Impacts of COVID-19 and partial lockdown on family functioning, intergenerational communication and associated psychosocial factors among young adults in Singapore

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives. Most of the working adults adopted the work-from-home arrangement while students shifted to home-based learning. Being confined together allows families to foster stronger bonds. On the other hand, the on-going pandemic could have negative impacts on family relationships. The COVID-19 outbreak is still on-going worldwide, understanding more about the changes in family functioning and its associated psychological impacts in a pandemic would allow the authorities to provide more targeted support to families. Objectives This study aimed to examine the factors associated with family functioning among young adults in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family functioning refers to the quality of interactions among family members, and consists of cohesion, flexibility and communication. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted (N = 390). The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale Short Form (FACES-IV-SF) and Global Perceptions of Intergenerational Communication Scale (GPIC) were used to examine family functioning and intergeneration communication during the partial lockdown. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), Social Support Questionnaire–Brief (SSQ-B), Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) examined the psychosocial impact. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and regression model were employed in the analysis. Results The FACES-IV-SF score for total circumplex ratio has a mean of 1.57(SD = 0.58), suggesting that participants generally perceived their families as functioning relatively well. The mean scores for CESD, PSS, Loneliness and BRCS were 12.4(6.2), 8.0(2.6), 5.7(1.9) and 12.6(3.1) respectively. The mean scores of the 4 domains of GPIC were 21.5(4.0) for Accommodation, 25.0(6.7) for Non-Accommodation, 17.2(3.3) for Respect-Obligation, and 18.9(4.8) for Avoidant. Conclusion The results suggested that family functioning is significantly associated with intergenerational communication and satisfaction with social support in a pandemic. Participants with balanced levels of cohesion and flexibility in their families are more likely to be able to cope with the psychological impacts of the pandemic. The findings serve to inform intervention and preventive efforts to improve family functioning and reduce the risk of psychological distress in a pandemic.

Socio-demographic Characteristics as Determinants of Family Dynamics and Engagement in the Palayamanan System Approach among Agtas in Bicol

Agtas are one of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) residing in the mountainous parts of Luzon and some can be found in the Bicol Region. They are still dependent on agriculture in order to generate income and sustain their basic needs. Agta farming families are said to be already engaging in the Palayamanan System Approach (PSA), but their knowledge and skills still need to be enhanced to fully maximize the benefits that they can gain from the said approach. The study aimed to analyze the family dynamics structure among farming family systems of Agta Indigenous Peoples in Bicol. It also evaluated how family dynamics affect farm decision-making among Agta farming households. The family dynamics of the Agta farming families was assessed through the FACES IV (Olson, 2011). Results showed that there was unbalanced cohesion and unbalanced adaptability levels within the family system. On the other hand, communication and satisfaction were high. Gender and educational attainment showed a strong correlation to family cohesion and engagement in the PSA, respectively, therefore, both factors could be considered for effective development interventions to take place. Overall, the Agta communities' geographical condition, culture and beliefs, sources of information have affected their way of living, farm practices, and farm-decision making. There have been very limited studies regarding indigenous people and communities in the Philippines. Thus, this study would serve as an entry point to further understand them and would guide in the formulation of appropriate strategies that will help improve and enhance their lives. Los agtas son uno de los pueblos indígenas (PI) que residen en las zonas montañosas de Luzón y algunos se encuentran en la región de Bicol. Siguen dependiendo de la agricultura para generar ingresos y satisfacer sus necesidades básicas. Se dice que las familias agricultoras de Agta ya participan en el enfoque del sistema Palayamanan (PSA), pero sus conocimientos y habilidades aún deben mejorarse para maximizar los beneficios que pueden obtener de dicho enfoque. El estudio tenía como objetivo analizar la estructura de la dinámica familiar entre los sistemas familiares agrícolas de los pueblos indígenas Agta en Bicol. También se evaluó cómo la dinámica familiar afecta a la toma de decisiones agrícolas entre los hogares agrícolas Agta. La dinámica familiar de las familias agrícolas Agta se evaluó a través del FACES IV (Olson, 2011). Los resultados mostraron que había una cohesión desequilibrada y niveles de adaptabilidad desequilibrados dentro del sistema familiar. Por otro lado, la comunicación y la satisfacción eran altas. El género y el nivel educativo mostraron una fuerte correlación con la cohesión familiar y el compromiso con el APS, respectivamente, por lo tanto, ambos factores podrían ser considerados para que las intervenciones de desarrollo sean efectivas. En general, la condición geográfica, la cultura y las creencias de las comunidades Agta, así como las fuentes de información, han afectado a su modo de vida, a sus prácticas agrícolas y a la toma de decisiones agrícolas. Los estudios sobre los pueblos y comunidades indígenas en Filipinas son muy limitados. Por lo tanto, este estudio servirá como punto de entrada para comprenderlos mejor y guiará en la formulación de estrategias apropiadas que ayudarán a mejorar y potenciar sus vidas.

Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV (FACES IV) in Saudi Arabia

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV (FACES IV) has been widely used to assess family functioning and to implement family therapeutic interventions. Cross-cultural adaptation is needed given the high sensitivity of family norms with culture. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the FACES IV in the context of Saudi culture. The sample consisted of 369 participants (270 females and 99 males) aged between 13 and 70. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the FACES IV model, after some adjustments. The findings indicated that FACES IV was a reliable and valid measure that can be used in the context of Saudi Arabia. The study showed some particularities with the rigid and enmeshed dimensions and concurred with previous validation studies in suggesting that these dimensions must be investigated further with respect to different cultures.

Family influence on perinatal depression

Background The perinatal period is of big changes and adaptations for pregnant woman, making them more susceptible to depression. Perinatal depression can have huge negative consequences for the pregnant woman, child, family and society. Thus, the objective of this work is to understand the family influence in the appearance of this pathology. Methods This is a cross-sectional observational study of a sample of pregnant women included for convenience, who answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic questions, pathological and physiological background and 4 scales: ERAP, EADS-21, FACES IV and ESSS. A descriptive analysis was carried out and then an inferential statistical analysis between the levels of depression, stress and anxiety and different variables. Results The sample includes 41 pregnant women who agreed to participate in the study. It was found that only the family variables related to ‘Satisfaction with the family’ (P = 0.024) and ‘Intimacy’ (P = 0.006) seem to have significant relationship with the levels of perinatal depression. As possible confounding variables influencing these levels, we have the fact that pregnancy is planned (P = 0.049), ‘Satisfaction with friends’ (P = 0.001) and ‘Social activities’ (P≤0.001). Conclusions It was proven that high levels of satisfaction with family and intimacy are protective factors for the development of perinatal depression. These family-related risk factors can be easily addressed in the context of family’s doctor appointments and help to detect pregnant women at risk of perinatal depression. Deepening this knowledge will make it possible to prevent and intervene earlier in these cases and, consequently, reduce the harmful effects of this pathology.

PATTERNS OF FAMILY FUNCTIONING AS PREDICTORS OF PARENTING STYLE AMONG THE LEFT-BEHIND FAMILIES OF GULF MIGRANTS

Understanding the family functioning of left-behind families of gulf migrants and how they relate to parenting style is critically important to social workers worldwide. The study examined the associations between family functioning patterns and mothers parenting styles among the left-behind families of gulf migrants. The circumplex model of family functioning put forwarded by David H. Olson served as the study’s theoretical framework. Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV) (Olson, FACES IV and the Circumplex Model: Validation Study, 2011) was used for testing family functioning, and the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (Robinson, Mandleco, Olson, & Hart, 2001) was used for testing the parenting style and its dimensions. The study’s main findings suggest that balanced cohesion and flexibility correlate with the authoritative parenting style. It also revealed that the authoritarian parenting style correlates negatively with all the functional family functioning patterns: balanced cohesion and flexibility. Authoritarian parenting style correlates positively with all the dysfunctional patterns of family functioning also. While, permissive parenting style correlates positively only with balanced cohesion, disengaged, enmeshed, family communication, and family satisfaction dimension of family functioning. This benchmark study offers family social work practitioners information to assist families and contribute to family social policies. KEYWORDS: family functioning, parenting style, left-behind families.

Together or apart? Labour migration and early maladaptive schemas of young adults

The aim of the present study was to analyze if parents’ labour migration experienced during childhood has long-lasting influence on people’s psychological functioning. It was verified whether family functioning defined as flexibility, cohesion, communication, and maladaptive beliefs was differentiated by the occurrenceof parents’ labuor migration. It was also tested if parents’ labour migration moderated the relationship between family functioning and maladaptive beliefs. The sample comprised 170 young adults (Mage = 21,81; SD = 2,99) including 94 people whose parents had migrated to work abroad, and 76 people whose parents had never left to work abroad. The study used the Polish adaptation of The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form (YSQ-S3-PL) by Oettingen, Chodkiewicz, Mącik, and Gruszczyńska (2017), and an adaptation of the FACES-IV by Margasiński (2013). The results indicated that in eight of the tested models, the parents’ labour migration moderated the relationship between family functioning and maladaptive beliefs. The greatest susceptibility to the moderating effects of the indicated set of variables was observed in relation to the maladaptive schema of Defectiveness.

FAMILY RELATIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE YOUTHS WITH SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Research on youth's suicidal behavior often focuses on individuals rather than families. This exploratory research is related to family relations in female youths with suicidal behavior. This study's respondents were ten suicidal female youths (aged 15 to 24) divided into two groups: ' attempt' and 'no-attempt'. The FACES IV, family communication scale, and family satisfaction scale were given at the beginning of the study, which was continued with in-depth interviews to explore the flexibility, cohesion, and communication of their family relations. In the attempt group, FACES IV resulted in low balanced cohesion (35.8 respectively), low balanced flexibility (41.2 respectively), and low family communication (15.4 respectively). Surprisingly, all participants of both groups rated their family satisfaction levels low, meaning that all participants were dissatisfied with the family functioning. The interview resulted in eight main themes: lack of emotional closeness, family conflict, sibling relationship, leadership in the family, obedience, autonomy, and control, and mendhem rasa (buried emotion, in Javanese culture), and weak communication skills. In conclusion, the family's hierarchical relationships, family conflict, and emotional distance become the risk factors for adolescent suicidal behavior. The perspectives found in this study with suicidal female youths suggest that family-based prevention and intervention of suicidal behavior in youths need to understand family cultural values while encouraging to build emotional closeness and communication skills in the family.