Family Context and ADHD Symptoms in Middle Childhood: an Explanatory Model

Recent research suggests that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be influenced by interactions between the individual and their social context. This study examined the predictive value of family context variables and attentional control levels on child ADHD symptoms. A new explanatory model of the relationship amongst these variables was also tested. A sample of 754 families with children aged 7 to 11 was assessed through the Conners Parent Rating Scale, the Haezi-Etxadi Family Assessment Scale, and the Attention Network Test. Path analysis models showed a predictive association between children ADHD symptoms and Social Support Network, Parental Stress, Parental Self-efficacy, Attentional Control and being male. Furthermore, a stronger Social Support Network was associated with greater Parental Self-efficacy, a variable that predicted Parental Stress levels and children ADHD symptoms. In conclusion, a new multi-influence model of variables linked to ADHD symptomatology during mid-childhood is provided, which may be useful to support the design of family interventions.

Balancing between professional and private life

The idea of reconciling work with personal life was in its heyday at the turn of the 20th century when people realised that it was impossible to completely separate these inextricably linked spheres of human existence. Neglecting either of them, and not only in the scientific discourse but also in everyday life, is in many aspects detrimental to close relationships and to the performance at work. Nevertheless, a perfect combination of these two dimensions of human activity seems almost unattainable, as a growing number of contemporary studies show. Becoming involved in one entails some negligence in the other. The family context represents a relevant example of the attempts to reach the work-life balance. It is increasingly frequent that the contemporary young adults’ generation prioritise work, individual career, and personal development in their hierarchy of values. They delay their decisions on starting a family, having children, or simply settling down until they have achieved an adequate status and prosperity. Seeking to satisfy the need for close bonds, many young adults engage in only temporary relationships (cohabitation, swingers), but also create substitutes thereof. This generation succumbs to a growing sense of loneliness, despite the fulfilling careers or satisfying material and social statuses.

The Mediation of Family Context and Youth Depressive Symptoms by Adolescent Emotion Regulation

During adolescence, young people develop crucial capacity for emotion regulation, and family context can be a risk or protective factor for adolescents developing affective disorders. We leveraged data from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey ( N = 7664) to propose adolescent emotion regulation as a mediator between family conflict, family protection, and adolescent depressive symptoms in the social development model. Latent moderated structural equation modeling revealed that adolescent regulation of negative emotions mediated the relationship between family conflict and depressive symptoms—adolescents with higher family conflict had more emotion regulation difficulties and more depressive symptoms. Adolescent age was a moderator such that associations between family protective factors and reduced depression, and between family conflict and emotion regulation difficulties were weaker in high school compared to middle school. Findings highlight the importance of youth emotion regulation processes and family emotional context in reducing adolescent depressive symptoms.

‘Hitting to Teach is One Thing, but to Hurt is a Different Thing, isn’t it?’: Understanding Cycles of Intergenerational Violence within Families

Using a qualitative case study approach, this study aimed to investigate the family context in the childhood of adults who themselves have been violent toward their own children. The study, conducted in Brazil, included the participation of three adults, of both genders, who were neglectful as well as physically and psychologically violent toward their children. Data collection was carried out using the Interview About the Past of Parents (IAPP) and family genograms. Findings demonstrate factors that contribute to the perpetuation of violence across generations, and explain the difficulties in breaking cycles of violence. Importantly, findings highlight how the discipline practices used with their own children were reproductions of the models of parenting and related manifestations of violence that the participants themselves were exposed to in childhood. From these findings, the importance of psychosocial interventions that assist family members in replacing coercive parenting practices with healthier strategies is reiterated.

Family Context Surrounding the Use of Technologies and Their Impact in Adolescents’ Media Multitasking

Recent studies pointed out that practically all adolescents are regular users of information and communications technology (ICT). Since the most usual context for the use of technology is the home, our aim is, on the one hand, to characterize the family technology context among adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years and, on the other hand, to analyse the relationship between multitasking and the different variables found within this family context. Participants were 977 adolescents. Significant relationship between the number of devices in the home and the frequency with which these are used are showed. Although a 60% of the adolescents have no parental rules over this use, there does not appear to be any relationship between the existence, or lack thereof, of rules over the use of ICT and multitasking. To reduce adolescents amount of media multitasking, we would recommend having fewer devices in the home rather than imposing rules about their use.

A Deeper Understanding of Child to Parent Violence (CPV): Personal Traits, Family Context, and Parenting

The increase in the rate of child to parent violence is a concern for society in various countries. Different psychological and personal characteristics tend to define the profile of the minors who commit this type of offense. Various social factors have been also related to this type of violence, including exposure to violence, the family environment and parenting. The relationship between child to parent violence and previous exposure to violence has yet to be clarified. Comparatively little research on this crime involving samples from juvenile court has been undertaken. This study uses a standardized measure (YLS/CMI) to determine the extent to which three of the most extensively studied groups of factors in child to parent violence—the family context, parenting and the adolescents’ psychological characteristics are relevant in the predicting this type of violence. The sample consisted of a total of 342 juveniles from a Juvenile Court in Eastern Spain, dealt with under the terms of Organic Law 5/2000 regulating the Criminal Responsibility of Minors. A child to parent violence group is compared with a control group committing the entire range of offenses. Personal variables, antisocial personality and exposure to violence play a clear role in the commission of this type of crime. Parenting has a determinant influence even when compared with family characteristics. What affects the commission of this type of violence in the most serious cases is therefore not having been exposed to it, but instead the individual’s upbringing and their current relationship with their parents.

A Family Systems Perspective of Elder Family Financial Exploitation: Examining Family Context Profiles

Objective: Informed by Family Systems Theory, this study examines the interwoven nature of intergenerational family structures and roles in which elder family financial exploitation (EFFE) takes place. Method: Data from a mixed-methods study were utilized to examine patterns of family structures and roles within and across 23 family systems. Participants were non-perpetrator/non-victim concerned family members (CFMs) who had experienced EFFE. Results: Four family context profiles were identified, organized by the number and roles of victim(s) and perpetrator(s) in each family system, including: Single victim, Single perpetrator; Single victim, Multiple perpetrators; Two victims, Single perpetrator; and Two victims, Multiple perpetrators. It is possible for multiple perpetrators to be involved, with up to five perpetrators across three generations in our sample. Discussion: Findings offer insight into the range of intergenerational family structures and roles affected by EFFE. Practitioners are encouraged to understand and address family contexts to improve EFFE intervention outcomes.

Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Family Context of Foster and Non-Foster Families

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown have had a far-reaching impact across all levels of society. In Spain, severe restrictions were placed on people’s mobility, and leaving the home was only possible under special circumstances. This study analyzes the impact of lockdown on the family context of foster and non-foster families, focusing particularly on their levels of cohesion, adaptability, and perceived stress. It also examines a series of variables that may have influenced foster families’ perceptions of their family context during lockdown. Data were gathered through an online survey that was completed by 347 individuals corresponding to 100 foster families and 247 non-foster families from different regions of Spain. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory in nature. The results appear to suggest that lockdown has had a greater impact on the family context of non-foster families. With respect to foster families’ experiences of lockdown, variables such as loss of employment and having a child with special educational needs would seem to be important. For both types of families, lockdown has provided an opportunity to improve certain aspects of their family context. Given that further lockdowns of some degree may be necessary in the future, it is important to ensure that families have access to the psychoeducational resources they need to maintain, as far as possible, a positive family context.

The Long Arm of Child Maltreatment and Mental Health in Later Life: The Effects of Maltreatment and Family Context?

Purpose. This article examines the role of family context in shaping the influence of childhood maltreatment on later life psychological well-being in the cultural context of Chinese society. Method. Data were drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) baseline. Maltreatment was measured by corporal punishment by either mother or father in childhood. We used family violence, parents’ family socioeconomic status (SES) and mental health to represent family context. Result. Our ordinary least square regression analysis shows that corporal punishment administered by a mother was associated with higher depressive symptoms (b=0.308, p<0.05) in later life while being hit by father did not result in higher depressive symptoms. Family contexts had residual (“long arm”) influence on respondents’ mental health: violence in the family, including being hit by siblings (b=0.657, p<0.001) and witnessing violence between parents (b=0.658, p<0.001) contributed significantly to higher depressive symptoms. Conclusion. Corporal punishment by parents had long term effects on mental health of their children in later life. Cultural values, such as filial piety did not eliminate the negative impacts of being hit in childhood on mental health in later life. Family contexts including violence between parents also played important roles in shaping the relationship between child maltreatment and mental health in later life. Implication. Our study offers important insights about the complex matrix of cultural traditions, social circumstances and diversity in dealing with child rearing stress and their consequences for later life mental health.