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There are currently widespread concerns around the impact of media on children's healthy development. This study investigated whether music media influences young children's gender role and self-identity. Thirty-four Grade 1 children and 38 Grade 4 children participated in an experimental study to explore their attitudes towards their own and the opposite gender, their perspectives about gender- and self-presentation, and whether a one-off exposure to music videos influenced their views. Results showed that children demonstrated attitudes consistent with gender stereotypes seen in contemporary music media. The findings indicate a need for early intervention to help children develop healthy attitudes around gender role and self-identity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This mixed method retrospective pilot study empirically investigated the grief experience of mothers of small children who were bereaved during motherhood. Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), life satisfaction, and attachment styles were measured among a web-based sample of 37 mothers using quantitative measures, and essay questions were used to gather qualitative data. Results indicated that while none of the mothers met the complete criteria for PGD, 49% endorsed presently experiencing separation distress, 24% endorsed frequently experiencing psychological symptoms and 14% reported current impairment in daily living. Insecure attachment style was positively correlated with higher PGD scores. Qualitative findings also indicated that although challenging, motherhood offered a distraction from grief, and provided a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Motherhood seems to have helped them to be less susceptible to prolonged grief complications. This was also responsible for their low scores on the PG-13, since a lack of purpose and identity in life are paramount in meeting criteria for complicated grief. Mothers also scored high on overall life satisfaction on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) despite their loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a study of parents’ and children's responses to the service they received at two Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) in Perth, Western Australia. Family members who had attended either the Mandurah or Joondalup FRCs sponsored by AnglicareWA between 2010 and 2012 were invited to complete a survey that asked them for their views on the services they had received. A total of 74 parents, representing 139 children, completed the survey. Findings indicated significant satisfaction with the two-hour group session that introduces the work of the FRCs, with parents reporting they could remember the main messages from the session. A surprising finding, and one that has not been reported elsewhere, is that parents expressed an unwillingness to invite their own children to participate in the work of the Centres, although the majority of the respondents agreed in principle that children should take part. The implications of this finding are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article outlines an eight-week, co-facilitated psycho-educational grief support programme for adults bereaved by suicide. The programme's design and content draw on current theory and research on effective bereavement interventions, and on evaluations of what has worked well in similar suicide bereavement groups. Action research methods are used to inform its development, review and modification. The programme content has a dual focus on information and emotional support. It combines facilitation by experienced professionals who have personal experience of bereavement by suicide with opportunities for peer support. End-of-programme evaluation shows that these features are highly valued by participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]