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Child Functioning (child + functioning)
Selected AbstractsParenting, Parental Mental Health, and Child Functioning in Families Residing in Supportive HousingAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2009Abigail H. Gewirtz PhD Long-term homelessness is associated with other psychosocial risk factors (e.g., adult mental illness, substance abuse, and exposure to violence). All of these factors are associated with impairments in parenting effectiveness and child adjustment, but there are very limited data investigating parenting among families who are homeless and highly mobile. In particular, there is no literature examining the relationships among observed parenting, parental mental health, and child adjustment in a supportive housing sample. Data are reported from a multimethod study of 200 children in 127 families residing in supportive housing agencies in a large metro area. Observed parenting and parents' mental health symptoms directly affected children's adjustment. The influence of parenting self-efficacy on children's adjustment was mediated through its impact on observed parenting. However, observed parenting did not mediate the relationship between parental mental health and child adjustment. Implications for research and practice with homeless populations are offered. [source] Maternal Psychosocial Adversity and the Longitudinal Development of Infant SleepINFANCY, Issue 5 2008Alison Cronin Research has identified associations between indicators of social disadvantage and the presence of child sleep problems. We examined the longitudinal development of infant sleep in families experiencing high (n = 58) or low (n = 64) levels of psychosocial adversity, and the contributions of neonatal self-regulatory capacities and maternal settling strategies to this development. Assessments of infant sleep at 4-, 7-, and 12-weeks postpartum indicated no differences in sleeping difficulties between high- and low-adversity groups. However, more infant sleep difficulties were reported in the high- versus low-adversity groups at 12- and 18-month follow-ups. Neonatal self-regulatory capacities were not related to the presence or absence of adversity, or to subsequent infant sleep quality. However, there were group differences in maternal settling strategies that did predict subsequent infant sleep difficulties. The pattern of sleep disturbance observed in association with maternal psychosocial adversity at 18-months was consistent with risk for broader impairments in child functioning. [source] Exploring differential attrition rates among system of care evaluation participantsJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Kelly N. Rogers The purpose of the present study is to investigate differential attrition rates in terms of both demographic characteristics and initial levels of child functioning of participants in North Carolina's system of care evaluation. Participants included 303 families (78 dropped out of the study, a 26% attrition rate). Families dropped out of the evaluation for three main reasons: refusal to participate, moving, or inability to contact the family. The majority of families who dropped out of the study did so after completing only the baseline interview. Differential attrition did not exist in terms of demographic characteristics, but there was some support for possible differential attrition indicated by initial levels of child functioning in some cases. Additionally, higher parental education level predicted longer participation in longitudinal evaluation. Recommendations and implications for applied research are offered. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 167,176, 2004. [source] Gender differences in the psychosocial experience of parents of children with cancer: a review of the literaturePSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Naomi E. Clarke Abstract Objective: To build a descriptive literature base of investigated and identified gender differences in the psychosocial experience of parents of children with cancer, in order to guide future research in this area. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE databases. Thirty papers were included in the review. Themes from these papers were identified, and on this basis, the review findings were grouped according to five main outcome categories: role perceptions, illness beliefs, psychological distress, coping strategies and perceptions of marital, family and child functioning. Results: Few gender differences were found in perceptions of marital, family and child functioning. There was a tendency toward traditional gender roles in the division of parental tasks. Findings in relation to parent psychological distress and preferred coping strategies were mixed, with trends toward increased distress, more emotion-focused coping and greater social support-seeking in mothers. Conclusions: Further studies using longitudinal designs with solid theoretical groundings will provide valuable information on the unique psychosocial experiences of mothers and fathers throughout the child's illness, which may in turn guide the development of evidence-based interventions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Developmental monitoring using caregiver reports in a resource-limited setting: the case of Kilifi, KenyaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2010A Abubakar Abstract Aim:, The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the reliability, validity and acceptability of developmental monitoring using caregiver reports among mothers in a rural African setting. Methods:, A structured interview for parents of children aged 24 months and less was developed through both participant consultation and a review of literature. The reliability and validity of the schedule was evaluated through a 10-month monitoring programme of 95 children, aged 2,10 months. The acceptability of the process was evaluated by studying retention rates and by organizing focus group discussions with participating mothers. Results:, The structured interview ,Developmental Milestones Checklist' consisted of 66 items covering three broad domains of child functioning: motor, language and personal,social development. The interview yielded scores of developmental achievements that showed high internal consistency and excellent test,retest reliability. The results were sensitive to maturational changes and nutritional deficiencies. In addition, acceptable retention rates of approximately 80% were found. Participating mothers reported that they found the procedures both acceptable and beneficial. Conclusion:, Developmental monitoring using caregiver report is a viable method to identify and monitor at-risk children in Sub-Saharan Africa. [source] Headache and Psychological Functioning in Children and AdolescentsHEADACHE, Issue 9 2006Scott W. Powers PhD Headache can affect all aspects of a child's functioning, leading to negative affective states (eg, anxiety, depression, anger) and increased psychosocial problems (for instance, school absences, problematic social interactions). For children and adolescents who experience frequent headache problems, comorbid psychological issues are a well-recognized, but poorly understood, clinical phenomenon. The confusion surrounding the relationship between pediatric headache and psychopathology exists for several reasons. First, in some cases, headache has been inappropriately attributed to psychological or personality features based on anecdotal observations or interpretations that go beyond the available data. Additionally, measures of psychopathology have not always adhered to the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria, thus reducing the reliability of diagnostic judgments. Furthermore, the diagnosis of headache has not always followed standard criteria, and has been complicated by the emergence of new terms and evolving measures. Finally, methodological shortcomings, such as incomplete descriptions of the procedures and criteria used for the study, inadequate descriptions of headache severity, lack of a control group for comparison with individuals without headaches, reliance primarily on cross-sectional research designs that are often discussed with inferences to causal hypotheses, and the use of unstandardized assessment measures, have significantly limited the validity of research findings. The goal of the current review is to examine the extant literature to provide the most up-to-date picture on what the research has made available about the magnitude, specificity, and causes of psychopathology in children and adolescents with headache, in an effort to further elucidate their relationship and prompt a more methodologically rigorous study of these issues. [source] School experiences after treatment for a brain tumourCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2006P. Upton Abstract Background Children surviving a brain tumour face major difficulties including learning problems, lengthy school absences and psychosocial problems, all of which can impact on school functioning. Our aims were to provide information for parents and teachers about the skills and resources of this group. Specifically, we aimed to: ,,describe the special educational needs of these children; ,,document the impact of diagnosis and treatment on school attendance; ,,compare parent and teacher assessments of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Methods Forty families agreed to participate (response rate = 58.82%). The children (19 males and 21 females) were aged from 6 to 16 years and had completed treatment at least 2 years previously (range = 2 years,12 years 5 months). Questionnaires (Strengths and Difficulties and school experience) were completed by mothers and teachers. Results Survivors were experiencing a wide range of physical, learning and interpersonal difficulties, according to parent and teacher reports. Almost half the children (n = 19) had ongoing neurological problems that were significant enough to require special help at school. Literacy and numeracy were the most common learning difficulties. Parents also rated brain tumour survivors as having more behavioural and emotional problems than would be expected from population norms. For example, survivors were rated as having more Total Difficulties (t = 6.86, P < 0.001), Emotional Symptoms (t = 8.82, P < 0.001), Hyperactivity (t = 2.25, P = 0.03), Peer Relationship Problems (t = 7.58, P < 0.001) and poorer Pro-social Behaviour (t = ,3.34, P = 0.002) than would be expected from population norms. These problems were also seen to be having a significant impact on the child's functioning (t = 3.95, P < 0.001). Teachers rated these problems as less serious than parents. Conclusion These children experience significant problems in school some time after diagnosis and when they are considered medically cured. Closer school,hospital liaison is essential to maximize integration and achievement in these children. [source] | ||||||||||