Social Factors Influencing the Acquisition of the Romanian Language by Students Belonging to a Local Community Hungarian Minority

Research on language acquisition is a central theme in sociolinguistic research. Contemporary social, economic and political processes affect the life of communities and the languages what they speak. Globalization, migration and the enlargement of the European Union can significantly change the role and the future of majority and minority languages. In this research, we aim to reveal the family level language choice strategies of the Hungarian community in the small town of Margitha (Bihor County, Romania), discussing the role of family related social framework that positively or negatively influences the motivation of minority students to acquire knowledge of the Romanian language. For this purpose, we used both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches. The results of research confirm that in multi-ethnic communities perhaps the most important, however at the same time the most vulnerable component of ethnic identity is the linguistic identity, which plays a key role in shaping the cultural landmarks and contents that determine the social integration of the individual. The positive family effects of socialization with the Hungarian language can be observed mostly in the ethnically homogeneous family. However, if one of the spouses is ethnic Romanian, the dominant language of communication within the family is more likely to be the Romanian language.

We Are Family: Effects of a Relationship-Strengthening Prevention Intervention on Parenting Behaviors Among Black and Latino Adolescent Couples

Relationship strain or dissolution between new parents can affect the co-parenting relationship and parenting engagement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a relationship-strengthening intervention on parenting behaviors among adolescent couples. Data from a pilot randomized control trial conducted with predominantly Black and Latino couples were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Observed intervention * time effects and intervention * time * gender effects were not statistically significant, but had small to moderate effect sizes. Intervention couples demonstrated increased parenting sense of competence compared to control couples. Gender differences in intervention effects were observed for both parenting experiences and parenting engagement. Given the pilot nature of the study, these findings provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of this couple-based intervention for improving parenting outcomes. Future research should assess the intervention in a larger sample and leverage technology-based approaches as methods for content delivery.

Sources of phenotypic variation of wood density and relationships with mean growth in two Eucalyptus species in Argentina

Aims of the study: To describe the radial patterns of wood density, and to identify their main sources of variation, and the potential tradeoffs with mean tree growth, in two Eucalyptus species. Area of study: Mesopotamian (Corrientes and Entre Ríos provinces) and Pampean region (Buenos Aires province) of Argentina. Materials and methods: Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus viminalis, growing in genetic trials installed in two sites per species were studied. X-ray wood microdensity profiles were developed from core samples. Each profile was proportionally divided in 10 sections. Mean, maximum, minimum and the standard deviation of wood density, for each section were computed. Mean annual growth was used to study the relationships with wood microdensity variables. A linear mixed-effects model computed the significance of different sources of phenotypic variation. Pearson´s correlation computed the relationships between variables. Main results: The pattern of radial variation in E. grandis showed a decrease in wood density from pith to bark, mainly due to the decrease in minimum wood density, while in E. viminalis, wood density increased towards the outer wood. In both species, the standard deviation of the wood density increased along the radial profile from pith to bark. Significant variation in wood density was explained by site, provenance and clone/family effects. In E. grandis mean, maximum and minimum wood density were negatively correlated with mean growth, whereas in E. viminalis correlations were positive but close to zero. Research highlights: Both the pattern of radial variation of wood density and the relationship between wood density and mean growth were different in the studied Eucalyptus species, and they varied within species depending on the site they were growing and genetic provenance.

Effects of the Blended Family on Parenting Styles and Emotional Regulation among Tertiary Students

This research examines the blended family effects on parenting styles and emotional regulation among tertiary students through a sequential explanatory mixed-method design. Through quantitative data gathered, an interview was conducted to have a deeper sense of the information collected. A total of 113 respondents were purposively selected to answer the instruments and 10 of them were chosen to participate in an interview for the qualitative part of the study. It was revealed that most respondents have authoritarian parents and are emotionally adjusting. In addition, there is no significant relationship between parenting style and emotional regulation. Furthermore, there is no significant difference in parenting styles and emotional regulation when grouped according to profile such as age and duration. The results gathered were supported by sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology) which discussed the maturity, culture, and values of Filipinos and their families. These data were used to construct a counseling program to help students with blended families adapt to the changes that they will encounter.

The Role of Disciplinary Parenting Practices in Early Childhood Socio-Emotional Development: An Examination in the Millennium Cohort Study

Objective: Patterson’s coercion model describes a gradual escalation in maladaptive parent-child transactions whereby externalizing behaviors lead to increases in maladaptive parenting, and vice versa. Little research has investigated whether the model’s implied mechanisms are also relevant for illuminating the role of parent-child interactions in internalizing problems. Also, most studies have been limited by a methodological mismatch between the within-family effects implied by Patterson’s model and parameters estimated by statistical models, such as cross-lagged panel models, that conflate within- and between-family effects. Method: The current study investigates the role of two types of disciplinary parenting practices (harsh parenting and withdrawal tactics) in the within-person development of conduct problems, hyperactive/inattentive behaviors and emotional problems. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was fit across ages 3, 5 and 7 (N=14037) using the UK population representative Millennium Cohort Study.Result: Results suggested bidirectional relations between harsh parenting tactics and hyperactive/inattentive behaviors as well as emotional problems. Withdrawal tactics were associated with fewer hyperactive/inattentive behaviors and emotional problems over the age 3 to 5 lag, but more hyperactive/inattentive behaviors and conduct problems over the age 5 to 7 lag. Mediation analyses indicated that the combined effect of harsh parenting and withdrawal tactics mediated a cascade from conduct problems to emotional problems. Conclusion: Findings support Patterson’s coercion model, providing evidence for reciprocal within-family relations between parenting practices and child behaviors. They further confirm the importance of addressing parenting difficulties in families where children present with socio-emotional difficulties for the prevention of the accumulation of additional issues.

Longitudinal Linkages Between Father and Mother Autonomy Support and Adolescent Problem Behaviors: Between-Family Differences and Within-Family Effects

Despite existing evidence on negative associations between parental autonomy support and children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behavior, it is difficult to draw conclusions on the effect that parents’ autonomy support has on children’s problem behavior. This study contributed to the existing literature by unraveling the temporal ordering of parental autonomy support and adolescent problem behavior. In addition, this study examined whether these linkages differed by parent’s sex, child sex, and reporter of autonomy support. Data of 497 adolescents (mean age at T1 = 13.03 years, percentage male = 56.9) and their parents from six annual waves of the Dutch study Research on Adolescent Development And Relationships (RADAR) were used. The results showed that stable differences between families explained most linkages between autonomy support and problem behavior. Adolescents with fewer problem behaviors have fathers (both child- and parent-reported) and mothers (only child-reported) who are more autonomy supportive. The results did not differ between boys and girls. The findings suggest that prior studies may have overstated the existence of a causal effect of parental autonomy support on adolescent problem behavior.