Mental Health Aspects of Arab-Israeli Adolescents From Polygamous Versus Monogamous Families

Abstract

The authors considered the mental health consequences of polygamy in a sample of 101 Arab Muslim adolescents (19 from polygamous and 82 from monogamous families) at Juarish (Ramla), Israel. The respondents completed the Self-Esteem Scale (SE; M. Rosenberg, 1979), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; L. Derogatis & N. Melsavados, 1983; L. Derogatis & P. Spencer, 1982), and the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD; N. B. Epstein, M. N. Baldwin, & D. S. Bishop, 1983). The respondents from polygamous families had lower SE scores, statistically significant higher scores in 2 BSI dimensions, higher scores in all other BSI dimensions, and higher levels of self-reported family dysfunction. The respondents from polygamous families reported lower levels of socioeconomic status, academic achievement, and parental academic attainment. Those variables may have had a more direct impact on mental health than did parental marital status. The data also indicated that perceived family functioning was the best predictor of mental health.     

High‐conflict divorced couples: combining systemic and psychodynamic perspectives

This article describes typologies of couples in high‐conflict divorces and explores their dynamics through the prism of family systems and British object relations theories. The article argues that couples embroiled in high‐conflict divorce often have primitive object relations. They tend to use splitting and projection processes and find it difficult to tolerate ambivalence or disagreement. Fear of the ex‐spouse's retaliation is often accompanied by fear of their own destructiveness and by a wish to make reparation. However, it seems that reparation attempts in primitive object relations rarely achieve reconciliation. A case study demonstrates the complicated dynamics of these couples. Clinical recommendations are made.     

Depressed youth: treatment outcome and changes in family functioning in individual and family therapy

This study explores the role of family functioning in therapeutic change in focused individual psychodynamic psychotherapy (FIPP) and time‐limited systems integrative family therapy (SIFT) for depressed children and adolescents. After a screening process, 72 participants aged 8 to 15 were randomized to either FIPP or time‐limited SIFT. Assessments took place prior to, at the end of, and 6 months after treatment. Families in both SIFT and FIPP showed a small but significant and sustained improvement in family functioning by the end of treatment in both mothers' self‐reports and family therapists' assessments. Better family functioning at baseline in mothers' self‐reports and improved family functioning during SIFT, as assessed by family therapists, predicted a sustained decrease in self‐reported depressive symptoms. Results indicated that time‐limited SIFT may be more effective with younger children and in patients without a diagnosis of double depression than adolescents.     

Mentalization‐based Therapeutic Interventions for Families

This article attempts to bridge two seemingly different and yet related worlds, the intra‐psychic and the interpersonal, by viewing systemic practice(s) through a mentalization‐based lens. It is argued that in therapy there needs to be a deliberate, conscious and consistent focus on mentalizing. The emerging mentalization‐based therapy for families is an innovative approach and a distinctive model which is systemic in essence, deriving its ideas and practices from a variety of diverse systemic approaches, yet enriching family work by adding mentalizing ingredients.     

The Practice of Suicide Assessment and Management by Marriage and Family Therapists

Abstract

Over 90% of mental health providers encounter suicidal clients. However, the majority of marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are not exposed to suicide-specific trainings within their clinical coursework. Due to the lack of consistent training protocols for suicide assessment and management among MFTs, this qualitative study identified common MFT responses to suicidal clients, including assessment of risk severity and intervention modalities. Responses were then compared to best practices for suicidal clients. Participants inconsistently adhered to best practices identified in the larger field of mental health, revealing the need for increased MFT training on suicide to ensure appropriate and effective care.     

The Experience of Foster Care and Long-Term Attachment

Abstract

There are almost half a million children currently in foster care in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to study the linkage between foster care alumni and long-term attachment. In this qualitative study, six foster care alumni were interviewed. Nine themes emerged: trauma, stolen childhood, relationship style, trust issues, anxieties, current parenting concerns, broken system, coping strategies, and implications for counseling. The results of this study indicate that there are attachment implications for foster care alumni and that the experience of being in foster care was generally perceived as negative.     

中学生消费价值观在家庭理财教育方式与消费决策风格之间的中介作用

目的：考察中学生消费价值观在家庭理财教育方式与消费决策风格之间的中介作用。方法：377名中学生完成了中学生消费价值观问卷、家庭理财教育方式问卷和中学生消费决策风格问卷。结果：父母积极的教育方式可通过树立合理的消费价值观来促进中学生形成理性的决策风格;父母消极的教育方式一方面通过树立不合理的消费价值观助长中学生非理性的决策风格,另一方面通过减弱合理的消费价值观来减弱其合理的决策风格。结论：中学生消费价值观在家庭理财教育方式与消费决策风格之间起中介作用。     

家庭近乎完美量表中文版的信效度分析

在大学生群体中选取三个样本进行集体施测。选取500名大学生作为样本一,使用家庭近乎完美量表中文版、自尊量表、一般自我效能感量表和Beck抑郁问卷对其施测,对数据进行验证性因素分析、内部一致性信度分析和效标效度分析;六周后在样本一中随机抽取71名大学生作为样本二,使用家庭近乎完美量表对其施测,对数据进行重测信度分析;另选取500名大学生作为样本三,使用家庭近乎完美量表中文版、近乎完美量表修订版的中文修订版和Frost多维完美主义量表对其施测,对数据进行聚合效度和区分效度分析。结果表明,家庭近乎完美量表中文版     

核心家庭父亲协同教养对青少年抑郁的影响:父子依恋和母子依恋的中介作用

基于家庭系统理论,采用父亲协同教养、父子依恋、母子依恋和抑郁量表,对河南省某中学初中一、二年级,高中一、二年级共计890名来自核心家庭的青少年进行调查,探索父亲协同教养各维度（团结、一致、冲突、贬低）与青少年抑郁之间的关系,以及父子依恋和母子依恋在二者关系中的中介作用。结果表明：（1）在控制其它维度作用的情况下,父亲协同教养中的团结和冲突对青少年抑郁具有显著的预测作用,一致和贬低对抑郁的预测作用不显著,表明团结、冲突对青少年抑郁具有显著的“独特效应”;（2）团结、一致、冲突、贬低性协同教养均对母子依恋具有显著影响,支持家庭系统中的“交叉效应”;团结、冲突对父子依恋具有显著影响,支持家庭系统中的“外溢效应”;（3）中介效应分析的结果表明,团结、一致、冲突对抑郁的直接效应不显著,母子依恋在团结与青少年抑郁、冲突与青少年抑郁的关系中起到完全中介作用,但父子依恋的中介作用不显著。本研究有助于增进对父亲协同教养的认知,对于指导家庭教育实践、促进青少年心理积极发展具有重要的意义。     

儿童期虐待对大学生公正世界信念的影响:有调节的中介模型

为探讨儿童期虐待对公正世界信念的作用及心理机制,本研究采用问卷法对929名大学生进行了调查,并采用潜变量模型对数据进行了分析。结果发现:(1)儿童期虐待显著负向预测大学生公正世界信念;(2)控制感在儿童期虐待与公正世界信念之间起完全中介作用;(3)家庭社会经济地位调节了儿童期虐待与控制感的关系,高家庭社会经济地位放大了儿童期虐待与控制感间的负相关。研究结果表明,可以通过预防儿童虐待和增强控制感等干预措施来提升公正世界信念,并且需要对高社会经济地位家庭的儿童虐待加大关注。