A comparison of obese and normal-weight families' sychological characteristics

Abstract

The present study assessed obese and normal-weight family members' perceptions of their nuclear family's social and environmental characteristics. Preliminary results support previous correlational and case studies that suggest obese families are dysfunctional. Results from the Family Environment Scale indicate that obese families perceive their family characteristics differently compared to normal-weight families or to a representative sample of families. Specifically, obese families perceive their homes as less cohesive, more conflictual, less interested in social and cultural activities, and less organized compared to normal-weight families. Obese parents also perceive themselves as more controlling and their families as less independent compared to nonobese parents.     

The rescuing therapist: A duplication of the pathogenic family system

Abstract

Rescuing is a saving behavior occuring in pathogenic families which is often duplicated by family therapists. Rescuing, if not confronted and explored, leads to frustration and burn—out in families and therapists. This paper explores the dynamics of rescuing behavior in families, how it is replicated by a therapist's attempts to rescue, and how the impetus for these attempts are derived from the therapist's own family of origin. The value of exploring the need to rescue is demonstrated by use of a case example. Countertransference issues and their resolution through the conscious differentiation between rescuing and real help are also explicated.     

Family and Couples Therapy in a Time of War

SUMMARY

In this article the issue of professional responsibility of couples and family therapists is raised with regard to the war in the Persian Gulf. Implications are discussed for families and couples coping with the stress of war and its aftermath.     

COVID-19 pandemic impact on family life and exacerbated emotional and behavioral health among preschool children: A longitudinal study

Background/ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine associations of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life with emotional and behavioral health among preschool children.MethodsA longitudinal study including 1595 preschool children aged 3–6 years and their families was conducted in Anhui Province. The linear regression was applied to examine associations between the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life and emotional and behavioral health.ResultsResults of the multivariable linear regression indicated that the severe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life was significantly associated with more sleep problems, poor dietary behavior habits, more anxiety symptoms, and more problematic behaviors; and these effects exhibited gender and age differences.ConclusionsThe severe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on family life significantly increased the risk for exacerbated emotional and behavioral health among preschool children. It is considered vital to identify risk factors for vulnerable families and then to implement precise interventions when necessary for emotional and behavioral health of children in these families.     

Ethical Issues in Intergenerational Equity

ABSTRACT

Family systems theory illumines the way in which family interactions influence the spirituality of each member of an aging family. Five spiritual tasks of the aging family are: facing mortality, defining the shape and limits of love and fidelity, struggling with the meaning of evil and suffering, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation, and giving and receiving a spiritual legacy. Professionals who work with families are encouraged to help families explore their spiritual concerns, work toward small and immediate changes with families as they address spiritual issues, listen for and affirm the family's spiritual resources, and support the enactment of family rituals and ceremonies.     

The first to know: A systemic analysis of confidentiality and the therapist's family

Abstract

One of the most common yet unrecognized breaches of confidentiality occurs when family therapists share confidential information with their own families. For many therapists, the boundaries between professional and private seem unclear, especially pertaining to disclosing clients' confidential information. Therapists are encouraged to examine their own practices concerning sharing confidential information with their families. Therapists' families have their own rules, patterns, boundary issues, and power struggles which affect therapists' behaviors. Therapists can discuss this issue with their families and develop postures that insure clients' privacy.     

Teaching Families to Collaborate

Abstract

Families, being an essential component of a student's educational program, must feel valued and involved in any planning or discussion relating to children or siblings with disabilities. A collaborative, cooperative, and caring environment must be established in order for parents and professionals to work together. Sensitivity and understanding of ethnic and cultural values and differences is an important element in any interaction between families, caregivers, and other professionals. This article examines the roles, perceptions, and expectations of parents, families, and professionals relating to program planning for persons with disabilities. Guidelines and checklists are provided for families and service providers in order to improve participation and collaboration in conferences and program planning meetings.     

Modifications des relations intrafamiliales dans les familles françaises de jeunes enfants pendant le premier confinement lié à la COVID-19

IntroductionIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the French state implemented containment measures requiring parents to stay at home with their children, while ensuring, in addition to daily tasks and work, their schooling.ObjectiveThe objective of this publication is to present the modifications of parent-child and spousal relationships during this period and their main sources according to the parents.MethodAn online questionnaire from 28 April 2020 to 29 May 2020 collected data from 490 French families with at least one child from birth to six years old. A content analysis of the discursive corpus was carried out with NVivo software (version 10). Quantitative statistical processing (using STATA software, version 16.1) tested the relationships between socio-demographic variables, as well as those relating to the parents’ experiences, and “strained” and “strengthened” intrafamily relationships.ResultsWhile for 33.3% of the respondents, family relationships did not change, they became stronger for 42.5% and tense for almost a quarter (24.3%).ConclusionUnderstanding the sources of tension experienced by families of young children during lockdown, as well as what enabled other families to better cope with this situation, may enable measures to be implemented to deal with the consequences of the discomfort generated by the lockdown and to avoid further psychological problems during possible future ones.     

On the model for crack roughness statistics

It is pointed out that the distribution introduced by Balankin and Susarrey [A.S. Balankin and O. Susarrey, Phil. Mag. Lett. 79 629 (1999).] (for modelling crack-length and crack-width data) is contained by at least two known families of distributions. Some elementary statistical properties of these families are discussed.     

Effects of a prevention program for divorced families on youth cortisol reactivity 15 years later

Objective: We examined whether an empirically based, randomised controlled trial of a preventive intervention for divorced mothers and children had a long-term impact on offspring cortisol regulation.

Design: Divorced mothers and children (age 9–12) were randomly assigned to a literature control condition or the 11-week New Beginnings Program, a family-focused group preventive intervention for mothers and children in newly divorced families.

Main Outcome Measures: Fifteen years after the trial, offspring salivary cortisol (n = 161) was measured before and after a social stress task.

Results: Multilevel mixed models were used to predict cortisol from internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, group assignment and potential moderators of intervention effects. Across the sample, higher externalizing symptoms were associated with lower cortisol reactivity. There was a significant group-by-age interaction such that older offspring in the control group had higher reactivity relative to the intervention group, and younger offspring in the control group exhibited a decline across the task relative to younger offspring in the intervention group.

Conclusions: Preventive interventions for youth from divorced families may have a long-term impact on cortisol reactivity to stress. Results highlight the importance of examining moderators of program effects.     

Teaching the family life cycle: A guide for a workshop using simulated families

Abstract

An experiential technique for teaching the Family Life Cycle is presented. Participants are asked to create simulated families and are assigned a series of structured exercises that focus the emotional, developmental, and systemic issues of each Family Cycle stage. Directions for each exercise, questions designed to develop observation skills, and discussion of specific workshop issues are also included.     

What Counts as Science? Families’ Perceptions of Science in a Natural History Museum

ABSTRACT

Natural history museums open their doors to millions of family visitors each year and are considered to have a valuable role to play in engaging these families with science. Yet little is known about whether or in what way families perceive such institutions to be connected with science. The current study set out to explore such perceptions via interviews with family visitors to a large natural history museum. Analyses reflected that families’ perceptions of the museum and of their own engagement with science were intertwined with their definitions and impressions of science. For these families, perceptions of the museum as fun, interesting, and educational at times counteracted impressions of it as a science-y institution. Moreover, some families also did not consider natural history to count as science, which further contributed to a reluctance to categorize the museum as science-y. Although such perceptions may challenge how natural history museums would like to portray themselves, they also represent an opportunity to broaden visitors’ definitions and images of science.     

The COSD Center Model

SUMMARY

This article describes the Children of Separation and Divorce Center, Inc: and how it empowers children and their families to cope with a major family transition. The rationale for creating the private, non-profit center is discussed and examples of the components of the center are illustrated to explain how children are empowered. Clinical and educational programs are client-need driven. The peer counselor program describes the participation of children and adults who are trained by COSD staff to be helpful to others. How COSD staff advocate for children and families of divorce is detailed with examples of judicial training, participation on advocacy boards and working with courts.     

Involving Families in Change

Summary

In this article, a range of matters are considered that have to do with involvement of families with children with severe behavioral and emotional disorders in change. Family participation on education and system change is reviewed, while principles of family participation are enumerated.     

Effectiveness of parent counselling in eating disorders

ABSTRACT

Eating Disorders (ED) are often severe illnesses entailing a heavy burden for families. Family therapy is recommended for young patients, but only a few studies have investigated therapeutic interventions with families tailored also to adult and longstanding patients. We recruited 87 families with daughters affected by an ED, aiming to assess the effectiveness of eight sessions of parent counselling. The primary outcome was the improvement of parents' coping abilities to achieve more effective support skills. Before treatment, 54% of parents showed poor coping resources whereas 43.7% of the sample improved after parent counselling. Parents with good coping resources responded significantly better to this treatment. Although future research is warranted, these preliminary findings support the effectiveness of parent counselling in ED.     

Culturally Competent Family Interventions: Review and Case Illustrations

Family therapy is often the treatment of choice for culturally diverse clients. This article provides a critical review of culturally competent assessment and intervention strategies for use with ethnic minority families in the U.S. A culturally informed view of the definition of family health and dysfunction is presented, basic structure and goals of family therapy are delineated, and family therapy process and techniques are addressed. Clinical vignettes are provided to illustrate critical points.     

Schools as Health Service Delivery Sites: Current Status and Future Directions

Summary

The health of our nation is inextricably linked with the health of our children. While families and professionals alike have recognized this truth for decades, current social reform movements in education and health services have provided an unprecedented opportunity for schools to become equal partners in addressing the needs of children, families, and communities in a wholistic, boundary-free, and collaborative manner. Since schools are the one social institution with which every child has contact, they offer a natural environment for assessment, services, and follow-up to promote the convergent education and health agendas articulated in Goals 2000 and Healthy People 2000. This article examines the components of education and health care reform with particular attention to a recon-ceptualization of health care services in schools. Within this framework, special services professionals are highlighted as leaders in service coordination and delivery for students, staff, and the community at large.     

Family Resilience: Israeli Mothers' Perspectives

This qualitative study reveals the components underlying the concept "family resilience" based on the perception of Israeli women in families who underwent a crisis in the past year. The study is based on the analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews using grounded theory methods. Five main components were identified as family resilience was perceived in terms of (a) interpersonal relations; (b) the ability to share painful feelings, (c) flexibility among family members; (d) connectedness; and (e) family's values. These components have practical implications for professionals working with families that are encountering stressful life situations.     

Situations de vulnérabilités familiales et pandémie COVID-19

ContextAware of the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for many families with children aged 6 or under, this study focuses on three contexts of potential vulnerability: single parenthood, children with developmental disorders, poverty.MethodA questionnaire, consisting of 69 questions, was transmitted nationally during the first lockdown (from 17 March to 10 May 2020). Among the study sample (n = 490), 36 households were single-parent, and 93 families had a child with developmental impairments. From November 2020 to June 2021, a additional qualitative approach was used to reach the most vulnerable groups (n = 23).ResultsThe methodology adopted made it possible to identify modes of experience that converge across families in the three contexts (more strengthened intrafamily relationships and investment in protection measures, for example), and others that appear more specific: pressure felt and need for information for single-parent households and those with children with developmental disorders, the burden of home schooling for single-parent households and the poorest, social isolation for single-parent households and difficulties in maintaining the previous food budget for the most precarious.ConclusionThe various pressures felt, the housing (with or without outdoor spaces) and working conditions, the fear of being sick, the negative feelings, etc. must encourage public authorities to implement psychological support mechanisms, particularly for the most vulnerable parents, in order to avoid subsequent physical and/or psychological health problems or even post-traumatic symptoms for parents and their children.