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Caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication can reduce sexual risk attitudes and behaviors, but less is known about caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication in Uganda. Using a risk-focused approach, this paper seeks to characterize caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication and associated individual and family-based attributes, and associations with adolescents' sexual risk attitudes. We used latent class analyses to derive typologies (classes) of sexual health communication and assess their relationships with respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and sexual risk-taking attitudes. We derived three latent classes of sexual risk communication characterized as avoidant (class 1; 48%), functional (class 2; 22.2%) and comprehensive (class 3; 29.8%), each representing varying levels of frequency and type of content covered in the caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication. Primary caregiver's sex and respondents' comfort talking to their caregiver were significantly associated with membership in the functional class (RRR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.05–2.19; p < 0.05) and comprehensive class (RRR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.13–2.49; p < 0.05). Caregivers and their adolescents are attempting to engage in conversations related to sexual health, but many caregivers tend to shy away from potentially embarrassing topics such as sex. The wide variations in type and content of covered in caregiver-adolescent sexual health communications may compromise adolescents' sexual health knowledge, putting them at risk for poor sexual health outcomes. Given the cultural taboos around caregiver-adolescent communications on sex related topics, family interventions to address to strengthen caregiver-adolescent communication on sexual health are required. Highlights: Study findings revealed three latent caregiver-adolescent sexual health classes, dominated by avoidant communication. Caregiver gender and adolescents' comfort enhanced caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication. Interventions must tackle cultural norms and taboos for better caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous studies of parenting programs suggest that facilitator fidelity, participant attendance and engagement often influence treatment outcomes. While the number of parenting program evaluations has been growing in low- and middle-income countries, little is known about the implementation processes and their impact on participant outcomes in these settings.Methods: This study was nested within a cluster-randomised trial of a parenting program in South Africa. The paper aims to, first, describe the implementation of the intervention over 14 weeks. Second, using longitudinal multilevel analyses, the paper examines the impact of variation in observer-rated fidelity, attendance, and engagement on participant outcomes - parenting and maltreatment reported by caregivers and adolescents aged 10-18 (N = 270 pairs), 14 outcome constructs.Results: Fidelity, attendance and participant engagement rates were similar to those reported in high-income country studies. However, the participation and implementation characteristics did not predict participant outcomes. This may be due to limited variation in dosage as home visits were comprehensively provided when participants could not attend group sessions, and fidelity was monitored by the implementers and researchers. One statistically significant predictor after the multiple testing correction was higher fidelity predicting an increase in adolescent-reported maltreatment at follow-up, possibly due to an increase in reporting (incidence rate ratio 1.33, 95% CI [1.19, 1.49], p < 0.01).Conclusions: Our study confirms that a high quality of implementation can be achieved in a low-resource context. Suggestions for future research on parenting programs include examining therapeutic alliance alongside program fidelity and facilitator skill as well as systematically recording program adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a quantitative evaluation of a group-based programme designed to promote parent-infant attachment and child development. Whilst group-based parenting programmes are recommended for treating and preventing conduct disorder in older children, there is, as yet, little evidence as to whether they have a positive effect on very young children and their carers'. Recent UK Government initiatives to support families and improve parenting skills in the first 2 years of children's lives have increased the demand for the delivery and evaluation of community-based programmes. Eighty mother-child dyads were recruited from nine areas to intervention (n = 54) and control condition (n = 26). Baseline measures were collected in the children's home when the infants were on average 3-months-old, and follow-up measures were collected 6 months post-baseline (N = 63). Mothers' positive play behaviours were independently coded from video recordings taken in the home. Other measures included self-reported maternal confidence and mental well-being, assessed infant development and home environment. Socio-demographic data was collected once at baseline. After controlling for baseline scores, control mothers were observed to be significantly less sensitive during play with their baby at the 6 months follow-up with a significant increase in confidence. No differences were found between the groups on the other measures. This paper provides limited evidence for the effectiveness of the Incredible Years Parents and Babies group-based programme delivered in the first year of life. Further evaluation, particularly with parents at increased risk of poorer outcomes is needed to confirm and extend these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many parents anecdotally report experiencing parenting related guilt, yet no empirically validated general measures of parenting guilt exist. Researchers are therefore unable to fully examine this phenomenon. In this paper we outline the development and validation of the Guilt About Parenting Scale (GAPS) to address this need. Methods: A convenience sample of parents (N = 290, 88% mothers, 12% fathers, Mage = 37.85, SD = 5.53) completed the draft GAPS measure along with a series of other well-validated measures. Using Structural Equation Modelling the final GAPS measure was derived, and tested within a model comprising a number of pertinent parenting factors. Results: Statistical analyses revealed a good fit of brief 10-item scale comprising a single parenting guilt factor (χ2 (35) = 65.59, p< 0.001; CFI = 0.960; SRMR = 0.041; RMSEA = 0.056, 90% CI [0.035, 0.077]) with good construct, convergent and concurrent validity, and strong internal consistency (α = 0.89, H = 0.89). We also tested the empirical utility of the new measure by examining the role of work and family conflict in predicting child maladjustment via parenting guilt, parental emotional adjustment, and parenting self-efficacy. Good support was found for the proposed model (χ2 (450) = 773.96, p< 0.001; CFI = 0.925; SRMR = 0.058; RMSEA = 0.049, 90% CI [0.043, 0.055]). Conclusions: The results indicate the GAPS is a promising tool for the assessment of parenting guilt, and highlight the importance of including parenting guilt in models examining the influence of work and family conflict on family outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether family structure and its transitions are associated with internalizing and externalizing psychiatric disorders among Puerto Rican-origin children. It uses longitudinal data (three waves) from the Boricua Youth Study, which includes probability samples of children in the South Bronx (New York) and San Juan (Puerto Rico) (n = 2,142). We also examine factors which may explain how family structure and transitions may be related to child psychiatric disorders. Our results show that for both internalizing and externalizing disorders there were no significant differences between children of cohabiting (biological or step) parents or of single parents compared to children of married biological parents. In Puerto Rico only, transitioning once from a two-parent family to a single-parent family was related to child internalizing disorders. Family transitions were not associated with externalizing disorders at either site. Context may be an important factor shaping the risk that family dissolution is followed by an internalizing disorder among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood is a crucial time for developing social-emotional skills, offering the opportunity to lay the foundation for healthy development. However, early childhood behavior problems are risk factors for problems and disorders in later life phases, including depression, antisocial behavior, and substance abuse. This study uses a longitudinal design to examine the differential impact of a preventive intervention and social-emotional learning program (Papilio-3to6) on children's social-emotional development. The program was evaluated using a 1-year-randomized controlled trial design with an intervention (IG) and control group (CG) that provided data at a pretest and post-test. Teachers rated 627 children's behaviors (MAGE = 56.77 months at pretest) from 50 daycare center groups using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). To investigate differential effectiveness, a latent profile analysis at the pretest identified three distinct subgroups of children with different patterns in SDQ subscales: 1) Internalizers with high internalizing problems, 2) Prosocials with high prosocial behaviors, and 3) Externalizers with high externalizing problems. Latent change score analysis showed significantly reduced externalizing problems and increased prosocial behaviors in the IG compared to the CG. Further, the children categorized as Internalizers, Prosocials, and Externalizers benefited from the program regarding externalizing problems. However, no effect was found regarding internalizing problems. Highlights: Taking a person-centered approach, a three-class model of SDQ subscales, including Internalizers, Prosocials, and Externalizers, was chosen as the best-fitting model. Children in the intervention group showed a greater reduction in externalizing problems and a greater increase in prosocial behaviors compared to the control group of children. The children categorized as Internalizers, Prosocials, and Externalizers benefited from the program regarding externalizing problems. No intervention effects were found regarding internalizing problems. [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]

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]

This paper examines the relationship between father involvement and their child's behaviour outcomes amongst a birth cohort of Pacific children and fathers in New Zealand. A birth cohort was established in 2000 from births at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland where at least one parent was identified as being of Pacific ethnicity and a New Zealand permanent resident. This included 1,376 mothers, 825 fathers, and 1,398 children at baseline. At the 6-years measurement wave, father involvement was measured using the Inventory of Father Involvement, and child behaviour measured using the Child Behaviour Check-list. Internalising and externalising behaviour was related to father involvement in crude and adjusted logistic regression and generalised estimating equation models. 571 Pacific fathers participated at the 6-years measurement wave; most of Samoan (42.9 %) or Tongan (33.5 %) ethnic identification. Overall, 190 (32.1 %) children exhibited clinical or border-line internalising and externalising behaviour. Self-reported father involvement was generally high, but lower involvement was significantly related to increased odds of internalising [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) approximately 1.9, p < 0.001] and externalising (aOR approximately 4.0, p < 0.001) behaviour. Father involvement was significantly associated with child behaviour in Pacific families within New Zealand. Strategies that promote and enable increased father involvement may reduce negative child outcomes amongst Pacific families. [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]

This study examined the relationship between child emotional and behavioral difficulties, parenting stress and the mental health of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. Caregiver data from a two-year pilot study for adolescents and their caregivers (N = 89 dyads) in Uganda, were analyzed. Ordinary Least Square regression models were conducted to examine the association between child difficulties reported by caregivers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire on parenting stress (measured by Parenting Stress Index) and caregiver mental health (measured by the Brief Symptoms Inventory). Results indicate that 12.36% of caregivers reported child difficulty scores within the borderline range and 8.99% reported scores within the abnormal range. Child difficulties (b = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.85) were associated with parenting stress. Similarly, the perceived impact of child difficulties was associated with both parenting stress (b = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.54) and caregiver mental health (b = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.37). Study findings have important implications for developing effective psychosocial interventions targeting children and adolescents living with HIV and their caregivers. Highlights: Child emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs) have been documented to predict parental mental health distress. In our study, 12% of caregivers reported EBD scores within the borderline range and 9% reported scores within the abnormal range. EBDs were associated with both caregiver parenting stress and mental health distress. Findings point to the need for the development of effective psychosocial interventions targeting adolescents living with HIV and their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results from the transitioning youth to families intervention, which aimed to promote family care for youth served in group care programs in the child welfare system. The intervention was conducted in two counties in a Mid-Atlantic state. The effort encompassed administrative case review and family involvement meetings. We assessed the effect of the intervention in promoting placement in family settings within 12 months. We also explored other effects of the intervention identified by participants. Using propensity score matching with administrative data to compare one-year placement settings for the intervention counties and non-intervention counties, a higher rate of family reunification was identified for youth in the treatment counties. To provide a richer contextual understanding of the effects of the intervention, thematic analysis of open-ended comments from youth and caregiver participants was conducted. These resulting themes provided further understanding of the value of the intervention especially in the areas of planning for the transition, improving youth insight about placement options, and the importance of family involvement. Participants also made recommendations for how to enhance the intervention and promote the transition of youth from group care to family settings. Overall, the effect of the intervention in transitioning youth to family settings was nominal; however unanticipated benefits of engaging youth and family in the transition process were noted. From this evaluation, we provide suggestions for future research and the development of effort to transition youth from group care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that children with high levels of early anxiety/withdrawal are at increased risk of later anxiety and depression. It has also been found that positive parent-child attachment reduces the risk of these disorders. The aim of this paper was to examine the extent to which positive parent-child attachment acted to mitigate the risk of later internalising disorders amongst children with high levels of early anxiety/withdrawal using data from a 30 years longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort. The findings of this study showed that: (a) increasing rates of early anxiety/withdrawal were associated with an increased risk of later anxiety and depression; (b) positive parent-child attachment in adolescence was associated with a decline in the risk of later anxiety and depression; and (c) these associations persisted even after controlling for confounding factors. The implications of these findings for the role of parent-child attachment in mitigating the adverse effects of early anxiety/withdrawal are discussed. It is concluded that positive parent-child attachment in adolescence may act as a compensatory factor which buffers the adverse effects of childhood anxiety/withdrawal on risks of developing later anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether parental psychopathology (depression and social anxiety), parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive) and practice (parental accommodation), and parental beliefs about children's anxiety are related to symptom severity in pediatric patients diagnosed with Selective Mutism (SM). Participants included 78 children, aged 3.5-8.5 years, with SM diagnosis, and their primary care-giving parent. The measures included clinical interviews, clinicians and parents' reports, and behavioral observations. Clinician reports of less severe SM symptoms in children were associated with more positive parental beliefs about their children's anxiety. Parents' reports of less severe symptoms in their children were associated with lower levels of parental social anxiety and accommodations, as well as with more authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles. Parental accommodations mediated the relationship between parental social anxiety and severity of children's symptoms, such that parents who are more socially anxious were also more accommodative, and this was related to greater SM severity. The findings of this study highlight important parenting characteristics involved in SM. These findings may lead to refining the psychological interventions for children with SM by allocating greater attention to parents' characteristics. Highlights: This study examined the relationships between parental characteristics and symptom severity in children with Selective mutism. Parents' social anxiety, authority style, accommodation and beliefs regarding their children's anxiety are related to children's symptom severity. Parental accommodation has a unique contribution to children's symptom severity and mediates its relationship with parents' social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linked with a myriad of developmental outcomes, the parent-child relationship serves an important function, and it is therefore important that determinants of this relationship are elucidated so that optimal outcomes can be promoted. This study investigated links between parental attachment style and child temperament in the prediction of parent-child relationship quality during early adolescence. One hundred parents of 12–15-year-olds completed an online survey. Findings indicated that when examining parent attachment style alone, attachment-related anxiety but not avoidance predicted parent-child relationship quality. When examining child temperament alone, negative affect and affiliation predicted parent-child relationship quality. When examining both parental attachment style and child temperament in the same model, child temperament was uniquely predictive of the parent-child relationship quality. No moderation effects were detected. More precise models and expanded measures of parental attachment style, child temperament and parent-child relationship quality are recommended to fully capture the transactional and dynamic nature of the parent-child relationship. Highlights: Parental attachment avoidance was not predictive of parent-child relationship quality. Parental attachment anxiety was predictive of relationship quality when examined independently but not when examined with child temperament. Child negative affect and affiliation were predictive of relationship quality. Child effortful control and surgency were not predictive of relationship quality. No moderation effects were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinx families may be particularly vulnerable to emotional dysfunction, due to higher rates of economic hardship and complex social influences in this population. Little is known about the impact of environmental stressors such as unmet social needs and maternal stress on the emotional health of Latinx children from low-income families. We conducted secondary analyses using survey and biomarker data from 432 Latinx children and mothers collected in a separate study. We used binomial and multinomial logistic regression to test if household social needs, or maternal perceived stress or hair cortisol concentration (HCC), predicted child measures of emotional functioning or child HCC, independent of relevant sociodemographic factors. Approximately 40% of children in the sample had symptoms consistent with emotional dysfunction, and over 37% of households reported five or more social needs. High perceived maternal stress predicted higher odds of child emotional dysfunction (OR = 2.15; 95% CI [1.14, 4.04]; p = 0.01), and high maternal HCC was positively associated with high child HCC (OR = 10.60; 95% CI [4.20, 26.74]; p < 0.01). Most individual household social needs, as well as the level of household social need, were not independently associated with child emotional dysfunction or child HCC. Our findings begin to define a framework for understanding emotional health, stress, and resilience when caring for Latinx children and mothers living with high levels of social need, and the need for integrated mental health and social needs screening and interventions in settings that serve this population. Highlights: Analysis of stress and household social needs in over 400 pairs of Latinx children and mothers. Unique measures, including 18 different social needs, and hair cortisol concentration as a measure of physiologic stress. Latinx households with low incomes show a high level of social need, with over one-third reporting having at least five needs. High maternal hair cortisol concentration is associated with greater risk for high child hair cortisol. Implications for the integration of mental health and social needs screening and intervention in the care of Latinx families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the well-being of families with children. Although previous studies have documented COVID-related deterioration in parents' mental health, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It is also unclear how much of the deterioration is due to the pandemic itself, versus mandated lockdown measures. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Singapore to examine perceived changes in parents' lives and mental health related to the pandemic and lockdown measures. In June 2020, when Singapore had just exited a nationwide lockdown, we asked families to retrospectively report on the family dynamics, daily activities, and mental health of family members during the phases before local transmission (Pre-pandemic), during local transmission but before the lockdown (Pre-lockdown), and during the lockdown (Lockdown). Results from 180 mothers and 166 fathers from 198 families showed significant changes in jobs and income, childcare arrangements, family dynamics, and parents' perceived mental health across the three timepoints. Mothers' increased time spent on housework was associated with the increase in their mental health problems from Pre-lockdown to Lockdown. Parents' increased conflict with other adults in the household was associated with the increase in their mental health problems from Pre-pandemic to Pre-lockdown, and from Pre-lockdown to Lockdown. Mental health problems increased more for young mothers, parents with a graduate or professional degree, and fathers high on authoritarian values. Findings suggest that both the pandemic and the imposed lockdown measures impact parents' lives and family dynamics, in turn leading to deterioration in parents' mental health. Highlights: There were significant changes in Singaporean parents' daily activities, family dynamics, and mental health during the COVID-19 period. Rule setting and conflict with children increased among authoritarian fathers, and autonomy granting decreased among authoritarian mothers. Mothers' time spent on housework was associated with their increased mental health problems during lockdown. Parents' conflict with other adults in the household was associated with their increased mental health problems during both pandemic and lockdown. Mental health problems increased more for young mothers, parents with a graduate or professional degree, and authoritarian fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth in foster care are disproportionately at risk for developing internalizing and externalizing problems (Lawrence et al., 2006); however, a history of maltreatment prior to foster care placement does not automatically result in poor mental health outcomes. Among non-foster care youth, the quality of family interactions has been related to adjustment outcomes, such that low family cohesion and high family conflict is associated with poor mental health symptoms (Caples & Barrera, 2006). While little is known about these constructs in foster care placements, they may help explain the variance in internalizing and externalizing problems for youth in foster care. The present study aimed to examine whether characteristics of the foster care environment (i.e., conflict, cohesion) across various placement types (i.e., traditional foster homes, group-care settings) could help explain the link between previous maltreatment exposure and mental health problems. The sample included 178 youth in foster care (Mage = 15.18, SD = 1.76) and their foster caregivers living in the Midwest. Youth participants completed self-report measures about prior maltreatment history, current family environment characteristics, and youth internalizing symptoms. Foster caregivers completed measures on current family environment and youth externalizing symptoms. Results indicated that caregiver report, but not youth report, of family cohesion was negatively associated with youth report of internalizing problems. When examining the indirect effects, youth report of family conflict partially accounted for the link between youth self-report of maltreatment and internalizing symptoms (B = 0.106, 95% CI = 0.026–0.186). Caregiver report of family conflict fully accounted for the association between youth self-report of maltreatment and caregiver report of youths' externalizing symptoms (B = 0.108, 95% CI = 0.005–0.211). Findings highlight the importance of utilizing multiple informants when measuring foster family environment and suggest that family conflict is particularly salient for the mental health of youth in foster care. Highlights: Conflict within the foster care placement accounted for the association between maltreatment chronicity and youths' mental health outcomes. Foster caregivers and youth differed in their perceptions of conflict and cohesion within the foster care placement, and these discrepancies differentially impacted outcomes. Interventions aimed at improving the cohesion and conflict within foster placements may impact mental health outcomes for youth in foster care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately half of mothers receiving substance use treatment are involved with childcare proceedings. This review aims to determine whether integrated treatment programmes for mothers with substance use problems are effective in preventing out-of-home placement (temporally/permanent) and influencing other maternal factors such as patterns of substance use, treatment completion and parenting behaviours. Six trials were identified—two randomised controlled trials and four non-randomised controlled studies. The pooled sample of participants was 1717. The results showed that mothers who participated in integrated treatment programmes were significantly less likely to have the children removed from their care (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.27, 0.61), more likely to complete substance use treatment (OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.79, 5.06), and more likely to reduce their alcohol consumption (Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) = −0.40, 95% Cl = −0.78, −0.01) and drug use (SMD = −0.30, 95% CI = −0.53, −0.07). However, non-significant reductions were observed for parent–child conflict (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI = −0.72, 0.03) and child abuse risk (SMD = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.36, 0.31). While the findings from this review suggest that mothers involved in integrated treatment programmes could potentially be less likely to experience out-of-home child placements and more likely to improve substance use treatment outcomes, little evidence exists for the effectiveness of these interventions. Further research, particularly high-quality RCTs, is required to demonstrate and persuade health and public policy on the far-reaching value of the integrated approaches. Highlights: First systematic review exploring the effectiveness of integrated treatment programmes for mothers with substance use problems on out-of-home child placements. A lack of studies was found, despite broad inclusion criteria. Presently integrated treatment programmes are being utilised with unclear or unsupported benefit from a scientific standpoint. Integrated treatment programmes produce favourable outcomes in preventing out-of- home child placements, treatment completion and maternal substance use. More high-quality effectiveness studies are required to demonstrate and persuade health and public policy on the far-reaching value of the integrated approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess associations between parental social media comparison (PSMC)—the degree to which individuals compare their parenting with others on social media (SM)—and depressive symptoms. In March 2018 we conducted a survey of 528 parents ages 18-30 with children under the age of 18. Participants were asked about SM use, PSMC, and depressive symptoms. PSMC was measured with 7 Likert-type items that asked participants the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with statements such as "Based on their posts, other parents on social media appear to provide a better social life for their children than I do." Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Multivariable ordered logistic regression models were used to assess the association between PSMC and depressive symptoms while controlling for SM use, parent adverse childhood experiences, parent age, gender, race/ethnicity, relationship status, employment status and household income, age of oldest child, and number of children. The PSMC was internally consistent (α = 0.94). In multivariable models, after adjusting for all covariates, there was 51% greater odds of elevated depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.33, 1.71]) for every one-point increase on the PSMC scale. In conclusion, the PSMC is independently associated with elevated depressive symptoms among parents. Future research should assess directionality of these associations and further explore parents' experiences of comparison with others on SM. Highlights: We developed a Parental Social Media Comparison scale (PSMC) to assess how parents compare themselves on social media. We found that a one-point increase in PSMC was associated with 51% greater odds of elevated depressive symptoms. This association was apparent even after controlling for covariates associated with depression and social media use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Parental psychological control is a stressor that may provoke children's aggression. However, whether there are bidirectional associations between parental psychological control and children's physical aggression remains unclear, as does the mechanism underlying these associations. Using an autoregressive cross-lagged model, the present study tested (a) the extent to which parental psychological control predicts physical aggression and vice versa, and (b) whether child impulsivity explains this bidirectional association. Methods: Data were collected across three time points (fall semester of 4th grade, spring semester of 4th grade, and fall semester of 5th grade). A sample of 689 children (385 boys, 304 girls) completed questionnaires regarding parental psychological control, impulsivity and physical aggression. Gender, age and socioeconomic status were controlled in the analyses. Results: As hypothesized, the findings showed that there was a direct longitudinal connection from parental psychological control to child physical aggression, and the inverse relation was also significant. Moreover, the results demonstrated an indirect link from parental psychological control to physical aggression via child impulsivity, but the inverse effect was not significant. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between parental psychological control and children's physical aggression, and that the parent-driven component of this bidirectional process is mediated by child impulsivity. The results have potential applied value for prevention and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current study examined the patterns of adaptation of rural-to-urban migrant children in China as compared with their peers in urban schools. It also explored the potential factors relating to school adaptation by employing the cultural and structural perspectives, which emphasizes the access to social relations and the socioeconomic status in a society. Methods: We conducted surveys in a district with a large number of migrants in Shanghai. This cross-sectional study recruited 1577 children from 12 primary schools, who completed self-reported questionnaires. Results: Attending a public school can promote the children's adaptation, including the access to more family resources (d = 0.77, p < 0.05; 0.47, p < 0.05; 0.28, p < 0.05) and social relations (Cohen's d = 0.17, p < 0.05; 0.28, p< 0.05; 0.11, p < 0.05). However, policy limitations and lack of family resources are primary factors that prevent children from attending public schools. Children from families with higher income (OR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.05, 1.55], p < 0.05), higher parental education achievement (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.05, 1.35], p < 0.01), and homeownership (OR = 2.03, 95% CI [5.35, 10.95], p < 0.001) are more likely to enroll in a public school. Conclusions: The study's findings contribute to the growing knowledge about migrant children's adaptation and can guide future policy-making. The adaptation gap between migrant children from public and migrant schools raises a concern about the upward mobility of migrant children from disadvantaged families, which requires more attention and support from local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Bereaved siblings experience more externalizing problems compared to non-bereaved peers and norms; however, the mechanisms explaining this phenomenon have not been empirically examined. This study tested the serial indirect effects of sibling bereavement on adolescents' externalizing problems through parent distress (i.e., internalizing symptoms) and parenting (i.e., parenting behaviors, parent-adolescent communication). Methods: During home visits, 72 bereaved adolescents (ages 10–18) whose brother/sister died from cancer and 60 comparison peers reported about their externalizing problems and their mothers' and fathers' parenting behaviors (warmth, behavioral control, psychological control) and parent-adolescent communication (open communication, problematic communication). Mothers and fathers reported their own internalizing symptoms. Results: Bereaved siblings reported more externalizing problems (p = 0.048) and bereaved mothers reported more internalizing symptoms relative to the comparison group (p = 0.015). Serial multiple mediation models indicated that elevated externalizing problems were partially explained by both bereaved mothers' internalizing symptoms and parenting and communication (less warmth [CI: 0.04, 0.86], more psychological control [CI: 0.03, 0.66], and more problematic mother-adolescent communication [CI: 0.03, 0.79]), with a significant indirect effect also emerging for open mother-adolescent communication [CI: 0.05, 1.59]. Bereaved fathers did not significantly differ in internalizing symptoms from comparison fathers (p = 0.453), and no significant indirect effects emerged for fathers. Conclusions: Elevated externalizing problems in bereaved siblings may result from mothers' distress and the impact on their parenting and communication. Targeting adjustment and parenting in bereaved mothers following a child's death may reduce externalizing problems in bereaved siblings. Research to evaluate family-centered interventions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine daily routines as a potential mediator of the relation between household chaos and both child externalizing behavior and bedtime resistant behavior. Studies show that children living in chaotic households exhibit more externalizing behaviors, which when exhibited as early as the toddler and preschool years, are a risk factor for later maladjustment. Understanding the mechanisms linking household chaos to early externalizing behaviors is important since those mechanisms could be targeted as a point of intervention. Methods: Using Amazon's Mechanical Turk (Mturk), parents (n = 120) of a child age 2–5 completed questionnaires online assessing household chaos, frequency of routines, and child behavior problems. Results: There was a significant indirect effect of household chaos to child behavior problems through family routines (B = 0.09, SE = 0.05, CI [0.01, 0.23]) and general child routines (B = 0.15, SE = 0.06, CI [0.05, 0.31]) (independently) and an indirect effect of household chaos to bedtime resistant behavior through children's bedtime routines (B = 0.12, SE = 0.06, CI [0.03, 0.26]). Conclusions: These findings suggest that household chaos and routines are distinctive constructs and that routines are a mechanism linking household chaos to early child behavior problems. Clinically, these results imply that routines may be a reasonable focus for intervention among families living in chaotic households who have young children exhibiting behavior problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Multiple Family Groups (MFG) is an evidence-based behavioral parent training developed with a specific focus on increasing engagement and decreasing treatment barriers for families of children with disruptive behavior problems within high-risk communities. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of MFG in improving oppositional behavior at the group-level compared to services as usual (SAU). However, information is lacking regarding intervention effectiveness on an individual-level (i.e., clinical significance). Methods: The reliable change index and clinical cutoff score method was utilized to determine whether MFG produced clinically meaningful changes compared to SAU for both child- and parent-level outcomes in a sample of 320 youth aged 7 to 11-years-old. Results: A significantly greater percentage of children in the MFG group experienced clinically meaningful change in problem behaviors compared to the SAU group, (p = 0.003, 95% [CI]: 1.610–18.481). A significantly greater number of parents in MFG also demonstrated clinically meaningful change in parental experience of stress compared to SAU, (p = 0.01, 95% [CI]: 1.255–14.704). Conclusions: Findings suggested clinically significant and reliable improvements in child problem behaviors and decreases in parental perceived stress for families in MFG compared to SAU. Nevertheless, analyses demonstrated that both MFG and SAU resulted in few families obtaining clinically significant or reliable change in their functioning. Ongoing assessments and deeper understanding of intervention effect are needed to better service families in need. Both group- and individual-level comparisons should be considered when examining the effects of a treatment as they may provide a nuanced understanding of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to explore family origins of adolescent dysfunctional separation-individuation. We tested the fit of a theoretical model in which mothers' parenting stress and adolescents' perceived maternal psychological control were specified as mediators between mothers' marital satisfaction and adolescent dysfunctional separation–individuation. Methods: Participants were 276 adolescents (aged 12–15 years old) and their mothers. Adolescents completed measures of perceived maternal psychological control and dysfunctional separation–individuation, and mothers completed measures of marital satisfaction and parenting stress. Results: The association between mothers' marital satisfaction and adolescents' dysfunctional dependence was both direct and serially mediated through mothers' parenting stress and adolescents' perceived maternal dependency-oriented psychological control (β = −0.02, p < 0.05, 95% CI = [−0.04, −0.002]). Parenting stress was associated with dysfunctional dependence through perceived dependency-oriented psychological control (β = 0.06, p < 0.05, 95% CI = [0.01, 0.10]) while being associated with dysfunctional independence through perceived achievement-oriented psychological control (β = 0.05, p < 0.05, 95% CI = [0.01, 0.10]). Parenting stress also served as the mediator in the association between marital satisfaction and perceived dependency-oriented psychological control (β = −0.06, p < 0.05, 95% CI = [−0.11, −0.01]), and in the association between marital satisfaction and perceived achievement-oriented psychological control (β = −0.06, p < 0.05, 95% CI = [−0.11, −0.001]). Conclusions: The current study extended past findings by identifying mothers' marital satisfaction as a contributor to adolescent dysfunctional separation–individuation, and parenting stress and adolescents' perceived maternal psychological control as mediating mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While university life is characterized by the pursuit of greater educational opportunities and employment prospects, it can also be a trigger of mental health problems. This study aims to: (a) measure the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among first-year undergraduate students in the University of Malaya, and; (b) determine the associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of two phases: survey administration and physical assessment. In the first phase, data were collected electronically using a mobile application during the orientation week. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire was employed to assess respondents' mental health status. In the second phase, anthropometric measurements which included height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were taken. Results: Of 1602 students, the prevalence of moderate to extremely severe depression was 21% (n = 341), anxiety 50% (n = 793), and stress 12% (n = 197). Findings showed that students who lived with non-family members were more likely to develop depression (OR: 1.846, 95% CI: 1.266–2.693), anxiety (OR: 1.529, 95% CI: 1.024–2.284), and stress (OR: 1.655, 95% CI: 1.110–2.468). Those with previous medical history were more likely to have anxiety (OR: 1.697, 95% CI: 1.097–2.626). Interestingly, students from the Southern region (OR: 0.667, 95% CI: 0.468–0.950) and from Sabah and Sarawak (OR: 0.503, 95% CI: 0.281–0.900) were less likely to report depression. Conclusions: Future intervention programs should follow the socio-ecological model while addressing university students' mental health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Caregivers play an influential role in their child's romantic attachment representations in emerging adulthood. In the current research, we explored one possible mechanism underlying this connection, the quality of caregiver-child communication about romantic relationships as indexed by emerging adults' perceptions of the frequency, comfortableness, and helpfulness of these conversations with their female caregiver. Methods: Survey data from a sample of emerging adults enrolled in an American university were analyzed with structural equation modeling to evaluate this mediational prediction using causal steps and bootstrapping of indirect effects approaches. Results: A higher quality caregiver-child relationship (higher support, less strain) was associated with higher quality communication about romantic relationships, and this communication was associated with lower attachment anxiety (indirect effect from support: β = −0.085; 95% CI [−0.139, −0.036], p = 0.001; indirect from strain: β = 0.020; 95% CI [0.005, 0.040], p = 0.026) and attachment avoidance (indirect effect from support: β = −0.094; 95% CI [−0.151, −0.043], p = 0.001; indirect effect from strain: β = 0.022; 95% CI [0.006, 0.043], p = 0.021). Fit statistics and indirect effects for the hypothesized model were compared and found superior to a variety of alternative models. Conclusions: The quality of emerging adults' conversations with their female caregiver about romantic relationships mediated the relationship between caregiver-child relationship quality and romantic attachment representations. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of romantic relationships and romantic attachment and the connection between the caregiver-child relationship and these outcomes in emerging adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite there is evidence linking romantic attachment to adjustment to divorce and separation (ADS), the mechanisms explaining this association needs further exploration. Hence, the aim of the study was to examine the mediating role forgiveness of the former partner in this association. Method: The sample was composed of 1008 divorced or separated individuals (55.5% women; M = 38.71, SD = 12.25) from Chile. Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale to measure romantic attachment, the Questionnaire of Forgiveness in Divorce and Separation to evaluate forgiveness of the former partner, and the Psychological Adjustment to Separation Test to measure the adjustment to divorce and separation. Results: Using structural equation modeling, mediational analyses revealed that attachment anxiety was both directly and indirectly associated to ADS through forgiveness (indirect effects: loneliness = 0.08, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.029, 0.107]; attachment to the former partner = 0.06, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.018, 0.104]), whereas attachment avoidance had only a direct effect on ADS. Multigroup analysis revealed that this pattern of relationships was invariant across gender. Conclusions: These results highlight the role that attachment and forgiveness play in the process of adjusting to a relationship dissolution that may be useful for clinical work with separated individuals or parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study adopted a multi-informant approach to investigate the contribution of personality and family functioning to moral disengagement and bullying-related behaviors in early adolescence. Method: The sample included 102 early adolescents (53 boys and 49 girls; Mage = 12.21 years). Behaviors during bullying situations were detected by peer nominations. Self-report measures were administered to assess moral disengagement and family functioning. A parent-report was administered to detect personality traits. Results: Findings of the hierarchical regression analyses (effect size = 0.23, power = 0.95, α = 5%; CI = 95%) showed that extraversion was positively associated with bullying and moral disengagement, while benevolence was positively associated with defending behavior. Family functioning was negatively associated with moral disengagement. Moderation analyses indicated that a low conscientiousness, together with a low family functioning, decreased the likelihood of defending behavior and increased the risk of bullying. High levels of benevolence decreased outsider behavior in students with a high family functioning. Although extraversion was positively associated with bullying and moral disengagement, findings suggested that it increased moral disengagement only among early adolescents with low family functioning. Conclusions: Overall, findings underline the importance of addressing individual and contextual variables when studying bullying and moral disengagement among early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of the present meta-analysis was to integrate the available research on associations of parenting styles with self-esteem in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic search in electronic databases (PSYCINFO, ERIC, Google Scholar, and PSYNDEX) and cross referencing identified 116 studies that were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Cross-sectional studies found small to moderate positive associations of authoritative parenting with self-esteem (r = 0.26; 95%-CI [0.24, 0.29]) while authoritarian (r = −0.18; 95%-CI [−0.21, −0.14]) and neglectful parenting (r = −0.18; 95%-CI [−0.23, −0.12]) were related to lower self-esteem in the offspring. A very small positive association of permissive parenting with self-esteem was observed in studies that defined permissiveness by low control and high warmth rather than only by low control (r = 0.07; 95%-CI [0.01, 0.12]). Cross-lagged analyses found evidence for child effects on change in authoritative (r = 0.13; 95%-CI [0.05, 0.21]) and neglectful parenting (r = −0.28; 95%-CI [−0.34, −0.22] but not on effects of parenting styles on change in self-esteem; however very few longitudinal studies were available. Few moderating effects of study characteristics were identified. Conclusions: We conclude that correlations between parenting styles and child self-esteem cannot be interpreted as a pure effect of parenting styles and that more longitudinal research is urgently needed for testing potential bidirectional effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We report an investigation into processes of change in a randomized controlled trial of Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for families of children with cerebral palsy (CP). In comparison with the control group, the SSTP-only group showed improvements in child behavior problems and emotional symptoms and the SSTP-plus-ACT group showed benefits in child behavior problems, child hyperactivity, dysfunctional parenting styles, child functional performance in the mobility domain, child quality of life, and parental adjustment. Methods: Sixty-seven parents of children with CP were randomly allocated to one of three groups: waitlist control, SSTP-only and SSTP-plus-ACT groups. We investigated three potential processes of change: parenting style, parental attitude to child emotion, and parental psychological flexibility. We used bootstrapping to perform the mediation analysis. Results: Contrary to the existing literature, we find that neither dysfunctional parenting styles nor parental attitude to child emotion were significant mediators of the intervention effect on child behavior and adjustment. Consistent with existing literature, we find that psychological flexibility mediates the intervention effect on dysfunctional parenting styles (overreactivity confidence interval [CI] = −0.4750 to −0.115) and parental adjustment (depressive symptoms CI = −6.5641 to −0.5922; stress CI = −6.0546 to −0.4195). Conclusions: Overall, our findings support the conclusion that ACT makes a unique contribution to parenting intervention. Clinical Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (00336291). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Examined the influences of parent-grandparent coparenting relationship on young children's social competence, and the potential mediating role of maternal parenting self-efficacy between them in Chinese urban families.Methods: A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted. A total of 317 young children's mothers participated in Wave 1, 179 of the 317 participants participated in Wave 2 six months later. Mothers completed scales of parent-grandparent coparenting relationship, maternal parenting self-efficacy, and children's social competence in Wave 1 and reported their children's social competence again six months later.Results: Structural equation modeling with a bootstrap resample of 1000 indicated: (a) the cross-sectional study showed that maternal strategies efficacy (ab = .06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [.02,.10], p = .006) and child outcome efficacy (ab = .14, 95% CI = [.01,.08], p = .002) partially mediated the effect of parent-grandparent coparenting relationship and children's social competence. (b) the six-month follow-up study showed that child outcomes efficacy totally mediated the relationship between parent-grandparent coparenting relationship and children's social competence (ab = .07, 95% CI = [.03,.12], p = .003).Conclusions: These findings highlight the contribution of the harmonious parent-grandparent coparenting relationship and maternal parenting self-efficacy to young children's socialization and are discussed in light of family systems theory and the ecological model of coparenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Partner support in the performance of the parenting role is critical, as it increases father involvement in the care of the child. However, the measures to assess this type of support are scarce. This study presents the preliminary validation of the Portuguese version of the Partner Support for Father Involvement (PSFI) scale (confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance models, reliability, and concurrent and discriminant validity).Methods: The participants were 486 independent (unrelated) parents, 243 fathers (Mage = 42.13, SD = 5.57) and 243 mothers (Mage = 39.67, SD = 4.78), who completed the PSFI (translated version), the EMBU and the Co-parenting Questionnaire.Results: Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the Portuguese PSFI had a three factor structure, in line with the original version of the scale (χ2 = 208.690, p < .001, CFI = .949, TLI = .931, SRMR = .040, RMSEA = .083, 90% CI [.072,.095]). An invariance analysis across mothers and fathers revealed the same structure for both. Cronbach's alpha reliabilities were acceptable. Additionally, preliminary evidence of the scale's concurrent and discriminant validity was found.Conclusions: The results point to the suitability of the measure for the Portuguese population, namely in research contexts examining one partner's perspective of the other partner's involvement in parenting, and to its potential applicability for cross-cultural research. The measure will also be useful in clinical settings, namely as a tool in pre and post-intervention assessment, however further studies are needed to test this type of applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a long-term, population-based, epidemiologic study of psychiatric disorders in mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods: Subjects included mothers of 306 childhood incident cases of ADHD and mothers of 617 age/gender matched controls from a 1976-1982 birth cohort.Results: Compared to mothers of controls, mothers of children with ADHD were significantly more likely to be diagnosed prior to the child's birth with a depressive disorder (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-7.7), an adjustment disorder (aOR, 8.1; 95% CI, 1.7-39.5), or any psychiatric disorder (aOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.61-4.7) and were likewise significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a de novo (i.e., first diagnosed after the child's birth) depressive disorder (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), de novo adjustment disorder (aHR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.7), or any de novo psychiatric disorder (aHR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.2) during the 21 years after the child's birth.Conclusions: This study provides an opportunity to study the natural occurrence of psychiatric disorders in mothers of children with ADHD and suggests that the likelihood of having a child with ADHD is associated with maternal psychopathology both before and after the birth. This adds to existing knowledge of maternal psychopathology for children with ADHD and has implications for screening and monitoring. Future research is needed to clarify the role that both genetic and environmental risk factors play in the increased rates of psychopathology in mothers of children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Emotion regulation is thought to be an important transdiagnostic process across internalizing disorders in youth, and the regulation of emotions is believed to play a central role in both adaptive and maladaptive development. Several preventive interventions focus on improving children's emotion regulation skills, but research regarding the outcomes of emotion regulation skills are scarce.Methods: We therefore investigated whether a new transdiagnostic indicated prevention intervention for anxiety and depressive symptoms, the EMOTION program, improves emotion regulation skills as reported by parents of children aged 8-12 years. Data from a large national cluster randomized control trial (RCT) study, Coping Kids, performed in Norway were used, including data from 601 children and their parents.Results: Using mixed models, we found a decrease in dysregulation of emotions (Δ  =  .06, CI  =  (0.00 to.11), p =  .040) and an increase in emotion regulation (Δ  =  .11, CI  =  (0.05 to.17) p  <  .001) in the intervention group compared to the control group.Conclusions: The EMOTION intervention has a potential positive effect on children's emotional regulation skills. One opportunity in transdiagnostic interventions lies in targeting common underlying processes in internalizing disorders and thereby reaching a larger proportion of the youth population than is possible with single-disorder approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research on indulgent parenting in childhood and adolescence and its association with helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood and the well-being of parents and emerging adult children is limited. In this study, we examined (1) the association between indulgent parenting in childhood and adolescence and helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood, (2) the association between indulgent parenting and parents' parenting stress and negative well-being, and (3) whether helicopter parenting mediated the association between indulgent parenting and emerging adults' psychological problems.Methods: The sample was composed of 449 college students with a subsample of 142 parent-student dyads.Results: Results from analyses on parents (Part I, N = 142) and emerging adults (Part II, N = 449) suggested that (1) indulgent parenting in childhood and adolescence was associated with helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood (b = .69, p < .01 in Part I; b = .58, p < .01 in Part II), (2) there was a positive association between indulgent parenting and parents' negative well-being (b = .26, p < .01 in Part I) and parenting stress (b = .29, p < .01 in Part I), and (3) helicopter parenting mediated the association between indulgent parenting and emerging adults' depressive and anxiety symptoms and emotional dysregulation (.15, 95% CI.03 to.43 in Part II).Conclusions: Implications for parenting and emerging adult health programs were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The primary objective of the current study was to provide a summary of the strength of the relationship between paternal depressive symptoms and parenting behaviors. The secondary objective of this study was to examine whether specific factors moderate the magnitude of this relationship.Methods: A series of meta-analyses were conducted to examine the strength of the association between paternal depressive symptoms and parenting behaviors. Several moderator analyses were also conducted to examine whether specific factors influenced the strength of the relationship. Moderators analyzed included: mean paternal age, mean child age, paternal relationship status, informant of parenting behaviors, and bibliographic factors.Results: The current study found a small relationship between paternal depressive symptoms and both positive (r= -.16; 95% CI [-.20, -.13]; k= 35; p < .001) and negative (r= .17; 95% CI [.13,.21]; k= 28; p < .001) parenting behaviors. The relationship between paternal depressive symptoms and overall parenting behaviors was significantly moderated by the informant of the parenting behavior, where father-reports of parenting behaviors (vs. child-reports, mother-reports, or observation) were associated with larger effect sizes.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that practitioners should be mindful of the relationship between paternal depressive symptoms and parenting behaviors when working with families. Suggestions for future research and treatment implications are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the relationship between child emotional abuse (CEA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The authors comment on the influence of positive peer relationships in adolescence, including on self-esteem, academic performance, and self-worth. They also examine the impacts of negative peer relationships on youth. A study of adolescents with negative peer relationships and the frequency of NSSI is also detailed.

Physical punishment is widely used in the U.S., despite links to several negative child outcomes. Considering the increasing cultural diversity and that researchers who link cultural values to physical punishment focus within instead of across groups, it is worthwhile to explore whether certain values that have been linked to physical punishment within groups are applicable to other group that may share similar beliefs. Further, while researchers typically focus on exploring risk factors for physical punishment, the current study explores both risk (e.g., filial piety, machismo attitudes) and protective (e.g., familism) factors. Using a survey of 736 racially/ethnically diverse undergraduate students, this study addresses how students varied in their experiences of physical punishment growing up, based on their ratings of their caregivers’ values. Regression results indicate that having a caregiver with stronger machismo attitudes was linked to higher odds of experiencing any, AOR = 1.48, p < .001, 95% CI [1.23, 1.78], as well as moderate to severe, AOR = 1.57, p < .001, 95% CI [1.28, 1.91] physical punishment; this was true across the full sample, despite machismo attitudes being studied in Hispanic/Latino populations typically. However, familism and filial piety were not associated with physical punishment for the sample. These findings suggest that it is worthwhile to explore how traditional values that are typically attributed to certain groups may be linked to physical punishment across more diverse populations, as different groups may share similar beliefs that are linked to physical punishment in similar ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to increase our understanding of parenting stress, this study examined underutilized data on the effect of interventions for child ADHD on parenting stress. This project employed meta-analytic techniques to evaluate whether interventions for a child’s attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reduce parenting stress in families of children with ADHD, as reported on the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) or its variants. This study also assessed whether this efficacy varies based on whether the intervention is pharmacological or psychosocial, and within the psychosocial domain whether parents are directly involved or targeted in some way by the intervention. A number of parent, child, and study characteristics were also evaluated as potential moderators. A comprehensive search identified 43 (29 published, 14 unpublished) manuscripts relevant to the meta-analysis. Thirty-three studies compared levels of total parenting stress before and after treatment (within-subjects), producing a moderate effect size, d = 0.50, 95% CI [0.42, 0.59], p < .001. Nine studies compared total parenting stress between treatment and control groups (between-subjects), d = 0.53, 95% CI [0.33, 0.72]. Parent gender was the only statistically significant moderator, with studies with a larger proportion of mothers showing a larger effect, Q = 5.44, p = .02, k = 17. This study advances our understanding of parenting stress and identifies areas for future research, including research on fathers and longitudinal studies of families of children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological flexibility (PF) refers to an individual's capacity to deal with the present moment non-judgmentally and to commit to value-based actions. This study evaluated how parental PF, psychological adjustment to a child's illness, and psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, and stress in parents are associated with asthma morbidity in children. Three-hundred and twenty-four parents of children aged 3-12 years with asthma completed a self-administered questionnaire to measure their PF, psychological adjustment, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, their children's asthma symptoms and their use of bronchodilators. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationships among these constructs. The results showed that poor PF was significantly associated with poor psychological adjustment to the child's illness and increased psychological symptoms in parents. Parental PF was found to be the only latent construct possessing a significant association with the child's asthma morbidity ( β = 0.27, 95% CI [0.09, 0.42], p = .002). These results suggest that by fostering their PF parents may improve their own psychological well-being as well as their child's asthma condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the associations between perceived maternal psychological control and adolescent academic functioning in terms of academic performance and academic self-concept. The study also tested the possible mediating role of basic psychological needs to investigate how parental psychological control is related to child academic functioning. A sample of Chinese adolescents ( N = 338) completed a self-administered questionnaire on maternal psychological control, academic self-concept, academic performance and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used for data analyses. Findings of this study revealed that Chinese adolescents' perceptions of maternal psychological control were associated with their academic self-concept, and furthermore this association was mediated by adolescents' basic psychological needs satisfaction on autonomy, relatedness and competence. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future research directions were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The People in My Life questionnaire (PIML) is one of the few available self-report measures for assessing children's representations of the relationship with attachment figures (parents and peers) in middle childhood. The current study presents validation studies of the PIML in a sample of Portuguese children aged between 8 and 12 years ( N = 314) and adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years ( N = 281). The original factor structure, composed of a second-order factor of attachment and three first-order factors (Trust, Communication, and Alienation), was confirmed for both scales (Parents Attachment and Peers Attachment) in the sample of children and replicated in the sample of adolescents using confirmatory factor analyses. The Portuguese version of the PIML showed adequate internal consistency and correlated as expected with measures of intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning (internalizing and externalizing problems, prosocial behavior, quality of life, self-compassion, and emotion regulation strategies). The PIML proved to be a psychometrically robust measure of children's representations of their relationships with parents and peers, representing an important advance in the measurement of attachment in middle childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the link between child abuse and health risk behaviors among Chinese college students. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of child abuse and its relations with individual and clusters of health risk behaviors among Chinese college students. A total of 507 students participated in this survey. The prevalence of child abuse from the highest to the lowest was emotional neglect (53.9%), physical neglect (49.0%), emotional abuse (21.8%), physical abuse (18.3%), and sexual abuse (18.1%), respectively. Males were more likely to report child abuse than females ( p < 0.01). For males, emotional abuse was associated with internet addiction [OR = 2.28; 95%CI (1.00, 5.20)] and suicidal behavior [OR = 12.47, 95%CI (2.61, 59.54)]; while sexual abuse was associated with internet addiction [OR = 2.30, 95%CI (1.14, 4.66)]. For females, emotional abuse was significantly associated with increased risks for self-harm behavior [OR = 15.03, 95%CI (3.59, 63.07)] and suicidal behavior [OR = 5.16, 95%CI (1.63, 16.40)]. Physical abuse was related to risks for internet addiction [OR = 2.50, 95%CI (1.03, 6.04)] significantly. Two-step cluster analysis showed that participants in clusters with more health risk behaviors reported higher scores of child abuse. These findings suggest that child abuse was associated with both individual and clustering of health risk behaviors among Chinese college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to bring a developmental perspective to metacognitive theory. The metacognitive model (MCM) was originally developed for adults. However, an increasing number of studies demonstrate the MCM is relevant to child anxiety. Therefore, it is important to understand the origins of anxiety-specific metacognitions. Given the role experiences of controlling parenting play in maintaining and perhaps forming anxious cognitions or a cognitive vulnerability we focused on maternal behavioral and psychological control. Using a cross-sectional design, Danish school children (9-17 years old; N = 1062) rated their levels of anxiety and anxiety-specific metacognitions, and their mothers' controlling behavior. Child-perceived maternal psychological control was positively correlated with each anxiety specific metacognition (positive and negative worry beliefs, cognitive confidence, need to control, and cognitive self-consciousness). Child-perceived autonomy-granting was negatively correlated with all metacognitions except cognitive self-consciousness. Child perceived maternal psychological control was indirectly associated with anxiety via total metacognitions. Child-perceived autonomy-granting, but not psychological control, was directly related to anxiety. Given the differential findings for psychological control and autonomy-granting, we suggest that specific types of parenting behavior may be related to specific elements of (meta-) cognitive vulnerability. Our findings are theoretically important because they propose maternal psychological control is an environmental factor that may play a role in the development of a metacognitive vulnerability related to anxiety. A potential clinical implication of our findings is that metacognitive therapy for children should include a parental component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most empirical work examining stress in children focuses on major life events, like divorce of parents, while fewer studies consider the role of daily stressors, or the routine challenges of day-to-day living. Existing work on children's daily stress is lacking such that it primarily: (1) focuses on children who are ill, disabled, or who face significant environmental risks, (2) relies on retrospective reports, (3) relies on parent or teacher reports of stressors experienced by children, or (4) does not comprehensively examine the role of stress on mood and health. In the current study, we explored daily experiences of stress, mood, and physical health symptoms across five consecutive days in 25 children between 8 and 10 years old. Results showed that children reported a variety of types of stressors, and that more stressors were reported by older children, girls, and on weekdays compared to weekends. Daily reports of stress were linked to same day reports of physical health symptoms but not mood, however the presence of both negative mood and daily stress was associated with even more same day health symptoms. This study extends prior work by examining children's stress at the daily level as well as relying on children's self-reports of their stress, mood, and physical health symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of micronutrients on children with clinically elevated stress and anxiety 23-36 months after experiencing a natural disaster (a major earthquake). A single-case multiple-baseline design allocated 14 children (7 males, 7 females; aged 8-11 years; 10 with formal anxiety-disorder diagnoses) randomly to 1, 2 or 3 week baselines. Participants then took eight capsules/day of a micronutrient formula (EMPowerplus) during an 8-week open-label trial. Assessment instruments were the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS), and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). Symptom severity declined slightly in baseline for some children and declined much more during intervention for all children. Effect sizes at end of treatment were −1.40 (RCMAS), −1.92 (SCARED), +1.96 (CGAS), and −2.13 (PEDS). Modified Brinley plots revealed decreases in anxiety and improvements in overall functioning for 10 out of 11 completing participants. Side effects were mild and transient. The study provided evidence that treatment with a dietary supplement containing micronutrients reduced children's post-disaster anxiety to a clinically significant degree. Future placebo-controlled randomized-controlled trials and treatment-comparison research is recommended to determine if this is true of anxiety in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by a social interactional framework of stress and parenting, the aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of depression symptoms on the association between parents' marital status (married and divorced parents) and child physical abuse potential, in a Portuguese community sample. It was hypothesized that the possible observed differences between divorced and married parents in the child physical abuse potential would be explained by their depression symptoms. Parents ( N = 892) were assessed in their marital status, severity of depression symptoms and child physical abuse potential. Results showed that, when compared with married parents, divorced parents had higher child physical abuse potential. However, parents' depression symptomatology was found as a mediator of the effect of marital status differences on child physical abuse potential. The influence of the status of divorced parents on the increase of child physical abuse potential was explained by the increase of the parents' depression symptoms. This finding suggested that parents' divorced status had no longer an effect on child physical abuse potential when parents' depression symptomatology was tested as a mediator variable. The present mediation model explained 47 % of the variability in the child physical abuse potential score. Practical implications of these findings for prevention and psychological intervention are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]