Protective factors for social-emotional well-being of refugee children in the first three years of settlement in Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Zwi ◽  
Lisa Woodland ◽  
Katrina Williams ◽  
Pamela Palasanthiran ◽  
Santuri Rungan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Social Emotional

AimThis longitudinal study investigated protective factors for social-emotional well-being in refugee children in Australia.MethodsNewly arrived refugee children aged 4–15 years were recruited between 2009 and 2013 and assessments were conducted at two points, at years 2 and 3 postarrival. Social-emotional well-being was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Protective factors were assessed by structured interview and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS); scores <150 reflect fewer stressful life events in the previous year.ResultsForty-three eligible refugee children were recruited. The SDQ was completed by parents in 90% and protective factor data in 80% at years 2 and 3 of follow-up. Protective factors for normal SDQ scores were: originating from Africa (p=0.01), father present on arrival (p=0.019) and family SRRS scores <150 at year 2 (p=0.045). The median number of protective factors was 4 (range 1–8). Better SDQ scores were associated with ≥4 protective factors (p<0.006). Furthermore, more protective factors increased the child’s likelihood of a stable or improved SDQ score over time (p<0.04). Modifiable protective factors likely to promote social-emotional well-being include stability in the child’s school and residence, parental employment, financial and marital stability, proximity to one’s own ethnic community and external community support.ConclusionsCumulative protective factors, some of which are potentially modifiable, can predict social-emotional well-being in newly arrived refugee children. Children with four or more protective factors are at low risk of poor social-emotional well-being.

scholarly journals Strengths-Based Assessment for Suicide Prevention: Reasons for Life as a Protective Factor From Yup’ik Alaska Native Youth Suicide

Assessment ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 107319111987578 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Allen ◽  
Stacy M. Rasmus ◽  
Carlotta Ching Ting Fok ◽  
Billy Charles ◽  
Joseph Trimble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
American Indian ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Alaska Native ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Native Youth

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native youth, and within the Alaska Native youth subpopulation, the leading cause of death. In response to this public health crisis, American Indian and Alaska Native communities have created strategies to protect their young people by building resilience using localized Indigenous well-being frameworks and cultural strengths. These approaches to suicide prevention emphasize promotion of protective factors over risk reduction. A measure of culturally based protective factors from suicide risk has potential to assess outcomes from these strengths-based, culturally grounded suicide prevention efforts, and can potentially address several substantive concerns regarding direct assessment of suicide risk. We report on the Reasons for Life (RFL) scale, a measure of protective factors from suicide, testing psychometric properties including internal structure with 302 rural Alaska Native Yup’ik youth. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the RFL is best described through three distinct first-order factors organized under one higher second-order factor. Item response theory analyses identified 11 satisfactorily functioning items. The RFL correlates with other measures of more general protective factors. Implications of these findings are described, including generalizability to other American Indian and Alaska Native, other Indigenous, and other culturally distinct suicide disparities groups.

Developmental Effects of Parent–Child Separation

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 387-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Bentley Waddoups ◽  
Hirokazu Yoshikawa ◽  
Kendra Strouf
Keyword(s):  
Community Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Social Emotional Development ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Child Separation ◽  
Parent Child

Parent–child separation occurs for many reasons, both involuntary and voluntary. We review the effects on children and youth of parent–child separation due to several of the most common reasons that are responsible for the growth in this family circumstance worldwide. These include early institutionalization; war, persecution, and conflict; separation during asylum; trafficking; conscription into armed conflict; and being left behind when parents migrate for economic or other reasons. Overall, the effects of parent–child separation are consistently negative on children's social-emotional development, well-being, and mental health. They are more severe when the separation is prolonged or accompanied by other forms of deprivation or victimization. Mitigating and protective factors include earlier stable family placement in the case of early institutionalization, parent–child communication and parenting quality, and community support in the host community. We conclude with an evaluation of group, school-based, and community-based interventions for children and youth affected by parent–child separation.

scholarly journals T27. COGNITIVE RESERVE IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT OFFSPRING OF PATIENTS DIANOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR DISORDER

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S241-S242
Author(s):  
Elena De la Serna ◽  
Patricia Camprodon-Boadas ◽  
Gisela Sugranyes ◽  
Carla Torrent ◽  
Brisa Sole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Prodromal Symptoms ◽  
Neuropsychological Variables

Abstract Background Cognitive Reserve (CR) is defined as the ability of the brain to cope and deal with physiological or pathological brain injuries. In the field of psychiatry, higher levels of CR have been associated with lower levels of psychotic symptoms, higher psycho-social functioning and higher cognitive performance, suggesting that CR should be considered as a protective factor (Barnett et al., 2006; Amoretti et al., 2016). This study aims to compare CR levels in a sample of adolescents and young adult offspring of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who are at high risk of developing these disorders (HR) and compared them with a group of healthy controls (HC). We also assess the utility of CR in predicting clinical and cognitive variables. Methods Participants were 85 HR and 45 HC. A CR proxy was calculated based on premorbid IQ, socio-occupational attainment and social activities. Clinical assessment included: the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Neuropsychological assessment included: Working Memory, Processing Speed, Verbal Memory, attention and executive functioning. A factorial analysis was conducted in order to obtain a single CR measure. Differences between groups in CR were assessed via MANCOVA and linear regressions were conducted to check the effectiveness of CR in predicting clinical and neuropsychological variables. Results No significant differences were observed in age or gender between HR and HC groups. Socioeconomic status was lower in HR subjects (F=8.100, p=0.005).CR was significantly lower in the HR group than in the HC group (F=17.522; p&lt;0.001). Moreover, the CR proxy was able to correctly classify 72.7% of the sample as either HR or HC. Our proxy was able to predict the following clinical variables in the HR group: negative (F=9.269; p=0.002), and total (F=7.290; p=0.009) prodromal symptoms, the YMRS (F=11.597; P&lt;0.001) and the HDRS (F=12.761; p&lt;0.001). In terms of neuropsychological variables, RC predicted WM (F=9.738; p=0.003), PS (F=4.557; p=0.037) and verbal memory [immediate (F=6.999; p=0.010) and delayed recall (F=10.990; P=0.002)] in the HR sample. Discussion HR subjects have lower CR than controls. CR is associated with clinical and neuropsychological variables. To our knowledge no previous studies have assessed CR in high risk samples. Nevertheless, studies conducted in adult first episode psychotic samples have shown an association between CR and the severity of symptoms.

scholarly journals Importance of Childhood Psychological Wellbeing on Parental Divorce-Educational Level Relationship

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Anna Garriga ◽  
Jorge Martínez-Lucena
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Parental Divorce ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Children Of Divorce ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Divorced Families

Although there is consistent evidence of the negative effects of parental divorce on children’s educational level, the mechanisms and the protective factors that explain the consequences of divorce on children have not been clearly determined. This information is required in order to create effective policies and programs to help children through the divorce process. This study uses the longitudinal data from the British Birth Cohort Study 1970 and structural equation models to test whether family income, maternal supervision, and children’s psychological problems mediate the effect of parental divorce on children’s educational level and to what extent these variables are important protective factors for children through the divorce process. The main aim of this study, however, is to test the importance of children’s psychological well-being on the relationship between parental divorce and children’s educational level. Only two studies noted the importance of children’s psychological well-being theoretically, but were unable to measure it. This study demonstrates empirically that children’s psychological well-being is not a negligible mechanism and that this variable represents a very important protective factor for children of divorce, since the effect of psychological problems on educational level is significantly greater for children from divorced families than for those from intact ones. Although most family policies aimed at divorced families are targeted to improving family income, these findings reveal the need for governments to ensure that all children of divorce have access to programs and interventions designed to improve their psychological well-being.

scholarly journals Comorbidity Between Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents: Bridge Symptoms and Relevance of Risk and Protective Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Konac ◽  
Katherine S. Young ◽  
Jennifer Lau ◽  
Edward D. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Parental Monitoring ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Symptom Level

AbstractDepression and anxiety are highly prevalent and comorbid in adolescents, and this co-occurrence leads to worse prognosis and additional difficulties. The relationship between depression and anxiety must be delineated to, in turn, reduce and prevent the comorbidity, however our knowledge is still limited. We used network analysis to investigate bridge symptoms; symptoms that connect individual depression and anxiety symptoms and thus can help explain the comorbidity. We also examined the role of relevant risk and protective factors in explaining these symptom-level associations between these disorders. We analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Children and Parents (n = 3670). Depression and anxiety symptoms, peer victimization, bullying, peer relational problems, prosocial behavior, and parental monitoring were assessed at a single time point around age 13 years. Stressful life events (SLEs) were assessed at age 11 years. We identified the most prominent bridge symptoms among depression (“feeling unhappy”, “feeling lonely”) and anxiety symptoms (“worrying about past”, “worrying about future”). Peer relational difficulties and SLEs were strongly associated with several depression and anxiety symptoms, such that these two risk factors created a link between individual depression and anxiety symptoms. Prosocial behavior had several negative associations with symptoms of both disorders, suggesting it can be an important protective factor.

scholarly journals Uncertain Living: Challenges of Orphans in the Philippines

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
 John Mark Vergara ◽  
Ladee Abigail Angeles ◽  
 Ashley Angel Pagkalinawan ◽  
Maurice Villafranca
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Orphaned Children ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ethical Clearance

Orphan studies are scarce internationally and locally. However, the implications of these orphans are tantamount to the society's effort to advancement. One of the problems that the Philippines need to address is its status on the abandoned, neglected and orphaned children. The country has an abandoned children problem (Kaiman & De Leon, 2016). About 1.8 million children in the Philippines are under the status of abandoned or neglected. This phenomenological study focused on the experiences, aspirations, and fears of orphaned children living in and outside the orphanage. The study sought ethical clearance from the ethics committee to ensure that ethical standards were observed. Trustworthiness and rigor were ensured through member checking. Measures to protect participants' confidentiality and anonymity were followed. Five (5) participants were purposively chosen through criterion sampling and data were collected through semi-structured interview. Narratives were transcribed verbatim and reflectively analyzed using Collaizi's (1978) Procedural Steps. Analyzed narratives revealed three (3) dominant themes: (1) Nay, Tay, Bakit? Questions of Sufferings, (2) Paglaho ng Alaala: Standing Anchored in the Ground (3) Bakas ng Nakalipas: A Choice to Move Forward. The study revealed that the orphans underwent social, emotional, mental, spiritual and physical difficulties as an orphaned child. The study includes suggestions and recommendations for exploring the health and nutritional status and psychological well-being of an orphan.

Clinical and Psychosocial Profiles of Asian Immigrants Who Repeatedly Attempt Suicide

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene W. Chung ◽  
Eric D. Caine ◽  
Charles T. Barron ◽  
Mary A. Badaracco
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Asian Immigrants ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Psychosocial Profiles

Abstract. Background: Persons who repeatedly attempt suicide comprise a highly distressed population that warrants the understanding of risk and protective factors in assessment and treatment. There is a dearth of literature on Asian immigrants’ suicidal behavior. Aims: The study aimed to capture the clinical and psychosocial profiles of Asian immigrants who made repeated suicide attempts. Method: We utilized retrospective chart reviews (n = 44) and in-person interviews (n = 12) in two urban public hospitals. Results: The study samples shared major suicide risk factors identified in studies of other populations. Participants of the interview sample suffered from a pervasive sense of hopelessness stemming from social isolation, self-stigma, feelings of failure in their life roles, and perceptions of rejection by their families. Conversely, psychological well-being – feeling cared for and able to reciprocate care for others – appeared to be a protective factor for participants who improved in their functioning and recovery. Conclusion: The study lays the groundwork for further research on suicide risk and protective factors.

Religiosity is a protective factor against self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in Jewish adolescents: Findings from a nationally representative survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 509-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.H. Amit ◽  
A. Krivoy ◽  
I. Mansbach-Kleinfeld ◽  
G. Zalsman ◽  
A.M. Ponizovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Self Report ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Report Measure ◽  
Jewish Adolescents

AbstractPurposeFew studies have investigated the association between religiosity and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors specifically in adolescents, yielding inconsistent results. To date, no study has examined this relationship in a Jewish adolescent cohort.MethodsSelf-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as depression, were assessed in a nationally representative sample of Jewish adolescents (n = 620) and their mothers, using the Development and Well-Being Assessment Inventory (DAWBA) structured interview. Degree of religiosity was obtained by a self-report measure.ResultsUsing multivariate analysis, level of religiosity was inversely associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (Wald χ2 = 3.95, P = 0.047), decreasing the likelihood of occurrence by 55% (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.2–0.99), after adjusting for depression and socio-demographic factors. This model (adjusted R2 = 0.164; likelihood ratio χ2 = 7.59; df = 1; P < 0.047) was able to correctly classify 95.6% of the patients as belonging either to the high or low risk groups.ConclusionThis is the first study demonstrating religiosity to have a direct independent protective effect against self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in Jewish adolescents. This finding has clinical implications regarding risk assessment and suicide prevention. Further research can potentially elucidate the complex relationship between religiosity, self-injury and suicide in this population.

scholarly journals Asylum seeking children and adolescents in Australian immigration detention on Nauru: a longitudinal cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000615
Author(s):  
Karen Zwi ◽  
Louise Sealy ◽  
Nora Samir ◽  
Nan Hu ◽  
Reza Rostami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Immigration Detention ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Over Time

IntroductionImmigration detention has a profound and negative impact on the physical health, mental health, development and social-emotional well-being of children, adolescents and their families. Australian clinicians will report results from detailed health and well-being assessments of asylum seeking children and adolescents who have experienced prolonged immigration detention.Methods and analysisThis is a national, multicentre study with a longitudinal cohort design that will document health and well-being outcomes of the children and adolescents who have been detained in offshore detention on the remote island of Nauru. Outcome measures will be reported from the time arrival in Australia and repeated over a 5-year follow-up period. Measures include demographics, residency history and refugee status, physical health and well-being outcomes (including mental health, development and social-emotional well-being), clinical service utilisation and psychosocial risk and protective factors for health and well-being (eg, adverse childhood experiences). Longitudinal follow-up will capture outcomes over a 5-year period after arrival in Australia. Analysis will be undertaken to explore baseline risk and protective factors, with regression analyses to assess their impact on health and well-being outcomes. To understand how children’s outcomes change over time, multilevel regression analysis will be utilised. Structural equation modelling will be conducted to explore the correlation between baseline factors, mediational factors and outcomes to assess trajectories over time.Ethics and disseminationThis research project was approved by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee. Subsequent site-specific approvals have been approved in 5 of the 11 governing bodies where the clinical consultations took place. In order to ensure this research is relevant and sensitive to the needs of the cohort, our research team includes an asylum seeker who has spent time in Australian immigration detention. Results will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed Medline-indexed journals.

Career pursuit pathways among emerging adult men and women

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shmuel Shulman ◽  
Tamuz Barr ◽  
Yaara Livneh ◽  
Jari-Erik Nurmi ◽  
Kati Vasalampi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Maternal Support ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Career Pursuit ◽  
And Gender

The present study examined career pursuit pathways in 100 Israeli emerging adults (54 men) who were followed from age 22 to 29. Employing a semi-structured interview at the age of 29, participants were asked about current work and educational status, work and educational goals and status changes in recent years, and to reflect on the meaning of the processes they followed. Analyses of interviews yielded four distinctive career pursuit pathways that were associated with different levels of concurrent well-being: Consistent Pursuit, Adapted Pursuit, Survivors, and Confused/Vague. Self-criticism, efficacy, and level of motivation measured seven years earlier predicted pathway affiliation at 29. In addition, paternal support was found to serve as a protective factor associated with adaptive career pursuit. Gender differences were found, with women more likely to be affiliated with the less adapted pathways. In addition, paternal and maternal support were differently associated with career pathways. By employing this mixed-method approach, the findings demonstrate the diversity, and gender-related nature, of career pursuit and development pathways during emerging adulthood, and indicate the importance of personality and both paternal and maternal support in the process of career development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document