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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the patterns and incidence of child labour in India and to examine the magnitude of child labour across different social groups. It analyses the impact of the socio-economic background of the children on their participation in the labour market. Design/methodology/approach: The paper primarily relies on the data collected from secondary sources. The census of India data and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 66th round data (2009–2010) on employment and unemployment in India for the study. The dependent variable on child labour has been computed by the author for the analysis in the paper. Findings: The findings of the paper suggest that poverty is not the only determinant of child labour, but gender and caste of a person is also a significant factor for child labour. The study found that children from lower-caste backgrounds in India seem to participate more in the labour market. In terms of gender, the study found that boys are more likely to engage in economic activities or paid jobs while girls are more likely to engage in household activities. Originality/value: Data used in this paper has been extracted by the author from unit level data provided by NSSO. The variables used for the analysis in the presented paper has been constructed by the author and the figures provided are the result of the author's estimation on data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While studies on service users' participation and their perceptions on the quality of services exist, agreement between family members' and practitioners' assessments of the family's situation has received less interest. The purpose of this paper is to investigate agreement and its effect on outcomes by comparing the viewpoints of three groups of informants (children, mothers and practitioners) in the context of statutory child protection in two study groups – one applying a systemic approach (SPM) and a service-as-usual control group (SAU). Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-experimental repeated-measures study design was applied. Outcome data comprised 112 cases (SPM cases n = 56 and SAU cases n = 56) at three sites. Data was collected from all participants at baseline and six months later. Findings: First, practitioners' analyses of a child's need for protection did not meet family members' expressed need for help. Second, child–mother agreement on the need for service intervention at T1 predicted a decrease in practitioner-assessed abuse or neglect from T1 to T2. In this sample, no differences were found between the two groups. Originality/value: This study highlights the importance of making explicit the viewpoints of children, parents and practitioners in casework and research to improve understanding of how their perspectives differ over the course of the process and how possible initial disagreements affect outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to determine the attachment strategies of prospective adoptive parents and any correlation between attachment and the defensive strategies they used when talking about loss of fertility. The study also examined whether attachment strategy of the applicants had a bearing on the decision by the local authority to place a child. Design/methodology/approach: The sample was comprised of 48 respondents (21 couples) representing 84 per cent of all people who applied to one UK Social Services Department in a 12-month period. Placement of a child was reviewed two years following the assessment. The study used the dynamic maturational model version of the adult attachment interview (DMM-AAI), together with added questions on loss of fertility to assess the applicants' attachment strategies together with unresolved loss and trauma and the DMM modifiers. Findings: Unlike adoption studies using the Main and Goldwyn system, this study rated very few of the applicants' AAIs as secure (13 per cent), 48 per cent were in the normative low-risk range and 52 per cent of the AAIs were coded in the more complex DMM insecure strategies. There was a significant bias towards marriages where the partners deployed opposite low-risk/DMM strategies (13 (62 per cent) of couples). Compared with data on non-clinical populations the AAIs showed a high level of unresolved loss or trauma (58 per cent). Using a six-way distribution (A1-2, C1-2, B, A3-4, C3-6 and A/C) there was an 87 per cent correspondence between discourse about loss of fertility and that about attachment, thereby supporting the established proposition that reproduction is part of the attachment system. Twenty one per cent of the AAIs were coded as "disorientated" and this is discussed in terms of conflict for adoptive of parents concerning the raising of a child who carries their own genes or those of strangers. A case is made to conceptualise negative impact of infertility in terms of unresolved trauma rather than loss. Research - limitations/implications: This study adds to research showing that the DMM approach is more finely calibrated than the ABC+disorganised model with the latter likely over coding for security. The results emphasise that fertility and reproduction are legitimate subjects for attachment studies and that AAI discourse analysis is a valid methodology for future research. However coder agreement as to whether or not loss of fertility was resolved was only fair (64 per cent) κ. 0.25 (po0.33). More work is required in order to determine what constitutes unresolved loss of fertility and what impact, if any, this has on parenting an adopted child. Practical implications: The practice implications are considered in a separate paper. Social implications: The findings are contentious in that they suggest a significant number (48 per cent) of adoptive parents have needs not dissimilar to other clients of psychological services. Originality/value: This is the first DMM-AAI study with prospective adoptive parents and the findings show significant differences when compared with previous studies using the Main and Goldwyn AAI. It is also the first study to establish fertility as a legitimate area for attachment studies by using AAI discourse analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Employing brief, low-intensity, face-to-face parenting programs can result in improvements in parenting and child behavior; however, their usefulness is often limited by low participation rates. Online technologies are increasingly presented as a panacea for promoting program reach in a cost-effective way. The extant literature, however, provides limited guidance on issues around the implementation of online parenting programs. Grow is a universal, health-promoting parenting program that targets families with 5–10 year olds and was developed for face-to-face delivery and then adapted for a web-based format. The purpose of this paper is to present implementation results from feasibility proof of concept studies of Grow Face-to-Face and Grow Online and explores issues regarding mode of delivery and parent participation. Design/methodology/approach: Data were gathered from participants using attendance records, end-of-module/session surveys and semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and were examined using descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analysis. Findings: Findings suggest that, compared to the online implementation, recruitment was more difficult for the face-to-face implementation. Conversely, retention in the online program was poorer than in the face-to-face program. Participants from both programs self-reported high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Parents who completed Grow Online expressed a desire for more interpersonal interactions, which suggests a possible need for hybrid programs that combine online technologies with traditional face-to-face modes of delivery. Originality/value: These findings challenge the idea that the internet can fully address barriers to parenting program participation by showing that while parents may sign up more readily for an online program, they may struggle to complete all modules. This is problematic as program dosage can influence parent and child outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of various family factors with children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) intake.Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional analysis of data from 601 parent-child dyads with children aged three to six years old was conducted. Parents completed questionnaires on child’s FV intake, parenting styles, parental feeding practices, family functioning, television viewing at mealtimes and frequency of family meals. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between various family factors and the likelihood of meeting the child’s daily FV recommendation with adjustment for different demographic variables.Findings Multivariate model adjusting for sociodemographic data indicated that meeting vegetable recommendation was associated with lower frequency of dining with grandparents (Odds ratio (OR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–0.99, p=0.031) and positively associated with parents using more desirable parental feeding practices (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09–1.21, p<0.001). Meeting fruit recommendation was associated with parents using more desirable parental feeding practices (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.17, p<0.001), higher frequency of dining with grandparents (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.10, p=0.041), lower frequency of dining with father (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.98, p=0.014) and higher score on authoritative parenting style (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p=0.009).Originality/value This study highlights the potential protective roles of various family factors, in particular authoritative parenting style and parental feeding practices, such as role modeling, moderate restrictive practices for less healthy foods, avoidance of forced feeding, and not using junk food as reward in relation to meeting FV recommendation in children. The role of grandparents in influencing the young children’s eating behaviors within the Chinese family warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Previous literature demonstrated low-to-moderate rates of agreement between children and mothers regarding child anxiety. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate factors related to differences between mother-child dyads who disagreed vs agreed in their reports of child anxiety symptoms.Design/methodology/approach In total, 87 children aged 9-12 years old and their mothers completed questionnaires regarding maternal perceptions of child behavior, maternal separation anxiety about the child’s individuation, and mother-child relationship characteristics.Findings The results showed that mothers in mother-child dyads who disagreed on child anxiety symptoms, compared to those in dyads who agreed on child anxiety symptoms, perceived their children as showing higher affect intensity and behavioral problems. They also expressed greater anxiety about the children’s individuation process, characterized in part by children’s increased autonomy and decline of reliance on them. Further, children in dyads who disagreed, compared to those in dyads who agreed, reported lower mother-child attachment security.Originality/value The results extend the literature by identifying specific factors related to the discrepancy between mothers’ and children’s reports of childhood anxiety in early adolescence. The results highlight the need to consider both mothers’ and children’s views when assessing childhood anxiety. Importantly, the results also indicate that specific factors investigated in this study, including maternal perception of children’s behavioral problems and their affect intensity, maternal anxiety about child individuation, and mother-child attachment security, could be used to inform clinical decisions regarding informant discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of Latino clients following a naturalistic cultural adaptation made to SafeCare, an evidence-based home visiting intervention designed to address specific linguistic and cultural issues affecting the Latino community during implementation in San Diego County, California. Design/methodology/approach -- Hierarchical linear models examined whether Latino clients experienced differences in perceptions of SafeCare delivery, working relationship with the home visitor and satisfaction with services when compared with non-Latino clients and whether language of service delivery and provider-client ethnic match were related to Latino clients' experiences of the intervention. Findings -- Overall, across several different dimensions, there was no decrement in experience with SafeCare for Latino clients compared to non-Latino ones, implying that adaptations made locally adequately engaged Latino and Spanish-speaking clients in services without compromising perceived adherence to the programme model. Research limitations/implications -- Because this was a non-experimental study, conclusions could not be drawn as to whether the locally adapted SafeCare would fare better in Latino client ratings than SafeCare unadapted. However, the findings are important because they contradict concerns that EBPs may not be relevant to diverse client groups, and support the idea that when adaptations are made, it is possible to maintain adherence at the same level of adherence as when the programme is delivered in its non-adapted form. Originality/value -- The study explicitly documents and generates knowledge around an organic adaptation made in a community to an evidence-based intervention for a client group about whom there has been documented concern regarding the relevance of and engagement in services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore whether the changes in externalising behaviour for young aggressive children differ between two evidence-based parent training (PT) programmes after treatment. The treatment formats between these programmes differ, and the authors were particularly interested in whether this influenced the results for participants with co-occurring problems (child variables such as heightened levels of attention and internalising problems, and parental variables such as marital status and education) and the consequent additional risk of poorer treatment outcomes. Design/methodology/approach -- A comparison of the individual treatment programme "Parent Management Training -- Oregon model" (PMTO) and the group intervention programme "The Incredible Years" (IY) basic training sessions. Outcomes were explored in matched samples from two earlier Norwegian replication studies. The participants were matched on pre-treatment characteristics using a quasi-experimental mis-matching procedure. Findings -- There were no significant differences between the two interventions in parent ratings of externalising behaviours and the lack of differing effects between the two treatments remained when the co-occurring risk factors were introduced into the analyses. Research limitations/implications -- The participants were matched on pre-treatment characteristics using a quasi-experimental mis-matching procedure. Practical implications -- A possible implication of these findings is that parents should be allowed to choose the treatment format of their preference. Further, individual PT may be more appropriate in rural settings with difficulties in forming group interventions. Social implications -- Treatment effects did not differ between these two evidence-based interventions. Originality/value -- To the best of the knowledge independent comparisons of two evidence-based PT interventions are not previously conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Despite an increasing policy focus, routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is not common practice in UK children's services. This paper aims to examine whether it is feasible and valid to use measures from ROM of evidence-based parenting programmes (EBPPs) to assess the impact of services and to drive service improvements through feedback mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach – This is a secondary analysis of ROM measures collected from a London clinic offering EBPPs over five years. Demographic information from referrals was compared for attendees and non-attendees. Changes in parent reported child behaviour were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Findings – No significant differences were found in socio-demographic characteristics of attendees and non-attendees. Statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-scores on parent reported SDQ scores and VAS concerns, as well as the SDQ Added Value Score. The data collected did not allow for investigation of a dose-response relationship between the level of attendance and any improvement made. Originality/value – This study illustrates that ROM can provide useful information about the impact of EBPPs in a particular clinical context. Demographic data could support service managers to evaluate reach and uptake while evidence of improvements can be communicated back to parents and support future funding bids. Incomplete data limited the inferences that could be drawn, and collaborations between research centres and clinics may be a way to optimise the use of ROM to drive service improvement and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of The Leadership Program's Violence Prevention Project (VPP) – a 12-session programme consisting of explicit curriculum-based classroom instruction designed for adolescents to promote a range of communication skills associated with violence prevention and alter classroom norms about aggression and violence. Design/methodology/approach – A multi-site, quasi-experimental effectiveness trial examined pre- and post-implementation surveys that assessed violence-related behaviours and attitudes from 3,264 6th-8th grade students in 24 urban public schools across four consecutive academic years (2005-2009). Findings – Multilevel modelling showed VPP buffered negative beliefs and behaviour in a wide range of violence-related outcomes including peer support and tolerance for aggression. VPP also promoted positive conflict resolution skills by reducing the use of verbally and physically aggressive resolution strategies over time in programme participants. Programme quality was maintained through a five point practitioner-created fidelity system amenable to real-world conditions. Originality/value – Findings indicate semester-long violence prevention programmes promoting communication skills are effective with urban early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The Helping Children Achieve study is a randomised controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness of parenting interventions for children at risk of anti-social behaviour. The paper aims to examine the challenges in recruitment to the HCA trial. Design/methodology/approach – The study is on-going and is being conducted at two sites: an inner city London borough and a city in the South West of England. In total, 395 participants consented to participate in the trial; 325 were assessed at baseline and 215 met the criteria and agreed to take part. Recruitment used population screens and referrals. Findings – The screening procedure was more labour intensive but attracted greater numbers, including many parents who might not otherwise have sought help and included many families from disadvantaged backgrounds. The referrals included those with more serious problems and a higher proportion engaged with the service. Recruitment rates were lower in the London site due to ineligibility and greater difficulty in accessing schools. Retention in the two areas was similar. Originality/value – The study provides data on recruitment challenges and lessons learned that could help formulate future policy regarding service delivery. Also of value is the finding that it is possible to conduct population screens in very deprived, multi-ethnic areas and to get high rates of return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the consequences of the last great recession on the child protection system (CPS) in Spain, to estimate whether there is any kind of relationship between the conditions of socio-economic crisis and its protective activity. Design/methodology/approach: Data on child protection legal measures issued by the CPS and socio-economic data from 8 of the 17 regions of the country were cross-checked. Using the chi-square test, it was possible to determine the significance and intensity of the relationship between the different variables in each of the regions of the study. Findings: During the crisis, the number of recorded cases fell most sharply in those regions with the worst socio-economic indicators. The study shows that there is a significant relationship between the socio-economic conditions of the regions and families and the activity of the CPS in each of them, so that the worsening of the former reduces the protective activity of their protection system. Practical implications: The results ask about the influence of the socioeconomic situation in the decision-making of the CPS in Spain and the need to deepen in its study. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study on the effects of the economic crisis on CPS activity in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This research assesses the predictive capacity of key factors in the development of family competences: parent-children relationship, family involvement, family resilience and positive parenting. It also aims to establish which are the most discriminating factors between the groups showing the most and the least prosocial behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – The study involves a longitudinal study of one child from 181 families; 155 families in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. Both boys and girls are included and their ages range from 8 to 14 years. The instruments employed are all validated for use with a Spanish population and include Karol Kumpfer’s questionnaires on family competence and the BASC questionnaire. Findings – All of the factors analysed, with the exception of family involvement, proved to be predictive for prosocial behaviour, and the most discriminating among these were: parent-children relationship, family resilience and positive parenting. Originality/value – One key issue in family prevention programmes is the development of prosocial behaviour. In this sense, the research developed here aims at highlighting protective factors as key to developing a prosocial behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to evaluate the prevention programme EFFEKT-E that was designed for preschool children of depressive mothers and contains an intervention for children and for mothers. Design/methodology/approach – Research was carried out in mother-child clinics in Germany. In total, 220 strained mothers, who were screened for elevated levels of depressive symptoms, were enrolled in the control and 186 in the training group. For evaluation, mothers rated emotional disturbance and social competence of the child as outcome measures before and after the training. Changes in parenting behaviour, perceived parental competence and parenting stress were also assessed. Findings – An effect on emotional disturbance of the child emerged (d=0.52) in the training group. Perceived parental competence increased (d=0.72) and parental stress decreased (d=0.23) significantly under training. EFFEKT-E has proven to be a valuable programme for preventing depression in offspring of mothers who feel depressed. Originality/value – The article identifies the significance of focusing on parenting as a preventive intervention in the mechanisms of familial transmission of depression and evaluation of a family-oriented programme for young children designed to achieve this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of severely psychiatrically impaired adolescents requiring day hospital management and the effectiveness of the service using standardised outcome measures. Design/methodology/approach – The data was collected on adolescents aged 13-17 years in two London boroughs, attending the day service over a period of one year. Outcome measures were HoNOSCA, CGAS, SDQ and qualitative data from feedback forms from adolescents and parents. Findings – The adolescents (n=22) had varied disorders, but mainly depression, (n=9) and psychosis (n=4). HoNOSCA score on admission was mean 18.14 (SD 3.78) but by discharge it had reduced to mean 15.39 (SD 7.31) (p=0.07), and CGAS reduced from initial mean score of 43.83 (SD 9.90) to 53.17 (SD 12.04) (p=0.003). Attendance for 19 (86 per cent) adolescents was for less than six months. Following discharge 14 (64 per cent) returned to education or employment. Adolescents and their carers reported high levels of satisfaction. The findings indicate substantial improvement and satisfaction with the service. The size of the improvement in outcome scores and the consistency across the HoNOSCA and CGAS associated with high service satisfaction also suggest that the data is reliable. Research limitations/implications – The small size of the sample and loss of data made it difficult to extrapolate from the results to other groups of impaired adolescents. There was no control group in the study and therefore it was not possible to demonstrate whether the improvement was due to spontaneous changes over time, Tier 3 CAMHS input or the attendance at the day service. It is difficult to demonstrate what proportion of adolescents who were admitted to the day service would have required a Tier 4 in patient admission had the service not been available. A larger study using a more robust design involving randomisation to the day-service or in-patient service would provide important comparative data regarding the service benefits. Originality/value – Currently there is little provision for severely psychiatrically impaired adolescents who require a day treatment programme. Day patient programmes appear to offer a useful and accessible treatment method. The service is much cheaper than an in-patient service, and may also reduce the demands for or duration of inpatient admission. Unfortunately the service did not obtain continuation funding in view of NHS funding cuts, rather than dissatisfaction by local commissioners, and so needed to close. The data presented here can hopefully be used to support the case for child and adolescent psychiatric day programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to examine the predictive validity of an adherence measure to Brief Parent Training (BPT) delivered in real-world settings. BPT promotes effective parenting practices in families with children who either are at an early stage of problem behaviour development or have developed conduct problems. Design/methodology/approach – In a sample of 108 families who received BPT, whether adherence predicted parenting practices and child conduct problems after intervention completion was examined. Findings – The results showed that high ratings of adherence predicted low levels of inconsistent discipline and high levels of appropriate discipline and positive parenting. The combined effect of inconsistent discipline and positive parenting mediated the relationship between adherence and child conduct problems. When the indirect effects were separated, inconsistent discipline functioned as a mediator, whereas positive parenting did not. Originality/value – Findings indicate that it is possible to develop a sound and feasible parent-reported measure of adherence to BPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]