Effects of family risk on early attachment security: Gender-specific susceptibility and mediation by parenting behavior

Growing up in high-risk environments is detrimental to children’s development of attachment security. Parenting behavior is hypothesized to be the mechanism through which risks exert their influence. However, risk influences can vary between individuals by gender. Aim of this study was to explore specific pathways of family risk on early attachment security and additionally examine the transmission via parenting behavior. The sample consisted of 197 children and their primary caregivers. Children’s age ranged between 10 and 21 months ( M = 15.25, SD = 3.59). Data assessment included 21 distal and proximal family risk factors, children’s attachment security, and parental responsivity and supportive presence. Whereas distal risk factors had an adverse effect only on girls’ attachment security, proximal risks negatively affected only boys’ attachment security. Additionally, patterns of risk factors occurring in our sample were analyzed using an exploratory principal component analysis. Regardless of the child’s gender, a low socio- economic status was negatively related to attachment security of all children. Migration and crowding and a high emotional load of the primary caregiver both negatively predicted girls’ but not boys’ attachment security. However, the attachment security of boys was affected by a negative family climate. Most of the adverse risk effects on attachment security were mediated by parental responsivity and supportive presence so that the transmission of risk occurs through parenting behavior. Results revealed a different susceptibility of family risks for girls and boys. The consideration of a gender-sensitive approach in developmental psychopathology and interventions of developmental child welfare services is recommended.

Exploring the Contribution of Proximal Family Risk Factors on SLC6A4 DNA Methylation in Children with a History of Maltreatment: A Preliminary Study

The cumulative effects of proximal family risk factors have been associated with a high number of adverse outcomes in childhood maltreatment, and DNA methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with child maltreatment. However, the relationships between proximal family risk factors and SLC6A4 methylation remains unexplored. We examined the association among cumulative family risk factors, maltreatment experiences and DNA methylation in the SLC6A4 gene in a sample of 33 child victims of maltreatment. We computed a cumulative family risk (CFR) index that included proximal family risk factors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, psychopathology, parents’ experiences of maltreatment/abuse in childhood, criminal history, and domestic violence. The majority of children (90.9%) experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Hierarchical regression models suggested that the higher the CFR index score and the number of maltreatment experiences, and the older the children, the higher the SLC6A4 DNA methylation levels. Although preliminary, our findings suggest that, along with childhood maltreatment experiences per se, cumulative proximal family risk factors are seemingly critically associated with DNA methylation at the SLC6A4 gene.

Exploring the Contribution of Proximal Family Risk Factors on SLC6A4 DNA Methylation in Children with a History of Maltreament

Exploring the contribution of proximal family risk factors on SLC6A4 DNA methylation in children with a history of maltreatment

What About the Kids? Examining the Visitation-Recidivism Relationship Among Incarcerated Juveniles

Although the visitation-recidivism relationship has been studied extensively among adult correctional populations, it has received little attention among incarcerated juveniles. In this study, we use a diverse sample of youth released from confinement in Florida ( N = 7,296) to examine the effects of visitation and visitation consistency on two measures of recidivism—re-arrest and re-adjudication. We also consider whether the visitation-recidivism relationship varies depending upon youths’ risk for reoffending (as determined by sociodemographic, offense history, and family risk factors). The results indicate that, for the average juvenile, visitation is associated with a marginal reduction in the likelihood of recidivism, and that the effects are more pronounced for high-risk youth. These results underscore the importance of targeting the most at-risk youth for programming options within correctional facilities and suggest the need for continued availability of visitation programming generally.

Familiarity for Serious Mental Illness in Help-Seeking Adolescents at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis

Aim: Ultrahigh-risk (UHR) individuals have an increased vulnerability to psychosis because of accumulating environmental and/or genetic risk factors. Although original research examined established risk factors for psychosis in the UHR state, these findings are scarce and often contradictory. The aims of this study were (a) to investigate the prevalence of severe mental illness (SMI) in family members of distinct subgroups of adolescents identified through the UHR criteria [i.e., non-UHR vs. UHR vs. first-episode psychosis (FEP)] and (b) to examine any relevant associations of family vulnerability and genetic risk and functioning deterioration (GRFD) syndrome with clinical and psychopathological characteristics in the UHR group.Methods: Adolescents (n = 147) completed an ad hoc sociodemographic/clinical schedule and the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States to investigate the clinical status.Results: More than 60% UHR patients had a family history of SMI, and approximately a third of them had at least a first-degree relative with psychosis or other SMI. A GRFD syndrome was detected in ~35% of UHR adolescents. GRFD adolescents showed baseline high levels of positive symptoms (especially non-bizarre ideas) and emotional disturbances (specifically, observed inappropriate affect).Conclusions: Our results confirm the importance of genetic and/or within-family risk factors in UHR adolescents, suggesting the crucial need of their early detection, also within the network of general practitioners, general hospitals, and the other community agencies (e.g., social services and school).

Pattern of Dysglycaemia and Family Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus among Patients Attending General Outpatient Clinic of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease that currently affects over 366 million people worldwide and its prevalence is likely to double by 2030. Therefore, the need to screen for diabetes mellitus has become an impetus. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of dysglycaemia and significance of familiar risk factors for diabetes mellitus among the study population. One hundred and thirty-two and 48 consecutive non-previously diagnosed DM and previously diagnosed DM patients respectively were recruited from the same clinic. An interviewer administered questionnaire was applied and blood samples were taken for blood glucose. The prevalence of dysglycaemia was 36.2% and only 40.6% of the diabetic patients who did fasting blood glucose had glycaemic control. Family history of Diabetes mellitus in the first generation was significantly associated with chance of developing diabetic mellitus in the study population. In conclusion, it is important physicians begin to be very proactive in the screening for blood glucose in order to detect them early and forestall complications that are associated with late diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Suicidal Ideation, Psychological Distress and Child-To-Parent Violence: A Gender Analysis

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is a growing public health problem with consequences for perpetrators and families. Most research has focused on individual and family risk factors. However, little is known about its links with individual outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between CPV and psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and self-concept in school-aged adolescents, taking into account the gender perspective. A study was conducted with a sample of 8,115 adolescents, aged between 11 and 16 years (M = 13.34; SD = 1.04) from the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. A MANOVA 3 × 2 was performed to analyze the data. The results revealed that adolescents involved in CPV showed higher levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation and lower levels of family and social self-concept. It was also observed that girls with higher levels of CPV scored the lowest levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation, as well as the lowest levels of family self-concept. The findings highlight that adolescents and especially girls involved in CPV also report internal maladjustment outcomes. Finally, the results and their implications for research and intervention with adolescents involved in CPV are discussed.

Family Dynamics and Elder Financial Exploitation by Family-Member Powers-of-Attorney Agents

Elder family financial exploitation (EFFE) is a growing problem likely to increase due to population aging. Older people, often considered vulnerable, are frequently targeted for financial exploitation. Relatives, identified as the largest group of perpetrators often misuse powers of attorney (POA); nevertheless, relationship complexity and dependencies, and family privacy result in underreporting and infrequent prosecutions. The aim of this research is to understand family risk factors that could be used for prevention and early detection. We hypothesized that family dynamics in EFFE families compared to non-EFFE families having family-member POA agents would be at greater risk when these risk factors were present. Our larger multi-state research team created a survey to collect demographic and situational data and to explore family-member and elder characteristics and specific family dynamics that could later place older relatives at risk for EFFE. Analyses consisted of testing whether poor family functioning, ineffective communication/problem-solving dynamics, resource exchange patterns, conflict before/during resource distribution, and entitlement attitudes were statistically associated with the occurrence of EFFE. Specifically, we tested a series of hierarchical logistic regressions to examine the association of family dynamic variables with EFFE. Results suggest that fairness conflict, exchange expectations, entitlement expectations, and communication patterns were statistically associated with EFFE. Current family communication patterns were not a statistical predictor of EFFE. These results could prompt older persons and relevant healthcare, legal, financial, law enforcement, social service, and counseling professionals to work proactively with families and mid-life and older adults to consider risk factors before making end-of-life decisions.