Behavioral Repertoire of Families for Coping with Individuals with Hikikomori (Prolonged Social Withdrawal) in Japan1

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of families’ behavioral repertoires in hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) cases. We asked 243 parents of individuals with hikikomori (hikikomori group) to complete the Family Behavioral Repertoire Scale for Coping With Hikikomori (FBS-H), the Negative Evaluation of Hikikomori Scale, and a self-efficacy measure of coping with problem behaviors of hikikomori in order to develop the FBS-H and to examine its reliability and validity. Additionally, we examined the characteristics of hikikomori cases regarding the families’ behavioral repertoires using data from the hikikomori group and from 458 parents of individuals with no experience of hikikomori (control group). The results of the analysis indicated the acceptable reliability and validity of the FBS-H. The hikikomori group did not have lower FBS-H scores than the control group. This result indicates the possibility that a family's behavioral repertoire does not strongly influence the “expression” of hikikomori. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of families’ behavioral repertoires to refine family support.     

What about the family in youth gender diversity? A literature review

Abstract

Background: Previous research has suggested that gender diversity affects everyone in the family, with positive mental health and global outcomes for gender diverse youth reliant on receiving adequate family support and validation. Although the individual mental health, treatment and outcomes for gender diverse youth have received recent research attention, much less is known about a family perspective. Hence, a review of the literature exploring youth gender diversity from a family perspective is warranted.

Aims: To systematically identify, appraise and summarize all published literature primarily exploring gender diversity in young people under the age of 18?years, as well as selected literature pertaining to a family understanding.

Methods: Six electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science) were searched for relevant literature pertaining to youth under the age of 18?years.

Results: Research evidence was consistently found to support the beneficial effects of a supportive family system for youth experiencing gender diversity, and a systemic understanding and approach for professionals. Conversely, lack of family support was found to lead to poorer mental health and adverse life outcomes. Few articles explored the experience of siblings under the age of 18?years.

Discussion: This literature review is the first to critically evaluate and summarize all published studies which adopted a family understanding of youth gender diversity. The review highlighted a lack of current research and the need for further targeted research, which utilizes a systemic clinical approach to guide support for gender diverse youth and family members.     

Taking parent personality and child temperament into account in child language development

Individual differences have become increasingly important in the study of child development and language. However, despite the important role parents play in children’s language, no work has examined how parent personality impacts language development. The current study examines the impact of parent personality as well as child temperament on language development in 460 16- to 30-month-old children and 328 31- to 42-month-old children. Findings from both groups suggest multiple aspects of children’s language abilities are correlated with their parent’s personality. Specifically, parent consciousness, openness, and agreeableness positively correlate with child vocabulary size and other language abilities. Results also replicate and expand research on child temperament and language – child effortful control and surgency were positively correlated, and negative affect negatively correlated with most language abilities even after controlling for parent personality. Critically, parent and child traits appear to impact a child’s language abilities above and beyond well-known predictors of language, such as age.     

Using circular questions to explore individual family member experiences of youth gender dysphoria in Australia

Abstract

Background: The number of young people reporting gender dysphoria is increasing worldwide, with gender dysphoria known to affect everyone in the family in unique ways. Previous research has highlighted the importance of family support and understanding; however, much less is known about individual and collective family member experiences, particularly for siblings under the age of 18?years.

Aims: This study sought to identify, describe and interpret individual family member experiences of youth gender dysphoria using semi-structured interviews, incorporating circular questioning, within a whole of family, clinical and wider social context.

Methods: Thirty-five individual family members living in Australia (nine young people aged 12-17?years experiencing gender dysphoria, 10 mothers, eight fathers, and eight siblings aged 11-17?years) were interviewed, exploring positive and negative experiences of youth gender dysphoria, within and outside of the family. Family relationships, support and healthcare experiences were also explored.

Results: All participants reported a mixture of positive and negative experiences of youth gender dysphoria. Levels of acceptance tended to change with the duration of transition, with most family members adapting with time. Siblings reported mixed experiences within the same family, with some struggling to adapt. Most family members felt that including the whole family in the healthcare of the young person was important, although dependent on individual circumstances and family context. Specialist gender care experiences were unanimously positive, although services were considered difficult to access.

Discussion: Family members reported shared and individual positive and negative experiences of youth gender dysphoria across social contexts. Accepting and facilitating gender transition for young people appeared to improve individual and family functioning. Most participants valued a whole of family approach within specialist healthcare. The use of circular questioning in the study helped dispel assumptions and facilitated curiosity for others’ experiences in the family.     

Parent-report measure of Theory of Mind: Adaptation to Polish of the Children’s Social Understanding Scale

The main aim of the study was to investigate whether the Children’s Social Understanding Scale (CSUS), a parent report technique, is a valid and reliable measure of Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in Polish-speaking children. Additionally, the role of language abilities in ToM development was explored. A group of 225 parents of approximately 3.5-year-old Polish children was tested using the Polish version of the CSUS. Their children were tested with a word comprehension test and five behavioural ToM tasks. Satisfactory psychometric properties of the Polish CSUS were observed and positive correlations between the CSUS and behavioural ToM tasks were found. A two-factor structure was found in the CSUS: Mental State Talk (MST) and Mental State Comprehension. The MST factor was significantly related to word comprehension. The utility of the Polish version of the CSUS for future cross-cultural research with this population is discussed.     

A meta-ethnography of parents’ experiences of their children’s life-limiting conditions

ABSTRACT

As many children’s life-limiting illnesses (LLCs) are now often viewed as curable, there is an inevitable tension between providing good treatment and addressing patients and their families’ needs. For health care providers to provide optimal care, they must understand parents’ experiences of illness. Therefore, this article provides a meta-ethnography of parents’ experiences of their children’s LLCs by examining the findings of existing interpretative phenomenological analysis studies. Seventeen studies were included, which allowed the development of a conceptual model. Two multifaceted concepts emerged from the data, namely living in a bounded and polarised space and living in a collapsed time, and these are discussed with reference to their subconcepts. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.