Emotional Strain (emotional + strain)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Remittance Patterns of Southern Sudanese Refugee Men: Enacting the Global Breadwinner Role,

FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 4 2008
Phyllis J. Johnson
Abstract: Questionnaire data from 172 Sudanese refugee men in Western Canada revealed that most of the men were sending money (i.e., remittances) to family in Africa, although doing so created considerable financial and emotional strain. Those who experienced greater emotional strain had more social support and spent a smaller proportion of their income on remittances. Those who experienced greater financial strain had less support, were in Canada a shorter time, and had higher (over $20,000) compared to lower income (less than $20,000). Understanding the continuing financial obligations of global breadwinners, who are providing financially for relatives elsewhere, is critical content for social service programs that serve refugee and immigrant newcomers. [source]


Breast cancer in young families: a qualitative interview study of fathers and their role and communication with their children following the diagnosis of maternal breast cancer

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
Gillian Forrest
Abstract Objective: To explore father,child communication following the diagnosis of maternal breast cancer, examine disparities in their understandings of the impact of the illness, and identify gaps in their need for support and information. Methods: The design is the qualitative interview study with thematic analysis. The interviews were home-based with fathers and children in Oxfordshire, UK. The participants were 26 fathers whose partners had early breast cancer and 31 of their children aged between 6 and 18 years. Results: Fathers described graphically their reaction to news of their partner's breast cancer and their attempts to provide support for their partners and maintain normal family life for their children. Fathers were keen to reassure and protect children but often said that they lacked sufficient information about breast cancer,especially side effects of treatments. Fathers sometimes did not recognise the extent of their children's distress and some interpreted their children's reactions as ,bad behaviour' or ,rudeness'. Children were often acutely aware of the father's emotional state, and expressed a wish to protect him. Some fathers would have liked an opportunity to talk to a clinician directly about the children but did not want to claim clinical time for themselves or their children. Conclusion: This study suggests that clinicians could improve their care of breast cancer patients by being more family-centred. Fathers routinely need more information and preparation about the likely impact of the illness and its treatment (especially side effects) on the mother, and how children of different ages may react to the emotional strain. Clinicians need to be prepared to offer to talk to teenagers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Psychopathology and familial stress , comparison of boys with Fragile X syndrome and Spinal Muscular Atrophy

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 7 2002
A. Von Gontard
Background: Chronic illness and mental retardation are both associated with an increased rate of behavioural problems in children and with considerable emotional strain in families. The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the specific effects of two exemplary conditions on familial stress and coping. Methods: Forty-nine boys with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) were compared with 46 boys with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and 32 male controls. Intelligence was measured with the RAVEN or K-ABC tests. Psychopathology was assessed with the CBCL questionnaire and a structured psychiatric interview (Kinder-DIPS), parental stress with the QRS, coping with the F-COPES and social support with the F-SOZU questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the FXS boys was 8.6, of the SMA boys 12.7 and of the controls 11.2 years. The mean IQ was 47 for the FXS, 112 for the SMA and 103 for the control groups. According to the CBCL, 89.8% of the FXS boys, 21.7% of the SMA and 15.7% of the controls had a total score in the borderline or clinical range. The rates were 63.3%, 34.8% and 21.9% for internalising and 67.3%, 10.9% and 18.8% for externalising behaviour, respectively. 81.6% of the FXS and 10.9% of the SMA patients had a DSM-IV or ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis. The most common were ADHD (FXS: 36) and Separation Anxiety Disorder (SMA: 4). In total, parental stress was significantly higher in the FXS than in the SMA families (and in both compared to controls). There were no major inter-group differences regarding social support and familial coping. Conclusions: Children with FXS are severely mentally retarded and have a high rate of mainly externalising disorders. Despite good coping abilities and social support, this is associated with high familial stress. The SMA boys, with an intelligence in the upper normal range, are no more deviant than their healthy controls. Parental stress is lower in the SMA families with good coping abilities. In conclusion, families with mentally retarded children are in even greater need of help than those of children with severe chronic illness/physical handicap. Abbreviations: SMA: Spinal Muscular Atrophy; FXS: Fragile X syndrome. [source]


Sense of coherence and social support predict living liver donors' emotional stress prior to living-donor liver transplantation

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2008
Yesim Erim
Abstract:, The protection of the donors from physical or emotional harm has been a fundamental principle in living-donor liver donation from the beginning. Psychosomatic donor evaluation aims at the selection of eligible donors and the screening and exclusion of psychiatrically vulnerable donors. As clinical interviews may include subjective biases, efforts should be made to establish objective criteria for donor assessment. In recent research, protective factors have been reported to be a significant force behind healthy adjustment to life stresses and can be investigated as possible predictors of donors' eligibility. Being the central construct of Antonovsky's theory of salutogenesis, the sense of coherence is one of the most surveyed protective factors and a good predictor of individuals' stability when experiencing stress. Furthermore, family support has been shown to be a valuable protective resource in coping with stress. This study surveyed whether sense of coherence and social support predict donors' emotional strain prior to transplantation. Seventy-one donor candidates were included in the study during the donor evaluation prior to living-donor liver transplantation. Sense of coherence proved to be a significant predictor for all criterion variables, namely anxiety, depression and mental quality of life. In addition to this, donor candidates who were classified as eligible for donation in the psychosomatic interview had significantly higher values on sense of coherence total scores compared with rejected donors. In a multiple regression analysis, sense of coherence and social support together yielded a prediction of depression with an explained variance of 22% (R2 = 0.22). Sense of coherence and social support can be implemented as self-rating instruments in the psychosomatic selection of donors and would help to further objectify donors' eligibility. [source]