Parenting Sensitivity,Parental Depression and Child Health: The Mediational Role of Parental Self-Efficacy

This paper discusses the theoretical role of parental self-efficacy, or parents' beliefs in their competence and effectiveness in the parental role, as a mediator of relations between parent–child risk and parental sensitivity. Evidence is marshalled from studies of parenting in the contexts of maternal depression and child health risk to support the premise that parent–child characteristics affect parental sensitivity indirectly via their more direct impact on parental feelings of efficacy, and that parenting efficacy represents the ‘final common pathway’ in the prediction of parenting sensitivity. Also considered in this working model are specific social-contextual factors as independent contributors to parenting efficacy and as possible moderators of relations between parent–child characteristics and self-efficacy. Implications for intervention are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy

Abstract

Most theories and methods about couple dierapy are developed and tested in Anglo-Saxon countries. In this clinical study, we tested these theories and methods within a Swedish public health context. We assessed the outcomes of 131 couples (262 individuals) using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Family Climate (FC) survey. Initially, the couples displayed severe marital distress and a dysfunctional family climate. Both marital satisfaction and family climate improved considerably, which confirmed the effectiveness of these methods in a Swedish context.     

Parental influences on self-regulation and achievement in children with adolescent mothers

The predictors of academic achievement and self-regulation in 95 high-risk children studied from birth were investigated during the second grade. Parenting, early maternal adjustment, child adjustment and temperament were hypothesized to predict the emergence of self-regulation. Although parenting, maternal adjustment, and child adjustment were related to achievement and classroom adjustment, they were not related to children's self-regulation, which was the strongest predictor of teacher ratings of academic performance, standardized achievement in math and reading, and classroom adjustment.     

Johannes Scotus Erigena on Imagination

This study attempted to check, in an authoritarian culture, Ray's hypothesis that there is no relationship between authoritarian behavior and authoritarian attitudes. Scales measuring these two variables were administered to 38 white Afrikaans-speaking South African college men and women (average age 20.74 years). The correlation between the two scales was -.21 which is not significant. The results were therefore seen as a confirmation of Ray's hypothesis.     

Parental Perceptions of Child Development Among Low-Income Mexican American Families

Parents' perceptions of child development are influenced by complex interactions among cultural, social, and economic factors. Insights into how parents from culturally diverse societies perceive the development of their children might explain why different cultural groups foster or value the development of different skills in their children. In this study, we explored the perceptions of child development among low income Mexican American parents. A series of ethnographic interviews were conducted with eight Mexican American families who had preschool children. Qualitative data analyses yielded three main themes that were important to these parents: family attitudes and values, changes, and adaptations. For these parents, the development of social attributes in children, that will enable them to function within their own cultural group, was as important as the development of cognitive or motor skills. Service providers, such as school and mental health personnel, should take into account cultural differences in parents' perceptions of the importance of various developmental milestones for their children when suggesting interventions typically used by parents in the dominant culture.     

The Role of Religion on the Health Practices of Mexican Americans

Twenty million Mexican Americans live in the U.S. (U.S. Census 2000 Summary File, 2000). It is vital that health care clinicians become familiar with and acknowledge the role of religion or religiosity on the health practices of Mexican Americans so that these needs may be addressed through holistic care. This paper reviews the origin and role that religion plays in the health practices of Mexican Americans. The potential benefits of addressing these client’s religious needs are examined and suggestions are offered on how health care clinicians may address these needs in a culturally sensitive manner.Josefina Lujan, MSN, RN is a first generation Mexican American who has been practicing nursing for 25 years in the Texas-Mexico border community of El Paso, Texas.Howard Campbell is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso. e-mails: jlujan1@utep.edu; hcampbel@utep.edu     

Parental Control in the Etiology of Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent forms of adult and childhood psychiatric disorders, and they are highly familial. However, the mechanisms of transmission remain unclear. One familial characteristic that may promote the development of anxiety is the construct of parental control. This paper provides a conceptual overview of the construct of control in the parenting and anxiety literatures, reviews existing literature on control in anxious families, and reviews current conceptual models of and developmental approaches to anxiety. Based on the current empirical literature, an elaborated model that takes child developmental level into consideration is proposed in order to provide a better understanding of the role of parental control in the development of anxiety.     

Lesbian Couples and Their Parents: The Effects of Perceived Parental Attitudes on the Couple

Twenty respondents, each of whom was in a committed couple relationship, were asked how their parents' attitudes toward (a) their partner and (b) their lesbianism impacted on their relationships with their partners. The study revealed that the adverse consequences of parental disapproval are overshadowed by the benefits to the couple that are derived from the decision to affirm one's lesbian identity and to acknowledge the nature of the couple relationship by “coming out” to parents. The negative impact of secrecy on the couple, the downplaying of parental disapproval, the positive effects on the couple of an affirmed lesbian identity, and the importance of acknowledgment of the lesbian couple are discussed. The author maintains that the counselor working with lesbian couples must be lesbian affirmative, and she suggests eight specific, clinical implications for working with lesbian couples.     

The Role of Parental Control in Children's Development in Western and East Asian Countries

ABSTRACT— Decades of research in Western countries such as the United States have supported the idea that parental control undermines children's psychological development. In recent years, investigators have asked whether this is also true in East Asian countries such as China, given that several aspects of East Asian culture have the potential to make children more accepting of parental control. We review research indicating that the effects of parental control on children's psychological functioning are similarly negative in the United States and China, the two countries where most research on this subject has been conducted. However, we also highlight specific contexts in which the effects may be stronger in the West.     

The Relation of Social Capital to Child Psychosocial Adjustment Difficulties: The Role of Positive Parenting and Neighborhood Dangerousness

Substantial research attention has focused on the psychosocial adjustment problems of children and adolescents residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, less attention has been directed to neighborhood factors within disadvantaged neighborhoods that may facilitate child psychosocial adjustment. An expanded model, assessing how social capital, neighborhood dangerousness, and positive parenting relate to child psychosocial adjustment difficulties, was estimated using structural equation modeling (Lisrel 8.3). Participants included 130 African American mothers and their children (mean age = 12.9 years) residing in inner city New Orleans, LA. The model examined 3 avenues through which social capital (e.g., support, neighborhood cohesion) may relate to fewer child psychosocial adjustment difficulties: a direct relation; through its relation to positive parenting; and through its relation to neighborhood dangerousness. Results indicate that social capital related to child psychosocial adjustment difficulties through positive parenting and neighborhood dangerousness, but not directly. Overall, the proposed model fit the observed data reasonably well. The results suggest that social capital in disadvantaged neighborhoods is important in indirectly facilitating child psychosocial adjustment and should be incorporated into assessment and intervention practices.     

The Evaluation of Parental Fitness in Termination of Parental Rights Cases: A Functional-Contextual Perspective

This article highlights issues involved in carrying out evaluations for termination of parental rights cases and suggests caution for mental health professionals doing such evaluations. It argues that current models of parenting that come from the child development and child maltreatment fields are too narrow in their focus to act as a foundation for such evaluations and are often based on research with select groups in our society making them open to bias. Similarly, it is argued that traditional assessment measures are limited in their utility for responding to the kinds of relational and basic care questions asked in such evaluations. A functional-contextual model is offered as an alternative with examples of potentially useful measurement strategies. With such a frame as a starting point, the field might progress to providing more useful information to courts. Future research directions to improve this practice arena are discussed.     

Applying Psychoanalysis to Couple Therapy: The Treatment of a Couple with Sexualized Persecutory Internal Objects Resulting from Trauma

The application of psychoanalytic theory and technique to the treatment of couples has been relatively overlooked despite the long history of concern by psychoanalysts with the role of marriage in individual development and suffering. This paper uses an example of marital and sex therapy to illustrate the application of psychoanalytic object relations theory to couple therapy, and describes the way that in-depth treatment of the couple's persecutory object relations that follow severe trauma can be effectively conducted. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of issues of shame and guilt in psychoanalytic theory and their relevance to this couple.     

Evaluation of a Disease-Specific Self-Efficacy Instrument in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease and its Relationship to Adjustment

The psychometric properties of a disease-specific instrument used to assess self-efficacy in adolescents with sickle cell disease, the Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale, were evaluated in a sample of 131 adolescents ranging from 11 to 19 years of age. This nine-item instrument was associated with a one-item, general self-efficacy question and an item of self-control. After controlling for age, gender, highest grade of education completed, and the number of individuals in the household, high levels of self-efficacy were related to fewer physical, psychological, and total symptoms. Using the stress process framework to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-reported symptoms in adolescents may lead to the initiation of effective intervention programs capable of increasing levels of self-efficacy in adolescents. These interventions could lead to better outcomes for adolescents with sickle cell disease. Additional longitudinal investigations are needed to evaluate the ability of self-efficacy to predict adolescent adjustment over time.     

Effects of self-efficacy on adjustment to college

This study examined the effects of self-efficacy on adjustment to college among 1385 Japanese college students. The College Adjustment Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES) was constructed in order to evaluate the degree of confidence in the skills necessary for college adjustment. Three subscales were identified in the CASES: judgmental ability based on objective information, self-controlled persistence of activity, and self-adjustment in human relations. There were slight gender differences in the first and the third subscales. The CASES subscale scores were compared between well and poorly adjusted students in each college major. Differences in the score patterns of well adjusted students were compared across 13 college majors. The implications for academic career counseling are discussed.     

The Impact of Parental Divorce on College Student Development

The author explores the developmental consequences of parental divorce on college students. A critique of the literature in this area and its implications for counselors are provided.     

父母教养方式对高三学生学业成就的影响: 心理资本的中介作用

为探讨父母教养方式对高三学生学业成就的影响,测量了800名高三学生的父母教养方式、心理资本、 学业成就状况.结果发现:(1)父母情感温暖与心理资本各维度、 学业成就呈显著正相关;父母否认拒绝与心理资本各维度、 学业成就呈显著负相关;父母亲过度保护和心理资本各维度、学业成就呈显著负相关;(2)心理资本各维度(除韧性外)和...     

The Efficacy of Behavioral Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couple Distress

Twenty treatment outcome studies, 13 of which evaluated behavioral couples therapy (BCT) and seven of which evaluated emotionally focused therapy (EFT) were reviewed, leading to the following conclusions. BCT leads to short and long-term gains for moderate to severe couple distress. In the long term BCT probably leads to no better outcomes than its constituent components—behavioral exchange training and communication and problem solving skills training. Addition of a cognitive therapy component to BCT or the use of a variety of treatment formats does not improve the efficacy of BCT. Integrative couples therapy and insight-oriented marital therapy may be more effective than BCT, but studies supporting this conclusion require replication. EFT leads to short and long-term gains for mild to moderate couple distress. Addition of a cognitive therapy component to EFT does not enhance its efficacy. EFT may be more effective than problem solving therapy and less effective than integrated systemic therapy, but the two studies supporting this conclusion require replication.Michael Byrne, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist, Midland Health Board, Ireland; Alan Carr, PhD, is Director of the Clinical Psychology Training Programme, Department of Psychology, Arts Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland (alan.carr@ucd.ie). Marie Clark, PhD, is Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, United Kingdom.     

Effect of Make Parenting a Pleasure on Parenting Skills and Parental Depression

Abstract

This paper explores a feasibility trial examining the effects of the Make Parenting A Pleasure (MPAP), a 12-week parent training program designed to promote family resilience by strengthening the following factors: parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social and emotional competence in children. Fifty-nine (59) participants were assigned to either a treatment group (n?=?32) or a waitlist control group (n?=?27). Results showed that participants in the MPAP treatment group demonstrated an increase in parenting skills and child development knowledge as well as a decrease in parental depression when compared to waitlist control group participants. Results emphasize the importance of promoting resiliency by supporting parents through direct instruction and skill development.     

The Effect of Forgiveness on Marital Satisfaction in Relation to Marital Stability

The present study examined the association between forgiveness and marital satisfaction in relation to marital stability. It was a comparative study between first-married and remarried adults involving 787 respondents from the Flanders region in Belgium. The current study showed that, although in the overall forgiveness, there was no significant difference between the first-married and remarried, the first-married significantly differed in two subscales of Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) from the remarried. A significant difference in the marital satisfaction was found between the first-married and remarried adults. The present study also reported a significant positive correlation between forgiveness and general-life adjustment.This study was carried out at the Institute for the Family and Sexuality Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, as part of docotral research.