The government's development agenda is applied to all communities, especially indigenous populations, in the fields of education and the economy. In order to achieve and preserve the living well-being of indigenous communities, a development programme is provided that includes the provision of high-quality human resources, such as youths, who can improve their families' standard of living. It encompasses not just economic activities but also elements of family, education, and social development. In addition, this article aims to identify the influence and support of families such as parents in helping young natives make decisions to choose a job that can improve the well-being of the community and their families, especially in economic terms. This study is quantitative and has a survey-style design. A survey instrument that was given to 281 indigenous teens in the state of Selangor at random was used to collect the survey data. Research has shown that the majority of indigenous teens' decisions to work are influenced by and dependent on their families, particularly their parents. A contributing component to the results was the motivation to support their families' economic growth. This study suggests that, despite their poor economic and educational standards, indigenous societies have strong family relationships. Young indigenous use their family bonds as a source of motivation while making decisions about their work.

Parent-child joint leisure activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Parents’ active participation in children’s activities can enhance communication and interaction in the family context, contributing to a positive family climate and healthy child development. This study examined Chinese parent–child joint leisure and media activities from February to May 2022 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. A total of 1716 parents, forming a convenience sample, were surveyed to determine the frequency of parental participation in three types of joint activities: media, outdoor and artistic. Overall, the parents participated in joint activities once or twice weekly. The frequency of parental participation in joint activities is positively correlated with a positive family climate, indicating the importance of parents’ participation and involvement in joint activities for developing a strong family relationship. Parents’ ow’n text-based media is also positively associated with their frequency of participation in joint activity. Finally, significant differences among various regions in China suggest the influence of different lockdown policies.

A qualitative study of Samoan cancer patients' experiences.

This qualitative interview study was part of a larger study that interviewed19 participants recruited among patients with cancer registered with Samoa Cancer Society, or patients recently discharged from the main tertiary hospital in Samoa. Interview transcripts were reviewed, and the research team identified the key palliative-care-related themes. Analysis led to the generation of the following key themes: living with pain; resource constraints; support from family and faith; and interactions with healthcare professionals. Most participants were experiencing unresolved pain as a result of poor health knowledge, lack of access to medications and practical issues, such as financial limitations and lack of transport. Participants also reported a lack of resources, including financial constraints, as a significant barrier to effective healthcare. Sources of support for patients with cancer were most commonly strong family relationships and religious faith. Although it was difficult for the participants to access care from healthcare professionals, they found that honest communication about their condition was comforting. However, they were frustrated if they felt communication was unsatisfactory. This study provides much needed evidence on the issues that affect the quality of life patients with cancer receiving palliative care and their families in Samoa. It also highlights the intersectionality of these issues and how this compounds the patient experience. Practical recommendations for improving palliative care lie in a few key areas, including a need for improved access to opioids and support for family caregivers. However, from a systemic perspective, the way forward should lie in harnessing the strengths of Samoan culture, including the strong sense of family and the role of religion, to provide support and care for palliative patients.

The spiritual and social role of the mother in the Ukrainian family

The relevance of the topic lies in the study of the spiritual and social role of the mother in the Ukrainian family due to the crisis of the family in modern society. This crisis is manifested in the increase of divorces, fatherlessness, a free attitude toward sex before marriage, abortions, homosexual behavior, and a lack of trust and love between family members. Currently, during the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, Ukrainians are subjected to terrible sexual assaults, destruction, and abuse by the enemy. Because of this occupational war, the crisis in the family worsens even more. The study was conducted in 2021, before Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sample included families living in Kyiv. It was advisable to experiment with 30 families who believe in God and 30 atheist families. The following methodical tools were used in the research: T. Alordey’s questionnaire, the method of ‘Normative resistance’ according to E. Eidemiller, and the projective method of ‘Draw-a-Family-Picture’. The aim of the research was to show a special vital resource of Christian mothers, which affects the creation of an atmosphere of love and respect in their families, in contrast to the vital resource of mothers in families that do not believe in God. This vital resource affects the performance of the role of the mother. As a result of the questionnaire, husbands’ understanding of the mother’s role in the family was studied. Christian and non-Christian men showed that most of them were grateful to their mothers. From the answers in the questionnaires, it is clear that the life principles that husbands learned from their mothers, they practice in their own families. This forms the authority of the wife in the family and affects the role of the mother. Normative resistance in mothers from non-believing families was not ascertained. These mothers considered terrible, negative situations to be normal. Mothers who confess Christ ascertain normative resistance. They make great efforts so that children grow up in an atmosphere of joy and mutual understanding. Analyzing the drawings of children from non-Christian families, one can see psychological and spiritual problems in families. The pictures reflect children’s experiences of conflicts in the family. An atmosphere of love and strong family relationships can be observed in the drawings of Christian children. Children have mothers who pray for them. The effectiveness of the ‘I am a mother’ training aimed at biological and social mothers is shown. The social mothers are preschool educators, schoolteachers, and academics in higher education institutions. Ukrainian mothers, teaching their children to love God and the motherland, positively influence society and form the spiritual, professional, and business cultures of the young generation. Christian families have a special, vital resource. This resource enables mothers to fully fulfill their spiritual and social roles in the family. During the war in Ukraine, such mothers laid the foundations of new values that affect the whole world.

A Narrative Review Exploring the Similarities between Cilento and the Already Defined "Blue Zones" in Terms of Environment, Nutrition, and Lifestyle: Can Cilento Be Considered an Undefined "Blue Zone"?

Longevity is rightly considered one of the greatest achievements of modern society, not only as a function of lifespan, but, more importantly, as a function of healthspan. There are Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs), regions around the world, such as in Okinawa, Japan; the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Icaria, Greece; and Ogliastra, Sardinia, that are characterized by a significant percentage of residents who live exceptionally long lives, often avoiding age-related disability to a significantly higher degree than in the Western way of life. Longevity is not a universal phenomenon, so if there are places in the world with characteristics similar to the LBZs, it is important to identify them in order to better understand what other factors, in addition to the known ones, might contribute to a long and healthy life. This narrative review aims to identify common factors between Cilento and the five LBZs, taking into account environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors. Articles from 2004 to the present, limited to studies published in English, German, and Italian, were searched in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The co-authors agreed on 18 final reference texts. In order to evaluate the similarities between Cilento and the LBZs, a descriptive comparative approach was used. Cilento and the LBZs share several common factors, including a hilly altitude ranging from 355 to 600 m; a mild climate throughout the year, with temperatures between 17.4 and 23.5 degrees Celsius; traditional professions, such as agriculture and animal husbandry; and a predominantly Mediterranean or plant-based diet, with typical recipes based on legumes, tubers, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil. Additionally, maintenance of strong intergenerational family relationships, religious devotion, and social relationships within the community are also prevalent. Given the similarities to Cilento, one might wonder if this is an LBZ waiting to be discovered. The lessons learned from this discovery could be applied to the general population to protect them from non-communicable chronic diseases and help slow the aging process.

The Influence and Involvement of Family Members in Career Decision-Making

Middle Eastern social standards promote familial affinity, respect for tradition, and strong family relationships. As a result, while choosing a career path, Lebanese youth are more likely to consider family expectations and responsibilities. This study intends to provide insights into the ways family influences career decisions to minimize delays in the student’s intended career paths. We surveyed 113 students from various majors at a large urban private university to better understand the relationship between family influence and career decisions. Our research employs a mixed-methods approach to obtain a comprehensive understanding of family involvement in college students’ career decisions and its effects on professional awareness and development. Our findings indicated that parents demonstrated their involvement and support for their children in terms of influence, academic engagement, and career choice. Both parents were active in their child’s career choices, making them the key influences. Family influence was also connected to career-related decisions, career satisfaction, and motivation. Parents’ financial situation and expectations also influenced their children’s decisions, either directly or indirectly. Due to the availability or absence of resources, the socioeconomic level of the family influences the child’s occupational choice. According to the data we gathered, males and females were equally impacted by their parents. Females’ first preference was the mother, followed by the father. Males prioritized the father, who was closely followed by the mother.

Evaluation of Family and Community Social Network Characteristics Among High-Risk Family Members to Improve Cancer-Related Health Behaviors.

To evaluate the effects of social network characteristics of individuals with a family history of cancer on the use of cancer-related services (e.g., screening, genetic counseling/testing). 170 family members of individuals with the most common hereditary or familial cancers. Data collection occurred between March and September 2021 using an online survey. Having strong within-immediate family relationships and family members who underwent more screening procedures was associated with increased breast cancer screening, and having more family members with cancer was associated with colorectal cancer screening. Having a large family, having family members who underwent screening for more cancers, and having strong social cohesion among families were associated with an increased rate of genetic testing. Nurses working with families affected by cancer should focus on strategies to strengthen relationships among family members to improve knowledge of cancer screening and available genetic services.

Lived Experiences in Family Business Among Business Graduates of a Private Higher Educational Institution in Iloilo City, Philippines

There has been no academic work dedicated to the discovery of the lived experiences of business graduates from a private higher educational institution in Iloilo City, Philippines in their respective family businesses in terms of their daily lives. This phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of business graduates of a private higher educational institution in Iloilo City, Philippines who joined their respective family businesses. Moreover, this study intended to describe the profile of the business graduate participants, family business involvement, family relationships, personal and work-related conflicts, and (4) contributions to their family firms. The qualitative research design was employed for this study, specifically phenomenology. Seven participants through purposive sampling voluntarily joined in this phenomenological study after signing the informed consent form. They came from the class of 2017 to 2019 business graduates. The result showed that the seven (7) participants of this study were all business graduates, who were majority males, aged 23-27 years old from a private educational institution in Iloilo City. They had never enrolled in any graduate school programs. The majority graduated last 2019 with three (3) years of working experience. The majority are into retail and hardware supplies. The operational years of their businesses ranged from nine (9) to 55. Almost all were classified as having medium businesses and only one was classified as small. For their family business involvement, they have experienced early involvement in their businesses, they were trusted to manage, and they feel valued. Strong family relationships also emerged among business graduates. They have experienced parental comfort and advice as well as close relationships with their parents. As to the personal and work-related conflicts, they experienced careless operational mistakes, interpersonal work conflicts, emotional challenges, and limited freedom. When it comes to their contributions to the family businesses, they have contributed to the vision and internal control strategies, social media marketing, sales increase, financial clarity, and lessening the workloads of parents. This study can serve as a basis for involving business graduates early in the family business. Employing them can enable them to contribute success factors earlier. Maintaining strong relationships among family members employed in the family firm must be done to avoid personal and work-related conflicts.

Work arrangements and father involvement during COVID‐19 lockdown: A mixed methods study

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to examine how father involvement and family relationships changed during the COVID‐19 lockdown and their relations to fathers' work arrangements.BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic has transformed how parents arrange their work and family in China and elsewhere. Many fathers, once working long hours at the workplace, had to adjust their work arrangements, working reduced hours or working from home.MethodThis study used a mixed methods design. Participants were parents of preschool or school‐age children in China. In Study 1, 31 mothers were interviewed about the change in father involvement and family relationships during the COVID‐19 lockdown compared with pre‐COVID‐19. In Study 2, a sample of father–mother dyads (N = 637) completed survey measures of work arrangements, father involvement, and family relationships.ResultsStudy 1 suggested increased father involvement and improved family relationships amid the lockdown and highlighted the role of fathers' work. Study 2 revealed that fathers' changed work arrangements (i.e., working from home) were associated with higher father involvement and more positive family relationships during the lockdown. Father involvement may mediate the associations between fathers' work arrangements and father–child closeness as well as mothers' marital satisfaction.Conclusion and ImplicationsWorking from home could promote involved fathering and stronger family relationships, strengthening the family's overall capacity to combat the stressors and challenges brought by the COVID‐19 pandemic.

The Impact of Online Socialization on Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Friendship Quality and Family Relationships

In the age of advanced information networks, the importance of adolescent mental health has received increasing attention. While previous research has focused on the effects of friendship quality and online socialization behaviors on adolescent mental health, little is known about the mediating variables involved. This study is aimed at exploring the direct and mediating effects of online socialization on adolescent mental health, as well as the role of friendship quality and family relationships. A structural equation model was constructed based on questionnaire results from a sample of adolescents. The results indicated that active social networks promote healthy psychological development in adolescents, either directly or by enhancing friendship quality, but may reduce family relationships and suppress adolescent mental health. Passive social networks with a lack of communication, on the other hand, can negatively affect both friendship and family relationships, resulting in adverse emotions and detrimental effects on healthy development. Based on these findings, this study provides important insights for parents and educators to support the healthy psychological development of adolescents. Specifically, parents and educators should pay attention to adolescents’ online socialization behaviors and encourage healthy communication and interaction on social media. They should also promote strong and positive family relationships, which may mitigate the negative effects of passive social networks on adolescent mental health. This study adds to the theory of adolescent psychology research and offers practical recommendations for improving adolescent mental health.

Fragility and resilience: parental and family perspectives on the impacts of extreme prematurity

ObjectivesExtremely preterm babies have a significant risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). There has been little investigation regarding the impact of prematurity on families. The objective of this study was to...

THE CONTRIBUTION OF VACATION TO MALAYSIAN FAMILY WELLBEING: DESIGNING AND ANALYSING INSTRUMENT

Nowadays, family vacation is becoming one of the most essential sectors of the tourism industry. It is a fact that family tourism and vacation provide benefits to family relationships, lifetime memories, communications, marriage, family happiness and also family wellbeing. A preliminary study involving 30 respondents was conducted to further design and analyse the instrument used to explore the contribution of vacation to the Malaysian family wellbeing. Several questions were proposed to fulfil the study; (1) Does vacation strengthen family bonding? (2) Does vacation contribute to the lifetime memories among family members? And (3) Does vacation create good communication among family members? The findings contributed to further study by using the tested instrument to fulfil the goal of the National Family Policy Malaysia (NFP) which aims to develop prosperous, healthy and resilient families to ensure social stability families. It significantly will support the Principle 4 of NFP which is to produce strong family relationships, a culture of sharing resources and mutual responsibilities to ensure family wellbeing. Further, the study is also significant to invigorating domestic tourism and ensuring business continuity by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

Ato Infracional na Adolescência: Revisão Integrativa dos Estudos na Perspectiva da Teoria Geral da Tensão

The General Strain Theory (GST) argues that situations/circumstances likely to generate tension foster negative emotions which, in turn, may create conditions for adolescents to manifest antisocial behaviors/offences as a coping strategy and/or as a way to relieve tension. An integrative literature review was conducted, with the objective of systematising and synthesising findings of studies, based on the GST, published in the last 11 years, aiming to circumscribe the contributions of this referential. The search was conducted on the Academic Search Premier, Web of Science and PsycINFO, with the keywords “General Strain Theory” AND “Juvenile delinquency”. To include the study into the review, the criterias were to have: (1) adolescents as target audience; (2) outcome variable “offences”; (3) GST as referential; (4) and being empirical. Fifty-four studies were selected. The results were organized into the following categories: (a) Sources of tension (events/situations likely to generate tensions, linked to the structure/functioning of society, community characteristics, school and family, linked significantly to involvement in offending, but also to other outcomes); (b) The different sources of tension by gender (in parallel with the common sources: romantic break-ups, financial stress and criminal victimisation); (c) Mediators and Moderators (anger, as predicted by the GST, is the main mediator; strong social bonds and positive family relationships stand out as moderators). The GST contributes by shedding light on the various sources of tension that permeate adolescent development and on the subjective dimension of emotions that may underlie the involvement of youth in offending. However, the relationships between tension and offending must be critically interpreted.Keywords: General Strain Theory, infractions, adolescence, emotions, literature review

Adolescent social media use and its association with relationships and connections: Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, 2017/2018.

The development of healthy relationships and connections is of fundamental importance to adolescent well-being. The use of social media plays a vital role in the lives of young Canadians, yet the association between different types of social media use and the quality of relationships and connections remains unknown, and most existing analyses on this topic are based on modest and non-representative samples. Using 2017/2018 reports from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (n=17,149; ages 11 to 15 years), the strength, consistency and significance of associations was examined between intensive (frequent use to connect with other people) and problematic (use that depicts addictive qualities) social media use and available measures of adolescent relationships and connections. Overall, intensive use (online communication with others almost all of the time) and problematic use (potential addiction to social media) were more common in girls than boys (38% of girls versus 30% of boys and 7.7% of girls versus 5.2% of boys, respectively), with prevalence levels that rose with age. Intensive use was associated with more positive social relationships with friends, especially among girls (relative risk [RR] = 1.40 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 - 1.54]), while problematic use was consistently and negatively associated with strong relationships and connections in all groups in the study. Notably, problematic use was negatively associated with strong family relationships in boys (RR = 0.58 [95% CI 0.42 to 0.79]) and girls (RR=0.48 [95% CI 0.36 to 0.63]). Intensive use of social media has the potential to strengthen relationships and connections in adolescents. However, when social media use becomes addictive or "problematic", it is highly correlated with weaker relationships and a sense of social disconnection. Public health initiatives related to social media use should consider how different types of social media use have the potential to impact on different aspects of health.

THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFIT OF FRIEND NETWORKS IN OLDER KOREAN AMERICANS: THE CONDITIONING EFFECT OF FAMILY TYPE

Abstract Building on the importance of family and friends as sources of social connectedness in later years of life, we conducted a contextual examination of their independent and interactive roles in predicting mental health, using a compensatory social convoy model. In a sample of older Korean Americans, we anticipated that friend networks would be a more important predictor of mental distress when strong family relationships were absent. Data were from 2,140 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans, a multi-state survey of Korean immigrants age 60 and older (Mage = 73.4, SD = 7.97). To identify family types, latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed with 17 variables assessing family networks, positive and negative interactions with family members, and incidence of mistreatment by family. Linear regression models of mental distress then examined the direct effects of family type and networks of friends, as well as their interactions. LPA on family-related items identified three family types: close-knit, mixed, and dysfunctional. Membership in the close-knit group and a larger network of friends were associated with lower levels of mental distress. In addition, a significant interaction was found between dysfunctional family type and friend network (B = −.35, SE = .08, p < .001), where the positive effect of friend networks was most pronounced in the context of dysfunctional family relationships. These findings support the use of a compensatory social convoy model. Substituting for family resources, friend networks yielded compensatory mental health protection for those with dysfunctional family relations.

“Her bun in my oven”: Motivations and experiences of two‐mother families who have used reciprocal IVF

AbstractObjectivesWhat motivates same‐gender female couples to choose reciprocal in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Do their experiences of becoming and being a mother via reciprocal IVF match their pre‐parenthood expectations?BackgroundReciprocal IVF is a treatment route available to cis, same‐gender female couples, and other couples in which both partners have a uterus and egg stores. One partner's egg is retrieved, fertilized in vitro with donor sperm, then carried by the other partner. Existing debate has considered the ethical implications of this treatment route. To date, no empirical research has explored the experiences of families who have used reciprocal IVF.MethodSemistructured interviews were conducted with genetic and gestational mothers in 14 families headed by cis, same gender female couples who had conceived by reciprocal IVF in the United Kingdom (N = 28 mothers). Data were analyzed according to the principles of reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were constructed: (a) becoming mums together; (b) legitimacy: “who's the real mum”; (c) choices and constraints; and (d) biological connections strengthen family connections.ConclusionFamilies had multiple and nuanced motivations for choosing reciprocal IVF, such as the desire to share the journey of motherhood with their partner, to be perceived as legitimate parents, to overcome practical barriers, and to build strong family relationships. Mothers' pre‐parenthood expectations often mismatched the reality of becoming and being a mother via reciprocal IVF. Most parents found that the significance of reciprocal IVF diminished as their children grew up.ImplicationsFindings demonstrate that reciprocal IVF offers a fulfilling route to parenthood. Parents should have access to routes to parenthood that meet their reproductive needs and feel right for them as a couple.

THE NEW NORMAL: DIVERSE FAMILY SYSTEMS AND THEIR ROLES IN IDENTITY FORMATION IN ADOLESCENTS

Family structures are becoming increasingly diverse, including single-parent families, grandfamilies, multiracial families, foster care/adoptive families, blended families, and families headed by LGBTQ parents. Research indicates that although the family structure(s) in which a child grows up plays an important role in positive identity formation, the strength of the relationships within the family may be even more important. This Clinical Perspectives aims to introduce examples of diverse family structures, address strengths and challenges within these families, and explore the child and adolescent psychiatrist’s role in developing strong family relationships to build resilience and resist stigma.

Acceptance Theory of Family Caregiving.

Acceptance of roles in the care of older adults by a family caregiver depends on factors emanating from commitment to familial relationships, widespread cultural expectation, and debt of gratitude. This study aims to develop a theory that explains the acceptance of the role of caregiving of the older adults by the family caregiver necessary to predict behavioral adaptation and control caring phenomenon that favors successful meeting of caring expectation across trajectory phases and transitions. A deductive axiomatic approach to theory generation was utilized, resulting in four axioms that served as bases for four propositions. Acceptance Theory of Family Caregiving implies that older adults who expect their children to take care of them as they age have cultural influence and that the acceptance of the role will determine the caregiver's acceptance of consequences in the form of physical, economical, psychological, and spiritual aspects. In terms of preparedness, family members who accept the possibility of the decline of their older adults are more likely to be assume caregiving roles efficaciously. In the process that family members face in this so-called trajectory caregiving process, resources play a significant role. The developed theory suggests that the care of the older adult in the family caregiving process is determined by the acceptance of role assumption by the family caregiver across trajectory phases. This study highlights the vital implication of acceptance of role assumption to the outcomes of the caregiving process with respect to older adult care, prevention of family caregiver burden, and establishment of strong familial and social relationships.

State Versus Adolescent Override for Parental Refusals to Vaccinate Against COVID-19.

State Versus Adolescent Override for Parental Refusals to Vaccinate Against COVID-19.