Mother–Child Relationships in U.S. Latinx Families in Middle Childhood: Opportunities and Challenges in the 21st Century

The 21st century has brought unique opportunities and challenges for parents, and this is particularly true for Latinx families, whose children comprise more than one-fourth of the school-age population in the U.S. today. Taking an ecological and strengths-based approach, the current study examined the role of mothers’ cultural assets (familism values, family cohesion) and challenges (economic hardship, ethnic–race-based discrimination) on children’s educational adjustment in middle childhood, as well as the indirect role of mother–child warmth and conflict in these associations. The sample included 173 Latinx mothers and their middle childhood offspring (i.e., 5th graders and younger sisters/brothers in the 1st through 4th grade). Mothers participated in home visits and phone interviews and teachers provided ratings of children’s educational adjustment (academic and socioemotional competence, aggressive/oppositional behaviors). Findings revealed family cohesion was indirectly linked to children’s educational adjustment via mother–child warmth and conflict, particularly for younger siblings. Discussion focuses on the culturally based strengths of Latinx families and highlights potential implications for family-based prevention in middle childhood.

Mother-Child and Father-Child Relationships in Emerging Adults from Divorced and Non-Divorced Families

The main aim of this study was to analyze the associations between parental divorce and interparental conflict with the quality of parent-child relationships. Specifically, we analyzed trust, communication and alienation in both father-child and mother-child relationships in a sample of 1078 Spanish emerging adults from divorced and non-divorced families. The interaction between parental divorce and conflict was also analyzed. In support of our expectations, parental divorce was associated with lower trust and communication, along with higher alienation in father-child and mother-child relationships. When interparental conflict was included, parental conflict was more strongly associated with lower trust and communication in mother-child relationships, and higher alienation in both mother-child and father-child relationships. However, parental divorce was still associated with low trust and communication with fathers, when interparental conflict and the interaction between parental divorce and conflict were added. In summation, our results suggest that both parental divorce and conflict should be taken into account in the study of the consequences of family-related stress variables on adult children’s wellbeing. These findings add to the current literature and contribute to better comprehend the effects of parental divorce and conflict on both mother-child and father-child affective relationships in an understudied cultural context. The implications, limitations and future research recommendations are discussed.

Atuação da equipe de enfermagem no estabelecimento do apego entre mãe e filho: revisão integrativa

Objetivo: Demonstrar as evidências científicas disponíveis na literatura atual acerca da atuação da equipe de enfermagem no estabelecimento de relações de apego entre mãe e filho. Método: Revisão integrativa da literatura realizada em abril de 2020 nas bases: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, United State National Library of Medicine e Scientific Electronic Library Online. Utilizou-se como descritores: “Relações mãe-filho/mother-child relationships”, “enfermagem/nursing” e o descritor não controlado “apego/attachment” combinados pelo operador booleano “AND”. Resultados: As dificuldades no estabelecimento de apego entre mãe e filho foram destacadas quando as crianças estão hospitalizadas, quando são deixadas em instituição de ensino ou pessoas externas e quando as mães tiveram hábitos inapropriados durante o período gravídico-puerperal que possa ter afetado o crescimento e desenvolvimento do bebê. A enfermagem facilita o estabelecimento do vínculo mãe e filho, atenua fatores estressores de forma humanística baseada na integralidade. Conclusão: O estabelecimento satisfatório do comportamento de apego é essencial para a saúde mental do ser humano. Envolver-se no cuidado na hospitalização e educação de uma criança requer conhecimento dos seus condicionantes biológicos, psicológicos, sociais, ambientais, para que se compreenda a complexidade da situação de afastamento do meio familiar. Descritores: Relações mãe-filho; Relações Materno-Fetais; Enfermagem Familiar; Vínculo Afetivo; Vínculos Emocionais.

How Strong Is a Mother's Love? Exploring the Mediating Role of Mother-Child Relationship Quality on the Link between Child Abuse Experiences and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has detrimental effects on individuals' physical and mental health. Intergenerational violence transmission theory posits that child abuse (CA) is an important determinant of later IPV perpetration due to socially learned aggression and expectations of violence in romantic relationships. However, less research exists on family protective factors like the mother-child relationship, the strength of which may mediate this link. The present study explored the association between mother-child relationships, child abuse, and adult IPV perpetration--specifically, whether mother-child relationship quality mediated the effects on the link between child abuse and later IPV. Methods: This study analyzed data from individuals who completed Waves I and Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=3718 respondents). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate mediation dynamics between CA, mother-child relationship, and adult IPV perpetration. Results: Structural equation model fit the data well (CFI = .918, RMSEA = .051 [.045, .057]). The mediation model revealed that the direct effect of childhood abuse on IPV was .067 (p<.001), while the indirect effect of childhood abuse on IPV (i.e., the effect operating through the mother-child relationship) was .005 (p<.001). Conclusions: While CA remains a significant risk factor for adult IPV perpetration, findings suggest that high-quality mother-child relationships may have a buffering effect and aid in preventing intergenerational violence transmission. Continued efforts to research, fund, and implement interventions that build healthy family dynamics are needed to support traumatized children into adulthood and end intergenerational violence.

Intimate Partner Violence and OT: A Systematic Review

Date Presented 04/13/21 This mixed-methods systematic review explored the effectiveness of OT with adults who experienced intimate partner violence. Of 61 studies screened, 36 were removed, and 20 were further excluded with inclusion criteria. Five studies showed significant skill improvement in individuals who received OT interventions using a combination of individual and group sessions focused on instrumental activities of daily living, trauma symptom reduction, life skills, and mother–child relationships. Primary Author and Speaker: Heather Javaherian-Dysinger Additional Authors and Speakers: Shannon L. Scott Contributing Authors: Michelle Bradshaw

Maternal incarceration : exploring the impact on children

The purpose of this exploratory research study was to examine the impact of maternal incarceration on mothers and their children from an ecological perpective. Individual interviews were conducted with four mothers who have previously been in conflict with the law and have been in custody for a minimum twelve months. Two primary workers from Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County were also interviewed for another perspective pertaining to this topic. Participants were recruited by distributing advertisements at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County. This study coincided with the literature and found that there are a number of combining factors from the broader system which impact the developmetnal outcomes of a child. After analyzing the data it appeared that there were two main aspects reported by all participants that affect children when their mothers are incarcerated. These include: System Barriers and Resouce Barriers. The participants from this study recommended child friendly centres and physical visitations to rectify and mainain the mother-child relationship while mothers are incarcerated. This study helped to deconstruct norms associated with traditional families and recognized the unique experiences of mother-child relationships during incarceration.

Maternal incarceration : exploring the impact on children

The purpose of this exploratory research study was to examine the impact of maternal incarceration on mothers and their children from an ecological perpective. Individual interviews were conducted with four mothers who have previously been in conflict with the law and have been in custody for a minimum twelve months. Two primary workers from Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County were also interviewed for another perspective pertaining to this topic. Participants were recruited by distributing advertisements at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County. This study coincided with the literature and found that there are a number of combining factors from the broader system which impact the developmetnal outcomes of a child. After analyzing the data it appeared that there were two main aspects reported by all participants that affect children when their mothers are incarcerated. These include: System Barriers and Resouce Barriers. The participants from this study recommended child friendly centres and physical visitations to rectify and mainain the mother-child relationship while mothers are incarcerated. This study helped to deconstruct norms associated with traditional families and recognized the unique experiences of mother-child relationships during incarceration.