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Showing papers in "Families, Systems, & Health in 2007"



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is a need for collaboration and consultation between clinics serving CSN and qualified mental health professionals if PS in these families is to be adequately evaluated and treated.
Abstract: Parenting stress (PS) and its correlates were examined in four pediatric outpatient and clinical research samples in children ages 4 through 12, who had a variety of health, developmental, behavioral, and neurological problems (designated children with special needs [CSN]). Participants came from four different clinic samples: (a) an interdisciplinary clinic for children with combined developmental, behavioral, neurological, and emotional problems (DBC, n = 57); (b) children with intraventricular hemorrhage documented at birth (IVH, n = 70); (c) children with learning and/or attention problems (LD/ADHD, n = 54); and (d) children with neural tube defects (NTD, n = 45). In multiple regression analyses, externalizing, and/or internalizing behavior problems emerged as consistent, and in some cases, the sole correlates of overall PS and parental distress. Perceived inadequacy of family resources and maternal support were also related to PS in some samples. In the DBC, IVH, and NTD samples, analyses of variance revealed PS to be highest in parents of children with behavior problems only or combined cognitive deficits and behavior problems. Having a child with neither behavior problems nor cognitive impairment, or cognitive impairment alone was associated with lower PS. There is a need for collaboration and consultation between clinics serving CSN and qualified mental health professionals if PS in these families is to be adequately evaluated and treated.

90 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated emotional (empa-thy) and problematic (minimizing) support exchange between 243 women experiencing a lupus recovery and their husbands and found that more spousal emo-tional support was interpreted as beingmore emotionally responsive, which in turnwas associated with better well-being.
Abstract: DThe authors investigated emotional (empa-thy) and problematic (minimizing) supportexchanges between 243 women experiencinga lupus sare-up and their husbands. Hus-bands and wives reported the amount ofsupport they provided to each other and theextent to which they felt the support theyreceived from partners was emotionally re-sponsive (validating). The authors expectedindividualsO perceptions of spousesO emo-tional responsiveness to mediate the rela-tionship between support and psychosocialwell-being. As predicted, more spousal emo-tional support was interpreted as beingmore emotionally responsive, which in turnwas associated with better well-being. Incontrast, more problematic support was in-terpreted as being less emotionally respon-sive, which in turn was associated withpoorer well-being. Couples who are able tomeet each othersO emotional needs may ex-perience better adjustment when copingwith chronic illness.Keywords: emotional support, emotionalresponsiveness, depression, marital satis-faction, chronic illness

77 citations













Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicated that family relationships were affected through the parents’ expression of emotion, opportunities for closeness, and relationships with other family members, such as extended family and siblings.
Abstract: Congenital upper limb differences are physical health conditions in which an individual is born with abnormalities of the upper limbs (i.e., arms, hands, and/or fingers). This article presents a qualitative study about the unique strengths, challenges, and relationship processes in families of children with congenital upper limb differences. Four in-depth focus groups were conducted with parents of children with congenital upper limb differences. Content analysis procedures were used to analyze the data. The results indicated the following: (a) The strengths and resources of these families included a belief in the human universality of differences, connections with similar families, reliance on a strong social support network, and humor; (b) the challenges the families faced included managing grief-related emotions, making medical decisions, and promoting the child‘s development; and (c) family relationships were affected through the parents‘ expression of emotion, opportunities for closeness, and relationships with other family members, such as extended family and siblings.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The cultural genogram is used as an educational tool to teach health care professionals a structured way to address patients’ and families’ cultural beliefs and practices and proposes implications for evaluation and research.
Abstract: Cultural issues affect patients’, families’, and providers’ perspectives on health, illness, and disease, thus a provider’s sensitivity and awareness to cultural issues can influence the quality and outcome of the patient and family encounter. As the population of the United States becomes more culturally diverse, health care professionals render care to patients whose cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, and health practices differ from their own. The cultural genogram is used as an educational tool to teach health care professionals a structured way to address patients’ and families’ cultural beliefs and practices. This article describes instructional activities for undergraduates, graduates, and faculty; presents a case example and personal reflections of a resident in family medicine; describes practical issues for the clinician; and proposes implications for evaluation and research.


Journal ArticleDOI
Sima Zach1, Yael Netz1
TL;DR: A significant correlation was found between the activity level of children and their mothers and the motives, obstacles, and incentives of family members who engage in physical activity.
Abstract: This study examined the patterns of leisure time physical activity and factors influencing those patterns among family members in 3 generations. The purpose of the study was threefold: to examine physical activity patterns in 3 generations of middle-school students’ families; to examine the motives, obstacles, and incentives of family members who engage in physical activity; and to examine whether a link exists between motives for physical activity and activity patterns. Study participants were 908 people from 40 countries of origin, ages 12‐90, from 3 generations of 298 families. Physical activity patterns were measured by questionnaires. In addition, the type, frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity done over the previous week were recorded. A physical activity level between 0 and 3 (0 no activity ,3 intensive activity), according to recommendations published by international health organizations, was determined for each participant. The level of physical activity sharply decreased with age. A significant correlation was found between the activity level of children and their mothers. No correlations were found for other family members.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In better defining behavioral and adjustment issues in cystinosis families, the current findings may prompt greater awareness in individuals caring for and/or working with a child with cyst inosis.
Abstract: When caring for a child with a chronic illness, parents, physicians, and other medical personnel often focus their attention on treatment of the medical illness. The child’s and family’s coping and mental health are often secondary to medical management of the disorder. Cystinosis is a genetic metabolic disease that affects multiple organs, and specific aspects of cognition and behavior. The present study examined behavior and adjustment in a sample of families and children with a chronic illness, cystinosis. The Cystinosis Behavior Questionnaire was administered to 63 parents of children and adolescents with cystinosis (ages 2–17 years). The questionnaire was comprised of both open- and closed-ended questions that probed areas of child characteristics, family adjustment, school performance, and intervention for mental health issues. Parents reported many areas of strength and difficulty within their child and family. Interestingly, however, very few of the families had sought out intervention for behavioral and/or adjustment issues. In better defining behavioral and adjustment issues in cystinosis families, the current findings may prompt greater awareness in individuals caring for and/or working with a child with cystinosis.






Journal ArticleDOI
Walter Lowe1
TL;DR: This paper examined the various therapeutic strategies used in working with the family of an adolescent Hispanic male street gang member whose mother was HIV positive, and whose father had already developed AIDS, and examined the specific ways in which adolescents of different ethnic and socioeconomic groups respond to having a parent who is HIV-positive, or has developed full-blown AIDS.
Abstract: Although several authors have addressed the matter of how children are affected when an adult caretaker has AIDS, most have focused on younger children, ages 3 to 10, rather than on adolescents. Even fewer authors have addressed the specific ways in which adolescents of different ethnic and socioeconomic groups respond to having a parent who is HIV-positive, or has developed full-blown AIDS. This case study examines the various therapeutic strategies used in working with the family of an adolescent Hispanic male street gang member whose mother was HIV positive, and whose father had already developed AIDS.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: All the family physician participants significantly improved their counseling skills by the end of the course and about half continued to improve 6 months later, and participants showed significant improvement in their confidence counseling individuals, couples, and families.
Abstract: In many healthcare systems, family physicians are the primary source of direct care for patients with mental health problems in the community, yet family physicians are not often routinely or adequately trained to conduct counseling or psychotherapy. The current study conducted a 5-weekend yearlong, hands-on, interactive, intensive training of family physicians in the skills of officebased counseling/psychotherapy. Fifty-five family physicians took the course over 4 different years. Outcomes were analyzed with 3 major measures and collected at baseline, the end of the course, and 6 months later. Based on an ability to answer a skill-testing questionnaire called the Carkhuff Discrimination Skills Index, all the family physician participants significantly improved their counseling skills by the end of the course and about half continued to improve 6 months later. Participants showed significant improvement in their confidence counseling individuals, couples, and families. Participants also indicated they significantly increased the time they spent in counseling individual patients as a result of the course. Implications for future research on primary care training programs in psychological therapy are discussed.