A Solution-Focused Intervention With Recovering,Alcohol-Dependent,Single Parent Mothers and Their Children*

Described is a practical approach that encourages recovering, alcohol-dependent, single parent mothers and their children to use existing strengths and resources to promote healthy family dynamics.     

Good Partners,Good Parents: Parent Relationship Satisfaction Predicts Parenting Efficacy for Young Children

Both maternal and paternal parental involvement are critical for child development. What is unclear, nonetheless, is how parents’ own relationships contribute to the growth of children. Addressing the question, we predicted marital satisfaction strengthens parenting efficacy, making parental involvement more effective in increasing children’s functioning. To test the hypothesis, we analyzed a nationally representative large-sample survey of 3-year-olds (N = 2164), wherein their language, cognitive, social, and emotional development, maternal and paternal parental involvement, as well as the marital satisfaction of the parents were assessed. The results supported the predictions by showing the critical role of fathers—the mother parents through the father in a satisfying marriage, more than she does in a dissatisfying marriage, and their young children subsequently grow better when their parents are satisfying partners. Together, the findings reveal potential mechanisms through which well-being may be passed down from one generation to the next.

     

The Effects of Children on Parents: Adoptee Genetic Dispositions and Adoptive Parent Psychopathology

The purposes of this experiment were to investigate the effects of age, item type, and culture on the mental-real distinction made by children. A sample of 42 children (21 affluent and 21 deprived) in three age ranges (3- and 4-year-olds, 5-and 6-year-olds, and 7- and 8-year-olds) participated. Nine items were used. The behavioral-sensory and public-existence criteria (Wellman &; Estes, 1986) were used to gauge the children's ability to make the distinction. Contrary to previous research findings, the 3- and 4-year-olds in this study were unable to make the mental-real distinction. An age-related improvement in making this distinction was observed, and item type affected the mental-real distinction. The affluent children consistently outperformed their deprived counterparts. This finding was partly construed as evidence for the influence of culture on the ability to make this distinction in these age groups.     

Changing the Speech of Autistic Children and Their Parents

The parents of nine autistic preschool children were trained in behavior modification and operant techniques of teaching speech. The study used a multiple baseline design with Group 1 completing behavior modification training while Group 2 remained on the waiting list. Then, Group 1 entered speech training while Group 2 began behavior modification. Finally, Group 2 received speech training. Videotape assessments of parents and child were made pretreatment and after each stage of training. The tapes were coded reliably for the parents' speech oriented and non-speech oriented language and the childrens' speech and non-speech behaviors. There was no change in parental speech oriented language following behavior modification but a substantial rise in such language was noted after speech training. Both mothers and fathers changed after training, although mothers were consistently more active than fathers. Both before and after training, the parents of the more verbal children emitted more speech oriented language than the parents of the mute children. The children showed changes which paralleled those of the parents. There was no significant change in child speech after behavior modification, but a rise in children's speech was obvious when their parents completed the speech training. The verbal children accounted for the changes in the two groups since the mute children showed Iittle evidence of change. The results suggest that parents of nonverbal chiIdren can learn to modify their language behavior and that this parent training can be done in an economical group setting.     

Intent Attributions and Aggression: A Study of Children and their Parents

This research aimed to further clarify the relationship between children's self-reported hostile intent attributions (for ambiguous instrumental or relational provocations) and peer-reported aggression (physical and relational) in 500 fourth-grade children. In addition, we examined whether parents' intent attributions might predict children's intent attributions and aggression. Both parents (mothers and fathers) in 393 families completed intent attribution questionnaires. Results showed, consistent with past research, that boys' instrumental intent attributions were related to physical aggression. Children's relational intent attributions, however, were not associated with relational aggression. Contrary to expectations, most children responded with hostile intent attributions for relational provocations. Finally, in regard to parent-child connections, maternal intent attributions correlated with children's intent attributions whereas paternal intent attributions corresponded with children's relational aggression.     

A School-Based Program from Infancy to Kindergarten for Children and Their Parents

The authors present a program of service and research with preschool children that has been shown effective in providing positive preventive outcomes.     

Satisfactions and Regrets of Midlife Parents: A Qualitative Analysis

The study examined the satisfactions and regrets of midlife parents at a specific family life-cycle milestone, their child’s graduation from high school. The purpose was to compare mothers’ and fathers’ appraisals of the gains and losses associated with this developmental transition and turning point in their parenting roles. A total of 260 parents (147 mothers; 113 fathers) who had a child graduating from high school responded in writing to open-ended questions regarding their satisfactions and regrets at this stage of their lives. Responses were coded to identify themes salient to these parents. Results indicate that both mothers and fathers are aware of both the gains and losses at this time in their family life cycle, but they differed in how they expect to be affected by the transition. Mothers’ responses suggest that they are anticipating and planning for the transition. Fathers’ responses suggest they are less aware of the personal implications of this family transition and are less prepared for its emotional impact.     

Mothers,Fathers, Gender Role,and Time Parents Spend with Their Children

To examine the relationships among the sex of the parent, gender role, and the time parents spend with their children, 272 parents completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, a questionnaire about the time spent with their children, and a demographics questionnaire. Analyses indicated that neither the sex of the parent nor gender role was predictive of the amount of time parents were spending in direct interaction with or being accessible to their children. The sex of the parent, qualified by earning status, was predictive of the level of responsibility parents had for child-related activities. Further, the sex of the parent, qualified by femininity, was predictive of parental satisfaction with level of child-related responsibilities. These results emphasize the importance of examining parental characteristics in relation to the time parents spend with their children and their levels of responsibility for child-related activities.     

Child Psychosocial Functioning and Parent Quality of Life Among Clinically Referred Children

We examined factors that account for quality of life among parents of clinically referred children. Families (N = 201) of children (ages 3-14) referred for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior participated. Parent and family contextual factors and child psychosocial functioning (symptoms and impairment) were predicted to influence parents' quality of life. As predicted, socioeconomic disadvantage, parent stress and psychopathology, poor interpersonal relations, and limited social support were related to lower levels of quality of life. Once these factors were controlled, child psychosocial functioning also contributed positively to quality of life. Further research on quality of life in the family can have important implications for understanding the context of both child and parent functioning.     

Parent-Professional Alliance and Outcomes of Child,Parent, and Family Treatment: A Systematic Review

This review systematically explored research examining the relation between parent-professional alliance and outcomes of psychosocial treatments provided to children, and their parents and families. Study findings and methodological characteristics were reviewed to investigate the evidence linking the alliance between parents and professionals to outcomes of child, parent, and family treatment as well as to identify factors that may influence the alliance-outcome association. A systematic review of the literature was conducted that included a search of three electronic databases using specified search terms, followed by a hand search to identify relevant studies. A total of 46 studies (37 published articles and 9 unpublished dissertations) met inclusion criteria. Overall, the findings indicated that higher levels of parent-professional alliance were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes and stronger treatment engagement. However, some studies found that the parent-professional alliance was not significantly related to clinical outcomes or treatment engagement, and a few studies showed that higher levels of alliance were related to less positive clinical outcomes and lower levels of treatment engagement. Several theoretical (problem type, child age, parent sex) and methodological (source and timing of alliance measurement, alliance-outcome informants, outcome domain, timing of outcome measurement) factors were identified that could influence the alliance-outcome association. Together, our findings emphasize the importance of alliance awareness when working with parents as well as a need for future studies to investigate factors influencing the quality of the parent-professional alliance and alliance-outcome association in child, parent, and family treatment.     

Early Traumatic Stress Responses in Parents Following a Serious Illness in Their Child: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of the literature investigating the early traumatic stress responses in parents of children diagnosed with a serious illness/injury. A literature review was conducted (September 2013) using Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases. Twenty-four studies related to parents of children hospitalized due to diagnosis of cancer, type 1 diabetes, meningococcal disease, trauma or serious injury, preterm birth and other serious illnesses requiring admission to intensive care were included. Parents were assessed for early traumatic stress symptoms within 3 months of their child’s diagnosis/hospitalization. Prevalence rates of acute stress disorder in parents ranged from 12 to 63 %. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder ranged from 8 to 68 %. Variability was related to methodological factors including differences in study design, timing of assessments, measurement tools, and scoring protocols. Psychosocial factors rather than medical factors predicted parent distress. This review integrates and compares early traumatic reactions in parents with children suffering a range of serious illnesses. Findings suggest a high prevalence of acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms in parents. Methodological inconsistencies made comparison of early traumatic stress prevalence rates difficult. Risk factors associated with traumatic stress symptoms were identified.     

Understanding the Transition from Career to Fulltime Motherhood: A Qualitative Study

According to the literature, minimal research has been conducted on fulltime mothers (i.e., stay-at-home mothers [SAHM]); studies dealing with motherhood tend to emphasize the developmental needs of the child versus the mother. The current research seeks to tackle that issue by bringing fulltime motherhood to the forefront. In particular, phenomena related to women transitioning from work to fulltime motherhood are qualitatively examined. Four women participated in this study and shared their personal experiences surrounding this subject matter. A SAHM Model and two SAHM Portraits are created to comprehend and explain the complexities found within their roles.     

A Comparison of Parent Judgments and Child Feelings concerning the Self Adjustment and Social Adjustment of Twelve-Year-Old Children

The purpose of this study was to consider the role of remembering in the development of the ability to plan and carry out sequences of dependent actions. A task calling for sequencing of choices was administered to 46 four-year-olds, 30 seven-year-olds, and 30 10-year-olds. Each child participated in both a remembering (control) condition and a facilitation-of-remembering condition. Performance was better in the facilitation-of-remembering condition than in the remembering (control) condition, but only for four-year-olds (p < .01), indicating that the failure to remember alternatives, rather than a lack of other cognitive abilities, may be a major obstacle in preschoolers' development of planning abilities. An apparent regression in performance of seven-year-olds (p < .01) is interpreted as an inappropriate application of transitional operative understanding of dependent events to situations involving only chance sequences.     

Work Family Conflict Among Parents of Atypically Developing Children: Exploring the Impact of Worker,Work, and Child Factors

The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of worker characteristics (e.g., time spent caring for others), workplace support, and child characteristics on work family conflict among parents of atypically developing children. Participants (N = 51) were employed parents of atypically developing children who completed measures of work family conflict, workplace supports (i.e., supervisory support and organizationally supportive cultures), the availability and use of family supportive workplace programs, child characteristics, and worker characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that worker and child characteristics significantly predicted work family conflict, work in family interference, and family in work interference. In addition, workplace supports significantly predicted work family conflict and family in work interference. Implications of the results for managing the work family life interface are discussed.     

Attachment and Affect between Mothers with Depression and their Children: Longitudinal Outcomes of Child Parent Psychotherapy

The present investigation examined the longitudinal effects of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) for toddlers and their mothers with depression on: a) maternal affective expression, b) child affective expression, and c) mother-child cohesion. Mothers with depression (M_age?=?31.7 years; 92.8% White, 3.5% Black, 2.1% Hispanic, 2.3% other) and their toddlers were randomized to receive CPP (DI; n?=?66) or to a control group (DC; n?=?64). Mothers without depression and their toddlers (NC; n?=?68) were recruited as an additional comparison group. Dyads were assessed at baseline (T1; 20 months old), post-intervention (T2; 36 months old), and follow-up (T3; 9 years old). Data from a mother-child conflict task was coded as a measure of observed outcome variables. Change in post-intervention attachment security assessed via the Strange Situation was evaluated as a mediator between intervention condition and maternal and child affective expression and dyadic cohesion at T3. Change to secure attachment post-intervention significantly mediated the association between intervention condition and T3 maternal warmth and child anger/problem behavior. Toddlers of mothers with depression who received CPP showed higher rates of change to secure attachment compared to those in both the DC and NC groups. Dyads who changed to secure attachment at T2 displayed higher levels of maternal warmth at T3 and lower levels of child anger and problem behavior at T3. Implications for the use of CPP as a preventive intervention and the importance of attachment as a mediator of long-term outcomes are discussed.

     

Children of Mentally Ill Parents Participating in Preventive Support Groups: Parental Diagnoses and Child Risk

In the Netherlands, preventive support groups are offered to children of mentally ill parents. Given the variety of parental diagnoses it might be questionable if offering a standardized program for all these children is the most effective response. While no overall knowledge exists about the type of parental disorder and varying risk levels and support needs among the participating children, we examined whether there are differences between these children that are related to their parents’ diagnoses. With questionnaires we assessed risk factors in 122 mentally ill parents and their children: high parental illness severity, low perceived parental competence, parent–child interaction problems, poor family functioning, difficult child temperament, and low child competence. We also assessed the children’s psychosocial problems and negative cognitions about their parent’s illness. Results showed that most parents had co-morbidity (multiple diagnoses) and/or personality disorders. Children of parents with either of these conditions were more likely to be exposed to the risk factors: high parental illness severity, low perceived parental competence, problematic parent–child interaction, and low perceived child competence, compared to children of parents without these conditions. They were also faced with more risk factors and had more psychosocial problems and negative cognitions. From these results we may conclude that children of parents with co-morbidity and/or personality disorders require more extensive support than children of parents without these conditions. We suggest strengthening the children’s competence and involving parents as important focuses of preventive interventions for children at high risk. Longitudinal studies should test these assumptions.