Families as Natural Experiments

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 519-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAY D. TEACHMAN
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Omitted Variables ◽  
Random Effects Models ◽  
Fixed And Random Effects ◽  
The Impact

In this article, the author argues that data on siblings provide a way to account for the impact of unmeasured, omitted variables on relashionships of interest. This is possible because families form a sort of natural experiment. Family members are likely to have many shared experiences, as well as a common genetic heritage, but relationships between variables defined as differences between family members cannot be attributed to these shared family characteristics. Although fixed- and random-effects models are discussed as one means to make use of information on siblings from the same family, the author proposes a latent-variable structural equation approach to the problem. This model provides estimates of both within-and between-family relationships, and it accounts for the impact of measurement error.

Examining the interrelationships among reward systems, organisational climate and cultural changes in the hospitality industry

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Kakarougkas ◽  
Theodoros Stavrinoudis
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Reward System ◽  
Senior Executives ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Organisational Climate ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Method Of Extraction

This paper aims to explore the impact of a hotel’s reward system on strengthening: positiverelationships and communication among employees; the creation of a change-friendlyorganisational climate and cultural change barriers, within the context of a cultural changeprocess in a hotel. Quantitative data were collected from a proportionally stratified,representative sample of 207 Greek five-star hotels’ senior executives and analysed with theprincipal component method of extraction and Structural Equation Modelling. This led to thecreation and validation of three prototype second-order latent variable models, whichhighlight and depict the impact of individual variables and their importance for a rewardsystem creating an organisational climate for or against cultural change in hotels. Theoriginality of the paper lays on both theoretical and practical levels. On a theoretical level, thepaper’s findings manage to fill a knowledge gap through a novel modelling of a rewardsystem on a hotel’s organisational climate in times of cultural change. On a practical level, thepaper findings enable hotels’ executives to focus on specific variables of a reward system thatcan enhance and/or prevent a cultural change initiative.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON DAILY SUPPORT TO FAMILY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN ADULTHOOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S235-S235
Author(s):  
Jooyoung Kong ◽  
Yin Liu ◽  
David Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Study ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Extensive evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative health effects across a lifetime. This study examines the impact of ACEs on the frequency of providing daily support (i.e., unpaid assistance, emotional support, and disability-related assistance) to family members and the moderating effects of ACEs in the association between providing daily support to family and daily negative affect. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that a greater number of ACEs were associated with providing more frequent emotional support to family. We also found the significant interaction effect that adults with more ACEs showed greater negative affect on the days when they provided assistance to family members with disabilities. The findings underscore the long-term negative impact of ACEs on daily well-being in the context of family relationships.

scholarly journals The Impact of Working Capital Management on Profitability: The Case of Small and Medium-Sized Export Companies in Tunisia

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meryem Bellouma
Keyword(s):  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Random Effects Models ◽  
Accounts Receivable ◽  
Cash Conversion Cycle ◽  
Fixed And Random Effects ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
The Impact

Working capital is an important component in the financial decision of the company. An optimal working capital management is reached through a trade off between profitability and liquidity. This study aims to provide empirical evidence about the effects of working capital management on the profitability of 386 Tunisian export SMEs observed from 2001 to 2008. The results of fixed and random effects models show a negative relationship between corporate profitability and the different working capital components. This reveals that Tunisian export SMEs should shorten their cash conversion cycle by reducing the number of days of accounts receivable and inventories to increase their profitability.

scholarly journals Stress and Coping in a Self-Isolated Family during COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 120-134
Author(s):  
T.L. Kryukova ◽  
O.A. Ekimchik ◽  
T.P. Opekina ◽  
N.S. Shipova
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Coping Behavior ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
International Projects ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Depression Scales ◽  
The Impact

Objective. To find out the level of stressfulness of inside family isolation in Russia; coping with the negative effects of a pandemic, fear and isolation. Background. The situation of a health threat causes unexpected stress enhancing the fear of getting infected, uncertainty, anxiety. The coronavirus disease outbreak has introduced special demands: to lockdown not to get infected. But it also “triggers” adaptive coping behavior. It`s suggested that situation-adequate coping, as well as close relationships based on support, reduce the effects of coronavirus threat. Domestic violence and its effects (physical abuse, mental illness, PTSD) negatively affect family relationships, maybe as deadly as the coronavirus, require immediate prevention. Study design. A mini-longitudinal empirical study was conducted online at the beginning (27.03.2020—12.04.2020) (N1=248) and in the second half of lockdown (28.04.2020—03.05.2020) (N2=310). The role of stressors in changing family relationships has been correlated with the impact of catching COVID-19 threat and self-isolation on the psychological state of family members. Participants. 558 volunteers aged 18—87, including 425 women and 117 men; the majority of them (66%) have their own family — 369 are married/in a relationship; work. Measurements. A questionnaire created by the authors on the basis of international projects assessing impact of stress and self-isolation on family relationships, standardized anxiety and depression scales; coping scales. Results. Negative outcomes of the threat of infection and isolation are reduced if coping is adequate, emotional support from family members, and their views on the necessary daily changes are consistent. Stress levels are higher in single people. Having a partner is important for ways of coping choice. Conclusions. Stress generating from the threat of catching virus/COVID-19 experienced by people during lockdown in close/family relationships is normative as long as they use coping strategies, adequate to the situation (acceptance, positive reappraisal) with a low frequency of choosing less adequate strategies.

scholarly journals Serving kinship families During COVID: Pivotal moments

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 835-835
Author(s):  
Andrea Smith ◽  
Michelle Mongeluzzo ◽  
Tawyna Drente
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Service Agency ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Pivotal Moments ◽  
Kinship Caregivers ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Kinship caregivers, who are relatives or non-family members providing care to children when biological parents are unable to do so, comprise over 2.5 million adults in the United States. The vast majority are grandparent caregivers. The 7.8 million children in their care make up approximately 10.5 percent of all children in the United States under the age of 18 (Generations United, 2017: State of Grandfamilies). Navigating daily life is often challenging. Kinship caregivers routinely face difficulties in multiple aspects of their lives, including finances, physical health, mental health, education, employment, parenting, and family relationships. The COVID pandemic heightened existing challenges and stimulated new issues for many kinship providers and the children in their care. This poster will highlight actions taken by one Family Service agency, annually serving approximately 225 kinship families, to meet the unprecedented needs of family members and kinship program staff during COVID. A timeline of decision-related rationales, specific actions taken and results related to these actions will be presented. Data summarizing results for kinship families (n =32) related to COVID-impacted programmatic responses and changes, including level of involvement with group services, recidivism, perceived isolation, and efficacy related to their caregiving roles will be presented. Results summarizing the impact of the agency's COVID-related responses on kinship staff (n = 6) will also be presented, including data on staff members' level of stress, perceived support, perceptions of programmatic effectiveness, and prioritized importance of changes will also be shared.

scholarly journals Karantzas et al. (2020) COVID-19 Relationship Wellbeing & Loneliness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gery Karantzas ◽  
Susan Chesterman ◽  
Elizabeth Ferguson ◽  
Laura Knox ◽  
Nicholas Lawless ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
The Impact

It has been assumed that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted parental and family relationships due to issues including economic problems, strains of home confinement and social isolation. Despite these assumptions, there has been little research to date investigating the impact of COVID-19 stressors on parents’ relationship wellbeing and loneliness. Hence, there is an insufficient evidence base with which to guide policy or action in this most critical arena. The current study reports data from a large national representative sample (N=1,829) of Australian parents, surveyed during the early phases of the COVID-19 lockdown. Drawing on widely studied relationship models of vulnerability-stress and stress-buffering, Structural Equation Models (SEM) were derived to test the extent that COVID-19 stressors, personal vulnerabilities (mental health problems, attachment insecurity), relationship adaptation processes (constructive communication, partner support), and the interactions between these variables, predicted relationship quality and loneliness. After controlling for pre-pandemic stressors, relationship adaptations buffered the negative effects of COVID-19 stressors and personal vulnerabilities on relationship quality and loneliness. The findings provide support for a model of stress-buffering over a model of vulnerability-stress. The findings have important implications for the identification of parents at risk of relationship difficulties and social disconnection during the pandemic, and for policy and practice in how best to strengthen relationships and human connection during COVID-19.

scholarly journals Links between Attitudes, Mode Choice, and Travel Satisfaction: A Cross-Border Long-Commute Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9203
Author(s):  
Philippe Gerber ◽  
Marius Thériault ◽  
Christophe Enaux ◽  
Samuel Carpentier-Postel
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mode Choice ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Omitted Variables ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Latent Constructs ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Demographic Attributes ◽  
The Impact

This paper focuses on a particular form of high mobility, namely the long journeys to work generated by cross-border job market. More precisely, it studies the impact of such behaviors on well-being by analyzing the relationships between mode choice, transport-related attitudes, socio-demographic and spatial attributes, and the level of satisfaction in the context of cross-border long commutes to Luxembourg. The statistical modelling is rooted to a conceptual framework that emphasizes the mutual dependencies between attitudes, mode choice, and satisfaction. Based on a survey among long-distance commuters (N = 3093) held in 2010 and 2011, two ordered logistic regressions, one of which including latent constructs of transport-related attitudes derived from a structural equation modelling, are developed to explain satisfaction in commuting. Main findings are: (1) Travel-related attitudes influence satisfaction with travel more than socio-demographic attributes; (2) public transport users are globally more satisfied in commuting than car drivers; (3) the socio-economic model of satisfaction is plagued by omitted variables issues; (4) the attitude model of satisfaction drops all but one socio-economic attributes (education remains) while improving adjustment (Pseudo-R-squared = 0.57 versus 0.09; BIC = 2953 versus 6059) and avoiding omitted variables bias. The effect of attitudes and other latent constructs is of paramount importance, even concealing most socio-demographic attributes to assess satisfaction. The conclusion is devoted to a discussion on the sustainability of these cross-border long commutes from the individual, social, and environmental points of view.

Exploring the role of extended family members in relation to a chronic family stressor : explicating the association between support, standards, stress, and coping in the context of autism

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alexie H. Hays
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Family Systems Theory ◽  
Equation Modeling

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The recent growth in autism spectrum disorder diagnoses across the United States has alerted scholars to assess the support needs of families with a child on the autism spectrum. One potential large support resource that has been deemed both supportive and unsupportive is the extended family. Much remained to be explored regarding the degree to which communication, particularly in the face of a child's developmental disability, sustains or impedes (extended) family relationships. Therefore, from the perspective of the parent with a child with autism, the current investigation explored the communicative role, including the standards being met and the level of support, of three extended family members in relation to autism. This study drew upon Family Systems Theory with special emphasis on the extended family, literature related to support and relational standards, the Communication-Based Model of Coping (Maguire 2012; 2015), and utilized mixed methods, including content analysis and structural equation modeling. Survey results revealed that parents (n = 191) of a child with autism hold their extended family to certain standards, namely, they ideally want emotional/instrumental support, openness, acceptance, empathy, and positivity. Further, the types of support that parents find the most helpful include tangible, informational, esteem, emotional, appraisal, network, avoidant, child esteem, and social presence, unlike inconsiderate and unaccommodating support. Importantly, parents in this study reported that they do not have any of their standards met in full by their three chosen extended family members. Having all standards go unmet impacts their relational satisfaction, specifically with their first most significant extended family member. Further, having some standards go unmet by their second and third most significant extended family members negatively impacts parents' problem-solving abilities and stress level, but positively impacts their reappraisal ability. Together, these findings offer three contributions: (a) a better understanding of the degree to which parents with a child with autism perceive that their extended family members are meeting their standards, (b) a clear examination of how perceived and actual standards interplay with their relational dynamics, coping ability, and stress level, (c) and a thorough understanding of the ways in which communication from extended family ranges in supportiveness to a parent raising a child with autism.

scholarly journals The ties that bind us: how existing relationships, health and gender shape family care in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice G. Gullick ◽  
M. Colleen Stainton
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
The Impact

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) changes family roles and relationship dynamics and the experience of the disease is influenced by family functioning. Merleau- Ponty&rsquo;s existential philosophy of the body provided the framework for this Heideggerian phenomenological inquiry. Fifteen people with COPD and 14 family members engaged in 58 semi-structured interviews either face-to-face or by telephone. This study identified a difference in the essence of the lived experiences between male and female carers, and between spousal and non-spousal carers in relation to severe COPD. Previous reciprocity framed the level of acceptance of the caring role and perception of care burden. The stories highlight the self-perceived need for women carers to be <em>conscious micro-managers</em> of illness. Male family members would care alongside, lending support and caring in a reactive way as specific needs or crises arose. Caring in COPD required a <em>binding vigilance</em>; a constant need of the carer to monitor the physical and emotional well-being of the sick person that bound them emotionally and cognitively to the task of caring. Carers were the managers of crises and families cared from a perspective of possible death. Family was perceived as the best thing in life. Health professionals should consider the influence of gender, family relationships and the impact of reciprocity when planning support for family caregivers. Further research is required to identify the similarities and differences in family caring between COPD and other chronic illnesses, and to further understand the specific needs of male carers.

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