Non-Normative Events and Family Functioning: The Role of the Family Psychologist

Despite being the longest relationships across the lifespan, the sibling dyad is the most under-studied relationship in the family system. Researchers have documented the harmful and beneficial effects of sibling relationships and family dynamics on individual well-being. Extending this research to middle childhood, the current study examined family functioning, sibling relational dynamics, and self-reported adjustment and internalizing symptoms among 8- to 11-year-old children. Path analyses revealed significant direct effects between conflictual family functioning and children’s psychological well-being. Significant interactions between family functioning and sibling dynamics suggested that congruent relational dynamics at multiple levels of the family system had a cumulative impact on the child’s well-being. Findings from the current study highlight the role of family functioning and the unique contributions of sibling relationships to children’s functioning, suggesting that consideration of sibling relational dynamics may improve treatment planning by pointing out additional targets for intervention and/or potential sources of support.

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The Adjustment of Children of Australian Vietnam Veterans: Is There Evidence for the Transgenerational Transmission of the Effects of War-Related Trauma?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00897.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 345-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

Ann C. Davidson ◽

David J. Mellor

Keyword(s):

Family Functioning ◽

Vietnam Veterans ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Trauma Survivors ◽

Transgenerational Transmission ◽

The Family ◽

The Impact ◽

Effects Of War ◽

Ptsd Symptomatology

Objective: The presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma survivors has been linked with family dysfunction and symptoms in their children, including lower selfesteem, higher disorder rates and symptoms resembling those of the traumatized parent. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of intergenerational transfer of PTSD in an Australian context. Method: 50 children (aged 16–30) of 50 male Vietnam veterans, subgrouped according to their fathers’ PTSD status, were compared with an age-matched group of 33 civilian peers. Participants completed questionnaires with measures of self-esteem, PTSD symptomatology and family functioning. Results: Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found between the selfesteem and PTSD symptomatology scores for any offspring groups. Unhealthy family functioning is the area in which the effect of the veteran's PTSD appears to manifest itself, particularly the inability of the family both to experience appropriate emotional responses and to solve problems effectively within and outside the family unit. Conclusion: Methodological refinements and further focus on the role of wives/mothers in buffering the impact of veterans’ PTSD symptomatology on their children are indicated. Further effort to support families of Veterans with PTSD is also indicated.

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Session 1: Getting Started in Family Treatment

Helping Families Manage Childhood OCD ◽

10.1093/med:psych/9780199357604.003.0001 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Tara S. Peris ◽

John Piacentini

Keyword(s):

Family Therapy ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Home Environment ◽

Treatment Success ◽

Skills Training ◽

Family Treatment ◽

Treatment Goals ◽

Collaborative Environment ◽

The Family

This chapter provides an overview of the first family therapy session. It describes how to introduce families to the PFIT program and to develop a collaborative environment for establishing treatment goals. It describes psychoeducation about the role of the family in child OCD treatment, including family responses and expectations that may undermine success. It places particular emphasis on helping families to understand patterns of symptom accommodation that may be a barrier to treatment success, and it describes broader family dynamics that may interfere with efforts to change accommodation. The chapter also outlines steps for assessing current family functioning, including strengths and weakness, and for evaluating the family’s current strategies for managing OCD. Initial skills training begins with exercises designed to promote positivity in the home environment.

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The role of resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in the family functioning-internet addiction symptoms link

International Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.02.012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 164 ◽

pp. 17-22

Author(s):

Hui Zhang ◽

Yun Luo ◽

Zhao Yao ◽

Kiara Barrow

Keyword(s):

Family Functioning ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Internet Addiction ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

The Family

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The mediating role of perfectionism in relation to narcissism and early trauma, family functioning and perceived parenting styles

Journal of Community Health Research ◽

10.18502/jchr.v10i2.6587 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sahar Kermanian ◽

Fatemeh Golshani ◽

Anita Baghdasarians ◽

Farhad Jomhari

Keyword(s):

Family Functioning ◽

Parenting Styles ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Perceived Parenting ◽

Mediating Role ◽

The Family ◽

Early Life Trauma ◽

Fit Index ◽

Early Trauma

Introduction: Elevated narcissism in young people often sets up a cascade of interpersonal and mental health challenges which needs to understand its concomitants. This study aimed to explain the structural model of narcissism based on early trauma, family function and perceived parenting styles with the mediating role of perfectionism. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. The statistical population of the present study consisted of 20-45 year-old males and females referring to psychological clinics of Tehran in 2018-19. A sample of 350 people was also selected using convenience sampling method. Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the McMaster family assessment device, and Perceptions of Parents Scale (POPS) were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis using SPSS-22 software and structural equation modeling was used by Amos-24 doftware. The level of significant was (p<0.05). Results: Comparative Fit index (CFI) was 0.923, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Incremental Fit Index (IFI) was appropriate; since it exceeded 0.90. Also, the Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA) was 0.075 was in the acceptable range. Based on the path findings, the fitted model showed a positive impact of early life trauma on perfectionism (p<0.01, β= 0.12), the functioning of the family (p<0.01, β= 0.21), and the style of parenting (β= 0.29, p<0.01). Narcissism had a positive impact on family functioning (p<0.01, β = 0.40) directly from early life trauma (p <0.01, β = 0.18). Conclusion: As the experience of trauma increases early in life, the likelihood of developing perfectionist tendencies increases. This indicates that the better the parenting style and the better the family functioning, the lower the level of perfectionism.

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Association of Family Functioning on Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2014-0031 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 642-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paul D. Loprinzi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

District Of Columbia ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Total N ◽

The Family ◽

Youth Physical Activity

Objective:High family functioning is associated with reduced depression symptoms, better academic achievement, less disordered eating, and better metabolic control among youth. However, we know very little about the role of family functioning on physical activity and sedentary behavior among youth, which was the purpose of this study.Methods:Data from the 2003 and 2011–2012 cycles of the National Survey of Children’s Health were used. A total of 61,226 parents/guardians from the 2003 cycle and 40,446 parents/guardians from the 2011–2012 cycle (total n = 101,672) across all 50 states and the District of Columbia were examined. Parents answered questions related to family functioning and their child’s (age 6–17 yrs) physical activity and sedentary behavior.Results:Results were the same across both cycles; after adjustments, youth engaged in less physical activity if the family had worse family functioning (β = −0.06, P < .001). Similarly, youth engaged in more sedentary behavior if the family had worse family functioning (β = 0.05, P < .001).Conclusion:This research suggests that youth are more active and engage in less sedentary behavior if their family has greater family functioning.

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