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Sensory sensitivities in children are found not only across a range of childhood disorders, but also within the general population. The current exploratory study examines the reliability and validity of a novel parent-report measure which assesses sensory-sensitivities in both typically developing and non-typically developing children. This 42-item Parent-completed Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ-P) has been adapted by us from an existing adult tool (Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire), and measures children's hyper-sensitivities (sensory overload leading to avoidance-behaviours) and hypo-sensitivities (sensory dampening leading to seeking-behaviours) across seven different sense domains (visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile, vestibular, proprioception). We validated this novel measure on the parents of 601 English children 6–11 years. Both the long version (42-items GSQ-P) and an additional reduced version (24-item rGSQ-P) significantly associated with children's anxiety, behavioural difficulties, and ability to empathise. As expected, sensory sensitivities were invariant across age and gender, but non-typically developing children had significantly elevated scores compared to typically developing peers (in both GSQ-P and rGSQ-P). We also provide insight into the structure of sensory sensitivities in children, showing for the first time that hyper sensitivities cluster by sense (e.g., tactile questions cluster together; visual questions cluster together) whilst hypo sensitivities cluster by behaviour (e.g., a cluster of seeking-behaviours irrespective of sense; a cluster of sensory dampening irrespective of sense). We offer both instruments (GSQ-P and rGSQ-P) as free reliable measures for better understanding children's sensitivities, for use in different circumstances depending on focus. Highlights: The paper explores two new parent-report sensory sensitivity questionnaires adapted from the adult Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire. Sensory sensitivity scores were invariant across age groups (6–10 years) and between girls and boys. Anxiety, internalising behaviours and poorer empathy were associated more closely with hyper-sensitivity, whereas externalising behaviours were associated more with hypo-sensitivity. Hyper-sensitivity items clustered together within sense modalities, whereas hypo-sensitivity items tendered to cluster by behavioural manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a rigorous assessment of a community-based early child development (ECD) intervention to understand the drivers of caregivers' reading and playing practices in a low-resourced township in South Africa. Mentors visited 157 homes biweekly (2474 observations from 2019–21; children ages 0–5), completing surveys regarding caregiver behaviors and engagement. One hundred and fifty-seven caregivers (mostly Black, Zulu women) participated in the program during this time period and completed surveys biannually on their support system (modified version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Support) and ECD beliefs (modified versions of the Parental Play Beliefs Scale and the Parent Opinion Survey). Longitudinal Hierarchical Linear Model revealed that several behaviors and beliefs significantly predicted positive parenting behaviors. Regression discontinuity plots suggest that positive parenting behaviors could continue and even improve following Covid-19 shutdowns, especially in homes with more intervention visits. This paper provides translational evidence on tangible ways interventions can engage caregivers in stimulating ECD behaviors. Highlights: This study analyzes data from a South African ECD intervention targeting caregiver reading and playing practices through a relational home-visitation program. Caregiver engagement was the changeable individual difference that best predicted caregiver reading and playing behaviors. Time in the program, social support, and hope that children will have a better future significantly predicted caregiver reading and playing behaviors. Participants who were in the program for over a year before the pandemic were best able to sustain positive beliefs of child development after the shutdown. Caregiver involvement and reading and playing improved even after the pandemic shutdown, especially in homes that had more intervention visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Worldwide, depression is one of the most common medical disorders in adolescence. Adolescent depressive symptoms generally increase over time, but many experience decreases after an initial peak. The purpose of this paper was to examine ecological predictors of baseline and change in adolescent depressive symptoms using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a framework. Methods: Adolescents (n = 500; 52% female; baseline age 10–13 years) and their parents living in the northwestern United States completed annual questionnaires over six years. A structural equation model growth curve analysis was conducted to examine how family stressors, neighborhood safety, parent-child connectedness, and youth locus of control predicted adolescent depressive symptoms (baseline and growth). Results: Results demonstrated that adolescent locus of control was associated with lower baseline depressive symptoms (β = −0.27, p < 0.001). Parent-child connectedness (youth-report) was indirectly predictive of baseline depressive symptoms through locus of control (β = −0.06, p < 0.05). Family economic stress was predictive of less growth in depressive symptoms over time (β = −0.20, p < 0.05). General family stressors, neighborhood safety, and parent report of parent-child connectedness were not predictive of adolescent depressive symptoms. In a sensitivity analysis using an autoregressive model, adolescent-report of parent-child connectedness was the most consistently predictive measure of adolescent depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that feelings of family connectedness and control are more important to understanding baseline depressive symptoms than physical, contextual factors. However, some adversity may be healthy and provide adolescents with experiences that slow the growth of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the nature of adolescents' experiences of Technology-Assisted Adolescent Dating Violence and Abuse (TAADVA) behaviours and whether the Electronic Communication Technology (ECT) used varies depending on the behaviour. This paper therefore examines the nature of adolescents' victimisation experience of 12 different TAADVA behaviours via nine methods of ECT (phone call, text, instant messenger, social networking site, picture message, video chat, email, chatroom and website/blog). Four-hundred-and-sixty-nine 12-18-year-old British adolescents (59% (n = 277) of which had dated in the last year) completed a questionnaire regarding their experience of TAADVA. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine how adolescents experienced the 12 TAADVA behaviours and through which of the nine ECTs they were experienced. Adolescents' experiences of TAADVA victimisation did not significantly vary in terms of the ECT method used and often multiple TAADVA behaviours were experienced in combination with one another across a range of ECTs, demonstrated by the identification of nine factors in the analysis. The findings highlight implications for understanding and raising awareness of the extent and intrusiveness of TAADVA, particularly when multiple abusive and controlling behaviours are experienced via multiple methods or devices. It is advised that assessing the overall construct of abusive and controlling behaviour is avoided in future research and instead, the multidimensionality of the factors identified in the analysis of the TAADVA assessment tool and the different behaviours that these factors encompass need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there has been increasing interest in promoting father engagement in parenting interventions for child wellbeing, both research and practice endeavors have been hindered by a lack of a measure of father engagement practices. This paper reports the development and evaluation of a comprehensive, practitioner-report measure of father engagement practices-—the Father Engagement Questionnaire (FEQ). Practitioners (N = 589; 84.5% females; mean age = 38.56) involved in delivering parenting interventions in Australia completed the FEQ, along with background demographics and questions regarding their own and organization’s practice. A separate sample of 28 practitioners completed the FEQ twice, with a two-week interim, to assess test-retest stability of the measure. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors corresponding to the measure’s five intended content areas: Confidence in Working with Fathers, Competence in Using Engagement Strategies, Perceived Effectiveness of Engagement Strategies, Frequency of Strategy Use, and Organizational Practices for Father Engagement. Each of these scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency reliability and test-retest stability. As the five scales appear to be related but distinct, it is recommended that the FEQ is used as a multidimensional measure of father engagement. In terms of predictive validity, higher scores on the Confidence in Working with Fathers, Frequency of Strategy Use, and Organizational Practices for Father Engagement scales were associated with a higher likelihood of practitioner-reported father attendance. The results provide support for adequate psychometric properties of the FEQ as a research and clinical tool for assessing and monitoring father engagement practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of varied psychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is shifting towards the use of evidence-based assessments (EBAs). This shift has fostered the development, validation and adaptation of several measures to rate obsessive-compulsive symptoms and other related problematic areas such as functional impairment or family attitudes among others. The aim of this paper is to present a systematic review of psychometric studies on pediatric OCD-specific measures to classify these according to assessment evidence-based criteria. Selection criteria that determined which studies were included in the review were: (1) analyzing an OCD measure and (2) including participants' age being 18 years or younger. The literature search procedure was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, ERIC, Cochrane Library, and Scholar Google databases and enabled us to locate 42 studies which analyzed psychometric properties of 14 OCD measures studied in children and adolescents. Instruments were grouped into the following assessment areas: symptom presence and severity, functional impairment, family functioning and cognitive dimensions of OCD. Psychometric data regarding internal structure, internal consistency, reliability, validity and diagnostic precision were also reported. Further, measures were classified as well- established, approaching well- established and promising assessments in terms of reliability and validity. We concluded that the assessment of OCD in pediatric populations is a growing field that in a short-medium term could provide a wide variety of EBAs for the evaluation obsessive-compulsive symptoms and other OCD-related dimensions. The paper concludes by highlighting directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mentalization-based interventions show promise in improving mental health outcomes for children and parents through increasing a family's reflective functioning, or ability to mentalize. Mentalizing involves the ability to understand behavior in relation to mental states, such as thoughts and feelings, and typically develops within the context of secure attachment relationships. One area not given much consideration when training foster parents is their capacity to mentalize. This study evaluated Family Minds, a newly developed psychoeducational intervention for foster parents, designed to increase their ability to mentalize. The current paper reports on the development and preliminary empirical evaluation of Family Minds in a quasi-experimental study where 102 foster parents received either Family Minds or a typical foster parenting class, which served as a control group. Results indicate that parents who received Family Minds significantly increased their levels of reflective functioning as assessed with the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire and a new Five-Minute Speech Sample procedure coded using the Reflective Functioning Scale, and revealed a tendency to show decreased levels of parenting stress on the Parenting Stress Index, while the control group showed no such improvements. These findings support the hypothesis that a short-term psychoeducational intervention may improve foster parents' ability to mentalize themselves and their children. These skills are very beneficial for foster parents, as they frequently deal with children who come into their home with challenging behaviors, attachment issues, and negative internal working models of relationships. This type of intervention has the potential to lower placement breakdowns and improve the mental health of foster children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the predictive effect of recurrent maternal depression and social vulnerability indicators on internalizing behavior among schoolchildren, considering potential differences in mediator and moderator effects related to the children’s gender. A cross-section of 100 mother-child pairs participated in the study and were systematically assessed: mothers were aged between 25 and 45 years old and children were at school age (7-12 years old); 50 mothers presented recurrent depression and 50 mothers presented no mental disorders. The mothers answered to a diagnostic interview, a general questionnaire and to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Prediction models assessed maternal depression and social vulnerability indicators as well as the moderator and mediator effect of the children’s gender (p ≤ .05). The results indicate that maternal depression is directly and negatively related to emotional problems for boys and girls, maintaining its significant impact for girls in the presence of cumulative risks. For the effect of cumulative risks for such an outcome, the mothers’ low educational level influence emotional problems among boys. Gender was not identified as a moderator or mediator variable. Identifying the differentiated impact of maternal depression and other vulnerable conditions for boys and girls can support public policies focused on child mental health and care delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the lack of validated measures of adolescents' self-representation, in this paper we present the development process and psychometric properties of a new self-representation questionnaire for adolescents (SRQA), aged 12-16 year old. We examined SRQA factor structure through two studies. In the first study, 32 attributes (16 positive and 16 negative), previously validated in three studies, were administered to 239 adolescents ( M = 13.8; SD = 1.28). An exploratory factor analysis showed that 21 attributes (13 positive and 8 negative) were organized in five factors: instrumental, social, emotional, intelligence, and physical appearance. In the second study, these 21 attributes were administered to 232 adolescents ( M = 13.8; SD = 1.23). A confirmatory factor analysis supported the SRQA five factor model (Model fit: χ / df ratio = 2.392; CFI = .90; RMSEA = .08). Internal consistency was acceptable, ranging between .60 and .85. Girls displayed higher scores in the instrumental and social factors, whereas boys presented higher scores on the physical appearance factor. In line with previous research, results regarding age differences were inconsistent: while in Study 1 results suggested that as, age increases, adolescents' intelligence self-representation becomes more negative, in Study 2 no age differences were found. Concurrent validity of the SRQA was explored through correlations with the Teacher Report Form, filled out by the adolescents' homeroom teachers. Results revealed significant negative correlations between two dimensions of self-representation (i.e., instrumental and intelligence) and several dimensions of adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems, providing evidence of concurrent validity for the SRQA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with a myriad of physical and psychological health indicators, it is arguably one of the most elusive constructs in the psychological literature. Most researchers agree that SES is complex and multidimensional; however, the majority of empirical studies that focus on SES do not measure (or attempt to measure) multiple components of the construct, instead focusing on one or two indicators of SES, most commonly household income and/or levels of education. This paper explores relationships among indicators of SES, disadvantage, and psychological well-being in two independent samples of families with children with severe emotional disturbances. In addition to utilizing two common SES indicators (parental education and income), we incorporated measures reflecting resource-related challenges of living, such as adequate food and housing. Based on analyses, we argue that such variables may better capture the challenges experienced by many families than traditional SES indicators. Findings also suggest that income and education relate to different aspects of family well-being, and solely using one or both of these variables may mask relevant relationships. Moreover, assessing practical, day-to-day challenges may permit a more nuanced picture of the relationships between factors associated with SES and indicators of well-being and adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer support groups have been an increasingly popular way of limiting the adverse effects of life with a chronic illness for adolescents although few groups have been rigorously evaluated. This paper reports the findings of a realistic evaluation of a hospital based peer support program Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS), in Sydney, Australia. We collected qualitative interview and focus group data from four participant groups; new ChIPS members, their parents, older members who had been in ChIPS for two or more years, and ChIPS co-ordinators past and present. Results of qualitative data have been aggregated and organised into three categories; program attendance: getting in and staying in; program outcomes for young people: personal growth and development; and social connection. Questionnaires were also administered to fourteen new ChIPS members but no significant changes in distress or self-esteem were recorded between the beginning and the end of the short study period. The ChIPS Introductory Program fulfilled its aim, entering young people with chronic illness into the peer support program. There was evidence of initial personal growth and development in those young people, with potential for enhanced social connection from ongoing participation in ChIPS activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the initial development of the Friendships and Social Skills Test (FASST), a clinically oriented 25-item parent report measure of child peer relationships and social skills in a community (N = 423) and clinical sample (N = 159) of elementary school age children. Confirmatory factor analyses supported five factors measuring pro-social skills, negative peer directed behavior, friendship interactions, peer victimization, and the level of concern expressed about a child's social functioning. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the FASST factors predominately ranged from moderate to very good. Validity was supported through higher scores in at-risk and clinical groups compared to children in the community and through correlations with an existing measure of social skills and emotional and behavioral functioning. Cross-informant validity was supported by correlations with teacher-report. Moreover, the scales measuring negative social behaviors and pro-social skills predicted changes in peer victimization and concern expressed about the child over a 1-year duration. By assessing positive and negative aspects of peer-directed behaviors and relationships the FASST has the potential to facilitate the identification and treatment of childhood social deficits in mental health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's perception of their parents' behavior is very important for their adjustment. Raising a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be particularly challenging. However, little is known about how children with ADHD perceive their parents' childrearing style. The main purpose of this paper is to study how children with ADHD perceive acceptance and control in parent-child relationships and this perception's relationship with inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and externalizing behaviors. Participants were children between 7 and 13 years old with ADHD who were attending psychotherapy (ADHD), children without ADHD who were attending psychotherapy (APG), and children with unknown ADHD status who were not attending psychotherapy (NPG). Furthermore, one parent of each child participated in the study. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that children with ADHD perceived higher levels of pathological control in their relationships with their mothers than did APG and NPG children. NPG children perceived higher extreme autonomy than ADHD and APG children. Linear regression analyses revealed that the perception of pathological parental control and extreme autonomy predicted externalizing symptoms in children with ADHD. The perception of maternal acceptance and pathological control predicted inattention in APG children. Also, perceived maternal pathological control and perceived paternal acceptance predicted externalizing symptoms in APG children. Thus, these results show the importance of taking into account children's perception of their relationships with their parents in addition to parental reports of their own behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young expecting parents face a great deal of challenges as they transition into parenthood. This paper sought to identify racial and gender differences in the relationship between general discrimination, neighborhood problems, neighborhood cohesion, and social support on the depressive and stress symptoms among young expecting couples. Results indicated perceived general discrimination and less social support was associated with increased stress and depression. More neighborhood problems were related to increased depression and more neighborhood cohesion was related to less stress. Moderator analyses showed that the influence of general discrimination and stress was stronger for women than men. In addition, neighborhood cohesion was protective on stress for Blacks and Whites but not for Hispanics. These results indicate the need to address the broader social context for young expectant couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fathers are critical in the lives of young people, including those living with mental illness. Fathers' support may be different to that of mothers and is likely to influence the well-being of other family members. However, fathers' support is often seen as 'secondary' and little is known about the nature, diversity and impact of their involvement. This paper explores the parts played by fathers in supporting a young person (15-21 years old) living with mental illness. A modified grounded theory approach was used to perform a secondary analysis of data from in-depth interviews with 32 participants from 14 families: 13 young people, 13 mothers; and 6 fathers. Participants' descriptions of fathers' involvement varied along five dimensions, being the extent to which fathers: directly supported the young person; supported the mother; aligned with the mother; took responsibility for supporting the young person; and needed input from the mother. From comparison of data relating to each dimension across families, four distinct models of perceived father involvement are proposed. These are represented by transport metaphors: co-pilots; captain/first-mate; gondolier; and separate drivers. Father involvement was seen as having an impact on both young people directly and mothers' abilities to support young people. The findings are preliminary given the exploratory nature of the study, but nevertheless highlight the need for helping professionals and researchers to attend to father involvement to facilitate optimum parent support for young people living with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results on the intergenerational transmission of interpersonal problems. Ninety-eight German mothers, fathers, and their young adult offspring completed the German version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D64), which is conceptually based on the assumption of a circumplex structure of eight interpersonal problems. Model learning and psychodynamic theories were used to formulate assumptions about possible intergenerational similarity and dissimilarity, as well as about effects of family and societal context. The results showed the highest intergenerational correlations for three of the eight interpersonal problems in the IIP-D64, namely nonassertiveness, overly strong accommodation, and self-sacrificing tendencies. Intergenerational similarity was found only for mother-offspring dyads for two other problems: domineering and vindictiveness tendencies. No significant intergenerational similarity was found for coldness, social inhibition, or intrusiveness. In-depth analyses revealed higher similarities in families in which at least one parent had an overall IIP-64 score equal to or more than one standard deviation from the norm sample mean (as opposed to families where both parents had overall IIP-64 scores closer to the normative German mean). The findings are tentatively interpreted as suggesting that intergenerational transmission occurs only for problems on one axis of the interpersonal circumplex, i.e., the agency axis, but not for problems on the communality axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assessed the emotional and cognitive decision-making process regarding a hypothetical unplanned pregnancy in a convenience sample of female adolescents (N = 85; mean age 16.8), throughout an electronic role playing simulation. This work aimed at: describing adolescent's emotional reactions and cognitive responses to an unplanned pregnancy; identifying personal attitudes toward parenthood; evaluating the role played by adolescents' personal attitudes toward parenthood and positive and negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy or having an abortion in predicting the final choice (keeping the baby vs. having an abortion). Findings highlighted the presence of three main attitudes toward parenthood (parenthood idealization, rejection of commitment, adolescents' expectations toward the partner) and the importance played by them together with negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy and having an abortion in guiding the adolescents' decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the parental changes and challenges that anticipated and followed the communication of the diagnosis of autism. The methodology was a collaborative and participatory case study focused on the perceptions of 31 families with a child on the autism spectrum enrolled in a no-profit Association in the Province of Monza and Brianza (Italy). The aim of the research was collecting information for the establishment of a local permanent observatory, monitoring the needs of families with children with autism, and identifying possible operational proposals to implement the quality of the territorial services, through the enhancement of the experiences, perceptions and representations of families, analysing their points of view. Methods included semi structured interviews and questionnaires; the data were analysed through the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. The findings show that parents need to be supported in order to avoid crisis and confusion on the child's future perspectives, as consequence of the diagnosis of autism. The paper draws out implications for further studies that wish to analyse other family perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focusses on coping strategies employed by children and adolescents with diagnosed short stature, assesses the impact of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on coping, examines the relationship between coping and health related quality of life (QoL) and investigates the role of coping strategies in mediating the relationship between height and QoL. Coping with a disease (CODI) and quality of life in short stature youth (QoLISSY-QoL) questionnaires were completed by 137 short-statured children and adolescents between 8 and 18 years, participating in the crosssectional European QoLISSY study. Clinical and socio-demographic data were collected to examine differences in coping via variance and regression analyses, associations between CODI and QoLISSY were inspected using correlation and mediation analyses. Most frequently employed coping strategies in the CODI were 'Acceptance' and 'Wishful Thinking', with 'Emotional Reaction' used least. Significant effects of age, diagnosis and treatment status on coping strategies were detected. CODI scales 'Acceptance' and 'Distance' were associated with higher QoLISSY-QoL scores, 'Emotional Reaction' and 'Wishful Thinking' with lower scores. Coping strategies predicted 60 % of the QoLISSY-QoL variance. Relationships between height deviation and QoLISSY-QoL were mediated by the coping strategies of 'Wishful Thinking' and 'Distance'. Findings suggest that coping efforts vary with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, that protective coping strategies in terms of QoL can be identified and that coping mediates the relationship between short stature and QoL. Future longitudinal research should focus on the adaptive function of coping in relation to QoL over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]