Semantic Profiles and Psychosexual Interests as Indicators of Identification

Identification patterns of male and female children (110 boys and 114 girls) in grades one through five were studied by two methods that have been used in “identification research”; identification inferred from sex-appropriate and sex-inappropriate games, preferences and identification inferred from profile congruence between “self,” “mother,” and “father” concepts on a semantic differential (SD). Results showed that the two measures are meaningfully related as “self” rating scales; however, there was no apparent association between the Games and Activities Inventory (GAI) (games preferences) and the SD as indicators of identification. The patterns of identification found using the SD were generally consistent with the theoretical formulation of identification proposed by Lynn (1959.)     

When to offer cognitive behavioural or psychoanalytic psychotherapy in an integrated psychotherapy service: Are everyday allocation decisions theoretically congruent?

Different modes of psychotherapy can be an effective form of treatment for a range of mental health problems. Psychotherapy provision in the NHS is organised in a variety of ways, with patient entry to various modes of therapy determined by a range of factors including evidence‐based guidelines and patient or referrer preference. The methods by which patients arrive at a particular mode of psychotherapy are largely unreported. This paper aims to describe this process in one UK NHS psychotherapy service offering cognitive behavioural and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and provides data to inform a discussion on the theoretical congruence of these allocation decisions.     

Edgar Heim (Hrsg) (2009) Die Welt der Psychotherapie Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 252?S., ISBN: 978-3-608-94549-2, EUR?24,90

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Edgar Heim (Hrsg) (2009) Die Welt der Psychotherapie Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 252 S., ISBN: 978-3-608-94549-2, EUR 24,90     

Family functioning and involvement in home visiting: Examining program characteristics as moderators to support retention in services

Developing strategies to improve retention in home visiting programs is critical to their success. The purpose of the study is to examine how the content provided during home visits moderates the association between family risks (economic, household functioning, and conflict) and retention in services. Parents (n = 1,322) voluntarily enrolled in Healthy Families America (n = 618) and Parents as Teachers (n = 704). Family characteristics were collected using the Family Map Inventories. Multilevel analyses showed a moderating impact of the time home visitors spent supporting parent–child interaction for all family risks examined. Moderating effects demonstrated a stronger positive association between focusing on the parent–child relationship and retention at 6 and 12 months for parents demonstrating greater needs. There were no moderating effects of child development content or case management activities with retention at 6 and 12 months. Together, families were more likely to stay in services when home visitors focused on parent–child interaction and child development, but less likely retained with more case management. Parents with greater risks were more likely to remain in services with more time focused on supporting parent–child interactions. Findings suggest the need to support our home visiting workforce in their work to promote healthy parent–child relationships.     

A longitudinal study of lateral biases in parents' cradling and holding of infants

Lateral preferences in parents' cradling and holding of their infants were assessed in a longitudinal study commencing 1–3 days after birth and ending at 18 months. Right-handed parents showed a consistent left-side preference, which declined slightly as the infants grew older. Left-handed mothers showed an initial left-side preference and then more variable holding behavior, including right-side preferences, in some conditions. No relationship between the parents' holding behavior and two measures of infant head posture was found. It is suggested that parental side-holding preferences and infant head orientation biases are components of a biobehavioral system designed to enhance the organization of the caregiver-infant relationship.     

Parents' perceptions of their infant's day care experience

Parents of infants who had been enrolled in a day-care center were asked to evaluate their day-care experience as well as their children's current development status. In general, parent evaluations provided strong support for day care as an effective means of supplementary infant care. When dissatisfaction with day care was expressed, it focused on matters pertaining to infant health, physical resources of the center, parent involvement in center activities, and caregiver-infant ratios. Parents perceived their children to be advanced in competence skills relative to their peers. With few exceptions, parents viewed group day care as the most desirable type of supplementary infant care, but only if high-quality staff and programs could be assured.     

Neurobehavioral reorganization in early infancy: Patterns of head orientation following lateral and midline holds

Head orientation was investigated in a longitudinal study of 37 infants, who were observed at ages 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, during a 60-second period that followed each of four (60 second) midline or lateral holds. When newborn, the infants tended to lie with their heads to the right, but this bias weakened over the first 3 postnatal months. This rightward motor bias was constrained further by such factors as sex and holding position; both factors had their strongest effect at 8 weeks. Finally, evidence was found for behavioral reorganization of postural orientation such that head orientation was less influenced by prior head positioning after than prior to 8 weeks.