Search

Purpose: This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of Parenting for Lifelong Health for Parents and Adolescents program in reducing the risk of child maltreatment in Chinese families with adolescents. Methods: A pre-post single-arm pilot trial was conducted in July and August, 2023, and involved 16 parents and 13 teenagers with a mixed-methods design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Parents reported enhanced positive parenting and reduced child behavioral problems. Adolescents reported decreased general child maltreatment and emotional maltreatment, along with perceived improvements in positive parenting and parent-child communication. Thematic analyses suggested of tangible benefits for participants, as well as for their family dynamics. Discussion: The program demonstrated promising feasibility, and it was significantly associated with reduced adolescent maltreatment. Further rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by the social ecological model, which asserts that health behaviors and beliefs are the result of multiple levels of influence, we examined factors related to parents' support for in-school COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Using data from a survey of 567 parents/caregivers of public elementary and middle school students in eight Maryland counties, we employed regression models to examine relationships between parent-, child-, family-, school-, and community-level factors and acceptability of mitigation strategies. Acceptance of COVID-19 mitigation strategies was positively correlated with child- and family-level factors, including child racial identity (parents of Black children were more accepting than those of White children, odds ratio [ OR ]: 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.5, 4.1]), parent receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR : 2.4, 95% CI = [1.5, 3.7]), and parent Democrat or Independent political affiliation (compared with Republican affiliation, OR : 4.2, 95% CI = [2.6, 6.7]; OR : 2.2, 95%CI = [1.3, 3.8], respectively). Acceptance was also positively associated with parents' perceptions of their school's mitigation approach, including higher school mitigation score, indicating more intensive mitigation policies (OR : 1.1, 95% CI = [1.0, 1.1]), better school communication about COVID-19 (OR : 1.7, 95% CI = [1.4, 1.9]) and better school capacity to address COVID-19 (OR : 1.9, 95% CI = [1.5, 2.4]). Community-level factors were not associated with acceptance. Child- and parent-level factors identified suggest potential groups for messaging regarding mitigation strategies. School-level factors may play an important role in parents' acceptance of in-school mitigation strategies. Schools' capacity to address public health threats may offer an underappreciated and modifiable setting for disseminating and reinforcing public health guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and adolescents (henceforth "children") with both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety experience greater difficulties than children with either alone, though qualitative methodologies are yet to be used to understand the challenges this population experiences. We aimed to explore parent-reported daily impacts of co-occurring anxiety in children with ADHD (ages 8–13 years). Participants were enrolled in an Australian trial evaluating an adapted anxiety intervention and were eligible if their child met diagnostic criteria for ADHD plus separation, social, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. A baseline measure of life impacts associated with child anxiety captured situations parents reported were difficult, due to their child's anxiety. Reflexive thematic analysis of free-text responses (N = 203) facilitated new insights via inductively generating key themes. Three overarching themes highlighted (1) child difficulties with everyday situations and processes due to their anxiety; (2) the nature of the child's anxiety being pervasive and unrelenting; and (3) the strain placed on the child's family system. This study enhances understanding of daily impacts associated with co-occurring anxiety and ADHD and may contribute to an improved understanding of support needs. Results reiterate the need to identify co-occurring difficulties in children with ADHD and support both children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language ability has been associated with emotion regulation (ER) ability. Children on the autism spectrum have greater rates of language delays and lower ER ability. Despite this, autism traits have not been considered or controlled for in past research. This study therefore examined the association between language ability and ER in young children with and without autism traits. An exploratory analysis was also conducted to examine the types of ER strategies used by young children with autism traits compared with young children without such traits. Ninety mother–toddler dyads participated in the study. Results showed greater receptive language ability was significantly associated with greater parent-reported ER ability both when children with, and children without, autism traits were included in the sample. Furthermore, greater expressive language ability was significantly associated with greater observed ER but only when children with autism traits were excluded from the analysis. These findings have clinical implications for early intervention development for both children with and without autism traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parent education programs are important avenues through which parents of children with developmental delays can learn new skills to help them with child-rearing challenges. However, those in economic hardship often face problems with applying these skills at home where the child's learning and/or behavioral problems commonly occur. In this exploratory qualitative study, we adopted a positive deviance (PD) lens to explore strategies six economically disadvantaged parents used to support their children who were attending special and mainstream preschools concurrently. The PD perspective was first used in public health research with low-resource communities where a few individuals have been observed to adopt uncommon practices and behaviors that enable them to find better ways to prevent social or health problems than their neighbors facing similar constraints and risks. We identified adaptive parental behaviors, thoughts and feelings that helped them navigate daily hassles faced with "dual schooling" their children in Singapore. The study highlights important implications in the development and refinement of future parent training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. The primary objective of this study was to compare the frequency of documentation of postpartum blood pressure through remote blood pressure monitoring with text-message delivered reminders versus office-based follow-up 7–10 days postpartum. The secondary objective was to examine barriers and facilitators of both care strategies from the perspectives of individuals who experienced a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. We conducted a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary care academic medical center in the southeastern US with 100 postpartum individuals (50 per arm) from 2018 to 2019. Among 100 trial participants, blood pressure follow-up within 7–10 days postpartum was higher albeit not statistically significant between postpartum individuals randomized to the remote assessment intervention versus office-based standard care (absolute risk difference 18.0%, 95% CI −0.1 to 36.1%, p = 0.06). Patient-reported facilitators for remote blood pressure monitoring were maternal convenience, clarity of instructions, and reassurance from the health assessments. These positive aspects occurred alongside barriers, which included constraints due to newborn needs and the realities of daily postpartum life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of impact associated with engaging in a therapeutic recreation-based bereavement camp for families whose child has died from serious illness. Interviews were completed with 12 parents who had participated in a three-camp cycle of the program over 12-month period, including a subgroup who had also attended a reunion camp. Interviews were also conducted with program staff. Thematic analysis generated key themes relating to the perceived impact which suggest that those engaged in this program perceived positive contributions associated with participation, including perceptions of positive impact on coping with bereavement, access to support and implications for family functioning. This study highlights the areas of impact associated with engagement in a therapeutic recreation-based bereavement intervention, and the potential contribution of wider access to these programs for families whose child has died from serious illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To document the impact of early follow-up by specialized cleft nurses (SCNs) to families of infants with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P). Design: Prospective inclusion of a control group, which received standard care alone, followed by an intervention group, which in addition received early SCN follow-up. Setting: The cleft lip and palate team at a University hospital. Participants: 70 families (69 mothers and 57 fathers); control group (n = 38); intervention group (n = 32). Intervention: SCNs offered a consultation at the maternity ward and follow-ups by phone or face-to-face at one, three, eight weeks and six months after birth. Outcome measures: Use of Internet-Questionnaire, Quality of discharge teaching scale (QDTS), Post discharge coping difficulty scale (PDCDS), Response on follow-up by health professionals. Results: Infants in the intervention group were admitted less frequently to a Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU); 21.9% vs 51.4%, P =.012. Parents in the intervention group used internet for cleft-related reasons less frequently (74.6% vs 85.9%), P =.112 and the mothers benefitted less from cleft-related activity on the internet (P =.013). The intervention group reported higher mean score for satisfaction with total cleft care (P =.001). There were no significant group differences regarding mean total score for discharge teaching (P =.315) and coping difficulties (P =.919). Conclusion: Early follow-up by a SCN with expertise in cleft care is highly valued by parents. Closer cooperation between the cleft team and health professionals at birth hospitals and Child health centers is necessary for optimal follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the oral health status and parental perception of oral health needs of pediatric patients in an urban Craniofacial Center. Design: This research utilized a prospective cross-sectional matched study design. The data was collected prospectively via clinical oral examinations measuring dental caries experience and gingival health status. Parental perception of oral health was assessed through a validated questionnaire. Setting: The study was conducted at a Pediatric Dentistry Department and Craniofacial Center (CFC) in a large urban American city. Patients/Participants: Participants were recruited and enrolled from a CFC and Pediatric Dental Clinic. Main Outcome Measure(s): The outcome measures were the oral health status and parental perception thereof. Results: CFC patients' caries experience in primary teeth was significantly lower than that of a healthy matched cohort, but statistically similar in permanent teeth. CFC patients had significantly higher unmet dental treatment needs. CFC patients had poor oral hygiene and were shown to have significantly higher plaque levels and worse gingival health than that of a healthy matched cohort. Parental perception of oral health did not show a statistically significantly difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Patients in our study in an urban CFC were found to have a high unmet dental and poor oral hygiene. Despite the poor oral health status, parents of children with craniofacial anomalies did perceive their oral health as different from a matched cohort of patients without these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports follow-up findings for an Mentalization based treatment (MBT) parenting intervention delivered to a community mental health sample. Parents completed the 12-week version of the Lighthouse Parenting Program (LPP) and were evaluated on parenting practices, parent-child relationships, parental mental health indicators, and child problem behaviour levels. We evaluated the extent to which improvements in mentalizing at follow-up mediated changes in parenting, parental adjustment, mental health, and child outcomes. Results included a reduction in parental coercive behaviours and child problems, improved parent-child relationship, and better parental psychological adjustment and mental health. Improvement in self-focused mentalizing were observed. Self-focused mentalizing mediated the changes in most outcomes from baseline to 3-month follow-up. These results provide strong preliminary evidence that the LPP improves parent and child outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The phenomenon of 'parental alienation' is controversial and little explored in the Nordic countries. We wanted to investigate whether parental alienation is a valid concept and how it is perceived in a Nordic context. Material and method: The study was based on an online survey where the participants were self-recruited. We received responses from 1212 participants. Bivariate and multivariate models were used to test the associations between parental alienation and gender, other intimate partner violence, depressive health problems and reduced well-being. Results: Visitation sabotage and parental alienation are realities for both fathers and mothers. It was most frequently directed at fathers, but such behaviour is not gender specific. Eight different alienation strategies have high internal reliability, and all items contribute to high Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was confirmed by the fact that parental alienation is strongly associated with visitation sabotage and with other forms of destructive relational behaviour. Visitation sabotage and false accusations increase gradually with the degree of parental alienation. The construct validity of parental alienation was also confirmed by dose–response associations with both mental ill-health and impaired well-being in adjusted analyses. Conclusions: The phenomenon of parental alienation is recognized among parents as a form of harmful behaviour where both mothers and fathers suffer. The construct validity was supported in this study. Such behaviour should be recognized as a form of domestic violence by professional communities in health and social services and be subject to legal action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parent/carers of disabled children want timely and personalized support. Research suggests that technology may address some limitations associated with traditional methods of communication with therapists (e.g. letter, telephone). This exploratory study examined United Kingdom (UK) parents and carers views on the use of digital technology (i.e. computers/phones) in supporting their child and the potential for its greater use in the care of children with complex needs. Methods: An online survey was distributed via special schools and support forums/networks. Questions explored use of and attitudes to digital technology in the care of children with complex needs. Descriptive statistical analyses and content analyses were undertaken on the data. Results: Respondents were 43 parents/carers whose children used rehabilitation services prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority used digital technology frequently to support their child and saw the potential for greater use in rehabilitation services – provided this was not at the expense of in-person therapist contact. Conclusion: Parents and carers held positive views of digital technology as a tool to support their child and enhance rehabilitation services. Recommendations include regular service consultation on parental/child attitudes to digital service delivery and longitudinal studies to assess related health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between the accuracy of parental reporting of children's sleep duration compared to objectively measured child sleep and tested whether any discrepancies were related to childhood obesity prevalence in a sample of Latinx families (N = 119). A paired sample t-test revealed that parents significantly overestimated their child's sleep duration by 1.33 hours, t (86) = 6.69, p <.001. Using a one-way ANOVA, no significant differences were found in children's BMI percentile when grouped by the parent's accuracy of their child's sleep duration F (3, 83) =.76, p =.52. A potential, although non-significant, trend regarding parent accuracy and child BMI may merit further examination. Future research should seek to determine if the discrepancy in parent reported child sleep duration is indeed linked with increased child BMI and if this knowledge could be used in targeted intervention efforts to reduce childhood obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The death of a child in the intrauterine stage has legal, psychological, spiritual, and health-related connotations that condition the woman's experience. To understand better the processes set in motion around early pregnancy loss, this ethnographic study explores the experiences of miscarriage in a group of 15 women. The following themes are analyzed: Experience of losing the child, spirituality, health care, and the need to physically recognize the child. The study shows that the need women have to honor the child who did not live may be conditioned by the perception of an uncertain loss and by the absence of a place to honor him/her. Attitudes among professionals are revealed that could be perceived as gender-related abuse. The care of women places emphasis on physical aspects, underlining the lack of comprehensive care during the grieving process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development and use of a first of its kind statewide implementation of an adapted Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). Supported by a collaborative partnership between stakeholders that included families, state agencies, and a state university, the intervention was implemented within the existing framework of a northeastern state's relationship-based Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C early intervention program. Participants were 194 families. The study examined the effectiveness and implementation costs of an adaptation of the ESDM using a coaching model to inform statewide implementation to improve outcomes for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in rural and low-resource states. Results indicated 194 children who received a monthly average of 10.90 hr of adapted ESDM for an average of 12 months demonstrated an improvement in the frequency of ASD symptomology for a total cost of US$2,511/child. Intervention intensity and child factors demonstrated varying influence on outcomes. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the potential for positive impact of an evidence-based practice scaled to a statewide model of early intervention for young children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anecdotal evidence has suggested that rater-based measures (e.g., parent report) may have strong across-trait/within-individual covariance that detracts from trait-specific measurement precision; rater measurement-related bias may help explain poor correlation within Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) samples between rater-based and performance-based measures of the same trait. We used a multi-trait, multi-method approach to examine method-associated bias within an ASD sample (n = 83). We examined performance/rater-instrument pairs for attention, inhibition, working memory, motor coordination, and core ASD features. Rater-based scores showed an overall greater methodology bias (57% of variance in score explained by method), while performance-based scores showed a weaker methodology bias (22%). The degree of inter-individual variance explained by method alone substantiates an anecdotal concern associated with the use of rater measures in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on blended feeds were recognized to be much more viscous than formula, raising concern for tube obstructions. Topics include gastrostomy tube placement is among the most common procedures in the pediatric population; and nutrition service can arrange to evaluate and provide recommendations for the patient on the day of surgery.

A recent systematic review reported positive associations between parents and children's physical activity participation. Moreover, parents' perceptions of the importance and value of physical activity can influence their children's participation in it. Our aim in this study was to develop and validate an instrument to assess parents' perceptions of the importance of physical activity and physical education. After first creating the instrument, we conducted content and exploratory factorial validation and reliability analyses of it with 93 parents (M age = 44.76, SD = 6.05, range = 31–66 years; 73 females, 20 males). The result was a 9-item instrument, with items assessed on a 5-point Likert scale and grouped into three factors: (a) importance of physical education; (b) importance of engaging in physical activity or sport; and (c) importance of joining your children in physical activity or sport. In a second confirmatory factor analysis with 224 parents (M age = 44.53, SD = 6.07; 174 or 77.7% females and 50 or 22.3% males) we confirmed the factor validity and reliability previously analyzed (χ 2 = 42.77, df = 24, p =.011, GFI = 0.96, NFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.99, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.06 (90% CI: 0,04, 0.08), SRMR = 0.04, ECVI = 0.04, CR = 0.70–0.87). Thus, the new Physical Activity and Physical Education Importance for Parents Scale (PAPEIPS) is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring parents' perceived importance of physical activity and physical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines whether there is a relation between assigned skin tone and parental racial socialization of their young children (ages 5–8). The concurrent mixed methods design combined quantitative and qualitative findings to explore the complexity and role skin tones play in Black parents' messages to their children. In the quantitative strand, 178 Black parents completed a survey and questionnaire. The qualitative strand consisted of a one-on-one interview with 10 parents from the quantitative sample. Quantitative findings revealed that parents who assigned a light skin tone to their children engaged in more specific types of racial socialization than those who assigned a darker skin tone to their children. Analysis of qualitative interviews revealed parents' unique messages based on assigned skin tones. Data from the two strands were integrated using a weaving approach that compared findings from both strands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may impact parental functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine parents' concerns during the pandemic and to explore the characteristics of families who may be particularly vulnerable to parenting concerns. Data were drawn from an online crowdsourcing survey of parents of children under age 15 in Canada (N = 32,228). Many parents were very or extremely concerned about managing child behaviour (61%) and having less patience with, scolding, or yelling at their children (46%). Family characteristics, including working from home, age of children, number of adults in the home, and child disability were associated with these parenting concerns in logistic regression models. Results are discussed in the context of the known impacts of stress on parenting and families, highlighting family-level and pandemic-specific stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The ideal time for nasoalveolar molding (NAM) of infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is the first weeks after birth. The burden and responsibility that this method of treatment imposes on parents may result in incompliance. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the redirection of health resources can make the situation worse. Therefore, this study evaluated the anxiety, complications, and incompliance of parents undergoing NAM during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: Demographic data of 35 infants with CLP treated during the COVID-19 pandemic, compliance and level of anxiety of both parents in addition to their complications were reported. The association between different variables and incompliance was evaluated by simple and multiple logistic regressions. The level of significance was considered at P value less than 0.05. Results: The highest level of parental anxiety related to the NAM process was the delay in ending the treatment. Meanwhile, the reason for the highest level of anxiety related to attending the treatment sessions was the probability of the infant's COVID-19 infection. Fathers expressed lower levels of anxiety than mothers, significantly. The most prevalent NAM complication was skin irritation. Parents of younger infants (≤28 days) and those with a history of COVID-19 infection were more compliant. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in the level of anxiety in both parents, mainly due to the delay in treatment ending and the possibility of infant's infection. Moreover, considering the importance of treatment time, parents of younger infants were more compliant with the NAM process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This service evaluation explored the experiences of families receiving care in a paediatric chronic fatigue service. The evaluation aimed to improve service provision across paediatric chronic fatigue services more widely. Methods: Children and young people aged 7–18 years (n = 25) and parents/carers (n = 25) completed a postal survey exploring experiences of a paediatric chronic fatigue service. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Most service usersand parents/carers (88%) agreed that the service met their needs, that they felt supported by staff, and most notably, a large portion (74%) reported the team increased their activity levels. A small number disagreed (7%) with statements relating to positive links with other services, ease of talking to staff and suitability of appointment type. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: help managing chronic fatigue syndrome, experience of professional support and accessibility of service. Families reported benefiting from increased understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome, learning new strategies, the team linking with schools, feeling validated and mental health support. Accessibility was a particular problem including the service location, setup of appointments and difficulty contacting the team. Discussion: The evaluation presents recommendations for paediatric Chronic Fatigue services to improve service user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This study was conducted in a clinical setting with the aim of replicating previously used procedures for teaching receptive vocabulary. Researchers increased the number of vocabulary words and maintained use of match-to-sample (MtS), prompting, and reinforcement procedures. Researchers were also interested in the efficacy of the intervention from caregivers' perspectives. Methods: Using a concurrent multiple baseline design, two autistic preschoolers with receptive language impairment were taught to identify 30 common objects. MtS, prompting, and reinforcement procedures were individualized to support each child. Maintenance checks and generalization probes were completed after a predetermined number of intervention sessions (i.e. three or four clinic sessions). A social validity questionnaire was completed by parents following the final maintenance check. Results: Receptive object identification improved significantly for both participants. Despite exposure to vocabulary targets for only three or four sessions, they generalized the vocabulary targets to non-identical pictures and maintained words at maintenance checks. Participants were most successful when researchers individualized prompting and reinforcement. Conclusion: MtS, prompting, and reinforcement were effective procedures for improving object identification, even with a limited number of intervention sessions. To support varying learner profiles, modifying prompting and reinforcement procedures was necessary. Caregivers of both participants reported positive improvements in areas such as communication, attention, and behaviors. Implications: This replicated study provides support for MtS, prompting, and reinforcement as means of teaching receptive vocabulary to autistic preschoolers in a clinical setting. The materials used were simple and cost-effective. Overall, this study outlines and supports a flexible and effective evidence-based practice to teach receptive language to autistic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echolalia has been described as the repetition of words, phrases, songs or other more elaborate dialogues uttered by another person, which may be immediate or delayed (International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.). Some classify echolalia as a communication impairment reflective of delay, while others consider it a restricted, repetitive pattern of behaviours, without meaningful communicative function. Little attention is given to the experiences of non-clinicians, such as parents or teachers who may hold valuable insights to further our understanding of this phenomenon. This study forms part of a larger programme of inquiry which interviewed parents (N = 133) about their experiences of their sons' and daughters' echolalia. Using hermeneutic phenomenological analysis in an abductive framework, we present a perspective of echolalia that has largely remained silent in literature: echolalia as an expression of neurodiversity. Participants push back against the status quo of intervention, reclaiming echolalia as being a part of their child's identity. Participants want their children to not only enjoy their echolalia but to fully embrace it as being a part of their individual identity. We propose alternatives to a purely clinical perspective of echolalia; alternatives that may place the neurodiversity-affirmative perspectives of our participants in a co-existing tension with clinicians. Echolalia is a commonly found speech and language condition in autistic children. Children with echolalia repeat words and phrases they previously hear in place of proving a non-repetitive response. In research and when visiting speech and language services, one of the common goals is to modify these repetitions so that these children may, more socially, engage with their surrounding environment. In our research, we identified that not all parents want their children's echolalia to be modified. Some parents want their child to be able to enjoy echolalia and others don't want anyone to intervene because they see it as something that makes their child unique and being unique is something to be celebrated. We believe that there might be a way for speech and language services who want to modify echolalia and the parents in our study who do not want their child's echolalia to be modified, to be able to exist side-by-side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many autistic children experience changes in core symptom severity across middle childhood, when co-occurring mental health conditions emerge. We evaluated this relationship in 75 autistic children from 6 to 11 years old. Autism symptom severity change was evaluated for total autism symptoms using the autism diagnostic observation schedule calibrated severity score, as well as social-communication symptoms calibrated severity score, and restricted/repetitive behaviors calibrated severity score. Children were grouped based on their symptom severity change patterns. Mental health symptoms (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, disruptive behavior problems) were assessed via parental interview and questionnaire and compared across the groups. Co-occurring mental health symptoms were more strongly associated with change in social-communication symptom or restricted/repetitive behavior severity than with total autism symptom severity. Two relevant groups were identified. The social-communication symptom-increasing-severity-group (21.3%) had elevated and increasing levels of anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and disruptive behavior problems compared with children with stable social-communication symptom severity. The restricted/repetitive behavior-decreasing-severity-group (22.7%) had elevated and increasing levels of anxiety; 94% of these children met criteria for an anxiety disorder. Autism symptom severity change during middle childhood is associated with co-occurring mental health symptoms. Children that increase in social-communication symptom severity are also likely to demonstrate greater psychopathology, while decreases in restricted/repetitive behavior severity are associated with higher levels of anxiety. For many autistic children, the severity of their autism symptoms changes during middle childhood. We studied whether these changes are associated with the emergence of other mental health challenges such as anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Children who had increased social-communication challenges had more anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and disruptive behavior problems than other children. Children who decreased their restricted and repetitive behaviors, on the contrary, had more anxiety. We discuss why these changes in autism symptoms may lead to increases in other mental health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood obesity is highly prevalent among certain populations of New York. This cross-sectional pilot study examined the associations between parental attitudes about outdoor activities and body mass index (BMI). A questionnaire was distributed among parents of 1 to 13 aged children at ambulatory pediatric clinics. Of 104 children included in the study 57 were of normal weight and 47 were overweight or obese. Most parents of children with BMI <85% reported frequent playground utilization, considered longer hours to spend outside on weekdays, reported a larger total temperature range for outdoor playground utilization and a lower tolerable minimum temperature compared to parents of children with BMI ≥85%, p <.05. Only having a parent born outside of the United States remained a significant predictor of overweight and obesity in the final model. Parents of children with BMI < 85% are more willing to spend time outdoors, regardless of weather. Immigrant parents are protective against overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child corporal punishment (CP) may lead to child physical abuse, which is a public health concern in the United States. The present study examined major risk factors predicting attitudes toward CP among a sample of Black parents (N = 394), including frequency and valence of experiences of CP during childhood, outcome expectancies of CP, and perceptions of self-efficacy and response efficacy of non-physical discipline strategies. Structural equation modeling results revealed that the indirect associations between CP frequency and attitudes through self-efficacy and response efficacy were moderated by CP valence. Results extend the literature and point to the need for incorporating information about efficacy of evidence-based non-physical discipline strategies into intervention messages targeting prevention of child physical abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transitioning from active cancer treatment to survivorship represents a vulnerable yet underresearched phase for adolescents and their families. Knowledge of their support needs, the challenges they experience, and how they manage them are useful to inform tailored follow-up care. Thus, we aimed to explore their transition experiences. Method: We interviewed 15 adolescents (12–19 years) who had transitioned off of treatment 1 to 47 months prior at Oslo University Hospital's Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology and their biological parents (n = 16). The interviews were analyzed using inductive, reflexive thematic analysis inspired by Braun and Clarke. NVivo-12 was used for data management. Results: Four main themes were identified: (a) consequences of cancer beyond transition, (b) transition back to normalcy, (c) survivorship competence, and (d) changes in roles and relationships. The families described happiness and relief but also said that the lingering effects of cancer treatment had a profound impact on day-to-day living. The adolescents expressed closeness with and dependency on their parents, and they perceived family and friends as essential for social readjustment. Discussion: Although adolescent survivors and their parents described a wide variety of strategies for returning to "normalcy," their perspectives also illustrate ongoing psychosocial and educational support needs that changed over time. Our findings indicate a need for improved preparation for and support through the transition. Nurses are well positioned to provide continuous and structured transition support tailored to the needs of the individual survivors and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A growing number of parents are navigating parenthood influenced by medical complexity and technological dependency as the group of children with long-term tracheostomy grows. However, little is known regarding the parental experiences of parenthood for this heterogeneous group of children now surviving through infancy and intensive care. Objective: This study aimed to analyze how parents of children who have received a tracheostomy adapted to parenthood. Methods: Interviews were conducted and analyzed following a constructivist grounded theory approach. Ten parents of seven children living with a tracheostomy in Sweden were recruited via the long-term intensive care unit (ICU). Results: The core variable of parenthood "Stuck in survival" was explained by two categories and six subcategories. The category "Unaddressed previous history" describes the experiences from being in the ICU environment and how the parents are not able, due to insufficient time and resources, to address these stressful experiences. The category "Falling through the cracks of a rigid system" describes how the parents found themselves and their children to be continuously ill-fitted in a medical system impossible to adapt to their needs and situation. Parents placed the starting point of parenthood with the birth of the child, whilst the tracheotomy only constituted a turning point and would lead to the loss of any previously held expectations regarding parenthood. Conclusion: This study identified a previously undescribed period prior to tracheostomy placement, which may have long-lasting effects on these families. The care provided in ICUs following the birth of a child who will require tracheostomy may not be tailored or adapted to accommodate the needs of these families leading to long-lasting effects on parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand parent and child perception of spaces experienced during outpatient procedures and to measure their anxiety in these spaces. Background: Same-day procedures are becoming prevalent among children in the United States. While studies conducted in different types of healthcare settings show that the physical environment influences healthcare experiences of patients, there is a lack of research on patient and family perceptions of the physical environment of the outpatient centers where such procedures are conducted. Methods: This study used ecological momentary assessment to collect patient experience and anxiety data at different points during the patient's journey through an ambulatory surgical center where pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) procedures were performed. Objective and subjective measures of anxiety were collected. A Qualtrics survey asked participants' perceptions about four spaces—waiting, preprocedure, procedure, and recovery. Results: Child participants reported liking murals, double chairs, patient beds, wall color, and access to a television. They disliked medical equipment and lack of child-friendly furniture. Most parents liked the murals, access to a television, and nature photos, while disliking the lack of privacy, lack of toys in waiting areas, and lack of child-friendly furniture. On average, both children and parents experienced the highest anxiety levels before and during the procedure and the lowest during recovery. Between the four spaces, no significant differences were observed in the heart rate variability and skin conductance responses for both groups. Conclusions: Despite the outpatient nature of the procedures, participants experienced anxiety before the GI procedure. Comfortable design features that provide distractions are preferred by children and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated the presence and impact of unblinding during the influential Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006286). Method: Our analysis was part of a Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials reanalysis. Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study trialled fluoxetine, placebo, cognitive behaviour therapy or their combination, in treating adolescents with major depressive disorder. We analysed the accuracy of guesses of fluoxetine or placebo allocation, and their effects on change in Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised at 12 weeks. Results: Of 221 participants allocated to fluoxetine or placebo, 151 adolescents (68%) had their guess about pill-treatment-arm allocation recorded at week 6, and guesses were recorded for 154 independent evaluators, 159 parents and 164 pharmacotherapists. All of these groups guessed treatment allocation more accurately than would be expected by chance (60–66% accuracy; all p -values ⩽ 0.004). Guesses did not become more accurate between 6 and 12 weeks and were not predicted by adverse events, though event documentation was poor. Treatment guess had a substantial and statistically significant effect on outcome (Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised change mean difference 9.12 [4.69; 13.55], β = 0.334, p < 0.001), but actual treatment arm did not (1.53 [−2.83; 5.89], β = 0.056, p = 0.489). Removing guess from the analysis increased the apparent effect of treatment arm, making it almost statistically significant at the conventional alpha-level of 0.05 (p = 0.06). Conclusions: For Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study, treatment guesses strongly predicted outcomes and may have led to the exaggeration of drug effectiveness in the absence of actual effects. The integrity of double-blinding in trials should be routinely assessed and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to investigate parent-related risk factor combinations that explain family violence (FV), which refers to intimate partner violence and child maltreatment (CM). The data were collected from parents with a 4-year-old child using a nationwide retrospective cross-sectional survey conducted in Finland (FinChildren) (N = 10,737). The research questions were as follows: (a) How are parent-related risk factors associated with FV against children and the spouse? (b) How does the accumulation of parent-related risk factors within three risk factor clusters explain FV? Analyses were carried out using cross-tabulations with χ2 tests, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and binary logistic regression analyses. The risk factor clusters built based on the EFA were as follows: parental well-being, parent's childhood adversities, and parent's health. Our results indicated that even a single risk factor predicted the likelihood of FV. In the well-being risk factor cluster, the odds for the occurrence of FV in parents with one well-being risk factor were double (odds ratios [OR] = 2.21; confidence intervals [CI]: [1.99, 2.45]) and in parents with at least four risk factors was six times (OR = 6.05; CI: [4.48, 8.18]) compared to those with no risk factor. We concluded that (a) the more different risk factors parents had, the more likely they were to report FV and (b) the accumulation of risk factors for well-being contributes most to the occurrence of the risk of FV. As a result, we emphasize the importance of identifying families with concurrent risk factors. However, any individual concerns must be addressed with parents and they must be supported in coping with their everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging parents in school health examinations can promote adolescents' well-being. We examined parents' participation in universal school health examinations in Finland reported by adolescents in school surveys (14 to 16-year-olds, N = 58,232). Further we studied variation between service providers and schools, and student and school-level factors in participation. National data were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression models. Less than half of the adolescents reported parents' participation. The variation between service providers and schools was large. Non-participation was associated with mother's low education, students' immigrant background, daily health complaints, heavy drinking, and discussion difficulties with parents. Boys and those who did not live with both mother and father had a higher risk for parents' non-participation. Adolescents with a long-term illness or being bullied reported participation more often. Inviting parents and the school health nurse resource were not associated with participation. Our results raise the question of barriers to participation in health examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies of how parents of children with autism view the parent–child relationship used self-report questionnaires and focused on challenges. This study broadened the lens by interviewing parents using open-ended questions that provide an opportunity to raise challenging but also positive experiences. Seventy-five mother–father dyads were interviewed individually about their own and their spouses' relationships with their preschooler, and content analyses of their responses revealed nine relationship themes. In descending order, the themes mentioned most frequently by mothers were "Security and Closeness," "Love," and "Tenderness and Sensitivity," and by fathers were "Pleasure in Joint Activities," "Security and Closeness," and "Guidance." Positive themes were more common than challenging themes. Finally, more mothers mentioned the themes "Love," "Tenderness and Sensitivity," "High Involvement and Care," and "Difficulties" than did fathers, whereas more fathers mentioned the themes "Guidance," "Pleasure in Joint Activities," and "Limited Time with Child" than did mothers. The findings portray a nuanced view of the parenting experience of mothers and fathers of preschoolers with autism. Most studies of how parents of children with autism see the parent–child relationship used questionnaires completed by the parents and focused on challenges. This study broadened the lens by interviewing parents using open-ended questions that provide an opportunity to raise challenging but also positive experiences. Seventy-five mother-father dyads were interviewed individually about their own and their spouses' relationships with their preschooler, and we found nine relationship themes. In descending order, the themes mentioned most frequently by mothers were "Security and Closeness," "Love," and "Tenderness and Sensitivity," and by fathers were "Pleasure in Joint Activities," "Security and Closeness," and "Guidance." Positive themes were more common than challenging themes. Finally, more mothers mentioned the themes "Love," "Tenderness and Sensitivity," "High Involvement and Care," and "Difficulties" than did fathers, whereas more fathers mentioned the themes "Guidance" and "Pleasure in Joint Activities" than did mothers. The findings portray a nuanced view of the parenting experience of mothers and fathers of preschoolers with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early intervention (EI) provides requisite support to address the developmental needs of infants and toddlers and assists families in understanding how to meet their child's needs. However, at age 3, those services are no longer offered and families are required to transition to school services. To date, there are limited studies about families' perceptions of their child transitioning from EI to school services. To address this gap in the literature, a qualitative study, with semi-structured interviews, was conducted with 14 parents. The study examined the transition process from EI to school services. The findings suggest that parents had positive experiences in EI, particularly with the EI team. Notably, participants expressed feeling elevated levels of stress during the transition from EI services to school services and relied on EI and school professionals to secure services with minimal input in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Effective health communication can increase intent to vaccinate. We compared 8 messages that may influence parents' intent to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey of adults in the United States administered online in August 2021, 1837 parents and legal guardians were exposed to 8 messages (individual choice, gain/practical benefits, nonexpert, health care provider recommendation, altruism/community good, safety/effectiveness, safety, and effectiveness) to determine message reception and influence on intent to vaccinate their children. Parents responded to 10 questions using a Likert scale. We computed odds ratios (ORs) for each message, with an OR >1.0 indicating greater observed odds of participant agreement with the follow-up statement as compared with a reference message. We compared outcomes individually across messages with ordinal logistic regression fit using generalized estimating equations. Results: The individual choice message had the highest odds of agreement for understanding intent (OR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.94-2.27), followed by the health care provider recommendation message (OR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.46-1.71). The individual choice message had the highest odds of memorability, relatability, and trustworthiness. The altruism/community good message was at or near second best. The altruism/community good message had the highest or near-highest odds of increasing parents' intent to vaccinate their children, asking friends and family for their thoughts, and searching for additional information. The message that most motivated parents to vaccinate their children depended on parental intent to vaccinate prior to being exposed to the tested messages. Conclusions: Messages with themes of individual choice, health care provider recommendation, and altruism/community good may be used in future message campaigns. Further research is needed to refine message concepts related to altruism/community good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effect of parental emotion socialization behavior (ESB) on depressive symptoms with a focus on the mediating effect of emotion regulation and the moderating role of family cohesion. A total of 236 Chinese adolescents were surveyed and reported on parental ESB, family cohesion, emotion dysregulation, and depressive symptoms. The results indicated that parental ESB toward negative emotions was associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms, as mediated by emotion dysregulation. Moreover, higher levels of family cohesion both enhanced the negative relationships between supportive ESB toward anger/sadness and emotion dysregulation and strengthened the positive relationship between non-supportive parental ESB toward sadness and emotion dysregulation. These findings clarify the interactive effects of multiple components of emotional parenting, reveal the double-edged effects of family cohesion in the association between parental ESB and depressive symptoms in adolescents, and highlight the importance of evaluating the family emotional context in research and clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cooperation between parents and school nurses is essential for the successful completion of school courses and a healthy school life for children with long-term conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and test a scale to measure parental perceptions of partnerships between school nurses and parents in the school health care (SHC) system for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: The content validity, factorial structure validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, known-group validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the School Healthcare Partnership Scale for Parents (SHCPS-P) were evaluated. Data were analyzed by performing exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Pearson's correlation, Cronbach's α, and independent t -tests. The total sample included 155 parents for the EFA and 49 parents for the stability test. Seventeen items, grouped into 3 dimensions, were extracted through principal axis factoring. Results: The total variance explained by these factors was 53.57%. The scale demonstrated a high correlation with parental satisfaction regarding school nursing and a moderate correlation with diabetes-related safety, thereby showing convergent validity. A low correlation with empathy demonstrated discriminant validity. A significant difference existed in the partnership scores in known-group comparisons. Cronbach's α was 0.95, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.95, which showed reliability. Conclusions: This study suggests that the SHCPS-P is a reliable and valid tool for measuring the perception of SHC partnership among parents of children with T1D and can be used as an indicator to measure parents' perspectives about SHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to examine whether the moderating role of social support on the negative association between school-age bullying victimization and life satisfaction in middle-age was different by age of victimization. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted using data collected at the ages of 7, 11 and 50 years in the 1958 British birth cohort (N = 18,558). Frequency of bullying victimization (never, sometimes, or frequently) was assessed by parental interviews at ages seven and 11. A self-reported questionnaire assessed life satisfaction and perceived social support (instrumental and emotional) at age 50. To determine the moderating effect of social support on the association between bullying victimization and life satisfaction, hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in which two interaction terms, victimization at age seven by social support and victimization at age 11 by social support, were simultaneously entered into the models. Results: Among 5304 respondents subjected to the statistical analysis, 34% had bullying victimization at age 7 years; 23% had bullying victimization at age 11 years. Instrumental support significantly buffered the effect of frequent victimization at age 11 (β = 0.03, p = 0.03) and significantly deteriorated the effect of frequent victimization at age 7 years (β = −0.04, p = 0.01), after adjusting for childhood confounders. No significant moderating effect was observed for emotional support. Conclusions: Instrumental support in middle-age may more effectively buffer the effect of late school-age victimization than of early school-age victimization, while both effect sizes were small and additional research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study forms part of a major longitudinal research project collaboration between the Anna Freud Centre, Coram and Great Ormond Street Hospital, which set out to explore adopted children's and adoptive parents' outcomes and experiences from middle childhood through to adolescence. In this paper, 17 adoptive mothers of late adopted children, currently in early adolescence (aged 12 to 15 years), were interviewed. The focus of the study draws upon their worries and fears regarding their children during adolescence and as they approach adulthood. The Parent Development Interviews (PDI) were analysed using thematic analysis and generated five overarching themes: Vulnerability, Violence, Derailing opportunities, Autonomy and Anxieties about the birth family. This qualitative exploration provides strong evidence for how these parents reflected upon very concrete challenges and anxieties about their child's journey, including both their current context and anticipated outcomes. The overwhelming majority of research to date on this population examines negative outcomes quantitatively; this study adds an important qualitative layer of the parents' own perspectives. Plain Language Summary: This study draws upon the experiences of adoptive parents, all of whom were mothers, of late-adopted children, currently in early adolescence (aged 12 to 15 years). The study focused on their worries and fears regarding their children during adolescence and as they approach adulthood. Seventeen adoptive parents were interviewed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI) and the data were analysed using thematic analysis and generated five overarching themes: Vulnerability, Violence, Derailing opportunities, Autonomy and Anxieties about the birth family. This study provides strong evidence for how these parents identified and reflected upon very real challenges and anxieties about their child's journey including both their current lives and anticipated futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased childhood cancer survival rates have spurred a new body of research pertaining to the cancer-survivorship continuum. Literature suggests a lack of research and guidelines for care at the end of treatment (EOT). To improve the transition to survivorship and determine any posttreatment challenges, this study explored the experiences of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs), parents/caregivers, and pediatric oncology health care professionals (HCPs) at EOT. Method: This study employed a mixed methods design. EOT Questionnaires were completed by CCSs and parents/caregivers within 6 months of completing treatment, and by pediatric oncology HCPs. Results: A total of 75 CCSs and parents/caregivers and 21 HCPs completed the study. The majority of parents/caregivers (78%) and older CCSs (94%) recalled having an EOT "meeting." Most were satisfied with the meeting, but described unexpected worries/problems following EOT. Family members stating they were "very satisfied" with the EOT meeting increased significantly relative to the number of EOT topics addressed. In contrast, the omission of certain psychosocial discussion topics negatively correlated with satisfaction. Oncologists provided the majority of EOT services, with infrequent provision by other HCPs. Less than 20% of HCPs characterized families as "very satisfied" with EOT services and suggested improvements to meet families' needs. Discussion: This study found unmet psychosocial and anticipatory guidance needs, indicating a lack of preparedness. The results suggest that end of cancer treatment requires a more standardized, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary approach. Enhanced education and support services are needed to promote the successful navigation of all families through this period of transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in young children and adolescents. During the period of adolescence, young people with diabetes often struggle with self-management and have compromised health-related quality of life. This often leads to familial conflicts affecting all family members negatively. The aim of this study is to provide qualitative insight into the everyday life of families with adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods: The data consisted of participatory family workshops conducted using interactive dialogue tools. The total number of participants was 33 (adolescents n = 13, parents n = 20). The adolescents were between 15 and 17 years. The data were analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results: The results showed two main themes. The first theme, Diabetes-friendly and unfriendly social contexts, highlighted how the (dis)comfortability of disclosing diabetes was a significant factor in achieving optimal metabolic control. For parents, it affected their perception of social support. The second theme, incongruent illness representations among family members, dealt with the extended family conflict during the period of adolescence. Discussion: Insights from our study could help healthcare professionals apply a family-centered approach minimizing family conflict and supporting metabolic control when consulting families with adolescents with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to kindergarten (TTK) occurs at a stage in a child's development when it can have a direct impact on later school success. For children with disabilities, TTK may be especially challenging, and U.S. federal policy provides limited guidance and mandates related to use of practices to support children with disabilities and their familes. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' and kindergarten general education teachers' perceptions and experiences related to the TTK from an inclusive preschool for children with disabilities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six parents and seven kindergarten teachers. Themes identified high-intensity transition practices as especially helpful during the transition process, and limited communication and collaboration, late teacher assignment, and ecological differences in preschool and kindergarten as challenging. Parents described the importance of sharing their prior experiences with new team members, and kindergarten teachers emphasized a desire to be included in the transition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal population-based study examines the association between maltreatment victimization experiences and the likelihood of intergenerational (dis)continuity of maltreatment. Our data include all individuals born in 1983/1984 in Queensland (QLD), Australia who are registered as parents via birth records and who experienced system contacts for maltreatment victimization in childhood (n = 2906). Child safety data on system contacts as a child victim and person responsible for harm to a child were obtained from the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs. Out-of-home care experiences and maltreatment frequency, timing, and type were examined. Results indicated that childhood maltreatment experiences significantly differed between parents who were not subsequently responsible for harm to a child (cycle breakers) and parents who were subsequently responsible for harm to a child (cycle maintainers). Different patterns of association were observed across sex. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity of victim maltreatment experiences and associated risk of maltreatment for their children, and can inform effective and targeted interventions by tailoring these by sex and developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parent involvement in social skills training programs for autistic children has been associated with improvement in child and family functioning. However, limited research has explored parents' treatment experiences, which may elucidate key therapeutic elements mediating long-term maintenance of outcomes. This study examines parent perspectives on the University of California, Los Angeles Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Preschoolers, a group-based social skills intervention for young autistic children with social challenges. Twenty-four parents reported on outcomes and participated in semi-structured interviews 1–5 years after program completion. Inductive thematic analysis was used to categorize parent responses across four domains: Parenting behaviors, Child Outcomes, Parent Perspectives, and Challenges within Treatment. Results demonstrated an overall positive impact of PEERS® for Preschoolers, with children displaying increased social competence in peer interactions and parents emphasizing greater positivity, new parenting strategies, increased understanding, and more robust community support. Mixed methods analyses revealed that parents who endorsed continued use of social coaching skills, in particular priming and preparing their child for social interactions, showed greater improvements in long-term child functioning and parenting stress. Findings validate the efficacy of PEERS® for Preschoolers, while emphasizing the value of providing strengths-based coaching and social supports to parents participating in social skills treatment for children on the autism spectrum. Autistic children have social communication differences that can contribute to difficulties making and keeping friends, as well as poor mental health (e.g. anxiety, depression). Social skills training programs for preschoolers on the spectrum have been shown to increase social functioning and improve outcomes. Parent involvement in these programs is essential, as parents are able to use the intervention strategies outside of sessions. Teaching parents skills to help their children is also thought to reduce parenting stress through empowerment, knowledge, and social support. However, we still do not know much about how parents experience social skills treatments and whether there are specific parts that are especially helpful to them. This study examined parent perspectives on the University of California, Los Angeles Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Preschoolers, an evidence-based, group social skills intervention for autistic young children who are struggling socially. Twenty-four parents reported on their child's progress through questionnaires and participated in semi-structured interviews that asked about their experiences and perspectives 1–5 years after completing (PEERS®) for Preschoolers. Parents reported that their children displayed increased social skills and confidence after (PEERS®) for Preschoolers, while parents described feeling more positive, supported, and having greater understanding of their child and their development. Those parents who continued to use strategies taught in (PEERS®) for Preschoolers, particularly priming and preparing their child for social activities, showed greater improvements in long-term child outcomes and parenting stress. Overall, findings show that parents had a positive experience during and after PEERS® for Preschoolers, finding the program helpful in multiple ways to both their child and to themselves as a parent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous research has indicated that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can lead to a decreased quality of life in children and their families as compared to children who do not have SDB. The purpose of this study was to examine fatigue levels in parents who had young children who were impacted by sleep symptoms as determined by the OSA-18 scale. Study Design: Survey. Setting: Three pediatric otolaryngology clinics associated with a tertiary care children's hospital in Buffalo, NY. Methods: Fatigue levels for parents of children with OSA-18 ≥ 60 were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Consecutive parents with at least one child between the ages of 1 and 10 were recruited. Parents scored their youngest child on the OSA-18 scale. Results: Of the 261 respondents included, 37 parents had a child with an OSA-18 score ≥60. The majority, 211 (82.1%), of participants reported 2 caregivers in the household while 30 (11.7%) had 1 caregiver in the household. Parents of children with OSA-18 ≥60 had a significantly higher mean fatigue score, 16.5 ± 5.8, compared to their counterparts, 11.9 ± 5.2, on the Chalder Fatigue Scale (P <.001). Similar results were reported for the total score on the Fatigue Severity Scale, 34.7 ± 10.8 compared to 28.9 ± 12.0 (P =.004). Conclusion: Parents of children with OSA-18 score ≥60 are significantly more fatigued than parents of children with lower scores. Recognition of this is important for the health care community as it impacts not just the child with OSA but also their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to know how students in school and parents perceive social networks. A random sample of 50 adolescents aged 17–21 and 50 parents aged 45–48 irrespective of gender were selected randomly from students in the eleventh and twelfth grades with their parents in Ambala, Haryana, India. A self-developed questionnaire consisting of 60 items about social networking was used, of which half of the items were in favour and half not in favour of social networking. The scoring of the questionnaire was done using scores 1 to 7 correlating to the options from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree'. Descriptive analysis and part–whole correlations and t-ratios were used to analyse the obtained data. The difference in opinion between parents and adolescents about social networking is more evident when one considers the generation gap, income group and rural and urban groups. The attitude of parents, teachers and adolescents towards social networking sites is neutral. Social networking sites are both a boon and a curse, depending upon the level of awareness pertaining to the different aspects such as privacy, accessibility and the purpose for which they are being used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White parents' approaches to racial socialization can have significant consequences for children's understanding of race, racial bias, and racial justice. Across three studies, we attempted to identify three racial socialization practices that White parents employ. In Study 1, 238 White parents self-reported their racial socialization practices and listed their children's friends' age, race, and gender. Exploratory factor analysis suggested evidence for three scales: race-consciousness, discussion-hesitancy, and race-evasiveness. Parents' discussion hesitancy was positively associated, and race consciousness negatively associated, with the racial homogeneity of their child's friendship group. In Study 2 (N = 79), White parents' discussion-hesitancy was again positively associated with the racial homogeneity of their child's friendship group. In Study 3, with 21 White parents and their children independently reporting, White parents' discussion hesitancy was again positively associated with the racial homogeneity of their child's friendship group. Parents' comfort level when discussing race and parents' intergroup contact provided additional validational evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psychosocial adjustment can be challenging for children with cleft lip with or without a cleft palate (CL ± P). Previous studies have linked social integration with self-acceptance and highlighted the impact of the parents' stress on self-acceptance. Teasing can be linked to children having difficulties explaining their diagnosis to others. This prospective research aimed to gain a better understanding of family communication about cleft, children's oral storytelling about their cleft, and explore their self-image and perceived familial acceptance. Participants: Parents and their children with CL ± P (N = 54; average age: 5.6 years). Design: Semistructured interviews with parents and structured interviews with children were conducted regarding their oral storytelling focusing on scars from cleft lip surgery. Children completed a projective test to explore their self-image and perceptions of familial acceptance. Language screening was completed with the French Wechsler Preschool Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition. Results: Only 30% of children explained their cleft in a way appropriate for peers, including presence at birth, having had surgery, and scar location. Children's ability to explain their cleft was not related to language performance, which was in the average range of 84%. Children's cleft explanations were dependent on parents' narratives and education methods, including the use of verbal explanations and preoperative photographs. Children's storytelling was related to their self-image and perceived parental acceptance. Conclusion: Cleft teams should assist families in building their cleft story based on a complete explanation with photographs and a positive and accepting approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]