The family dynamics of childbearing and childrearing families in Finland

Within the context of an international comparative family dynamics project, this study had two chief goals to describe the family dynamics of childbearing and childrearing families in Finland, and to study changes in family dynamics after childbirth The sample consisted of families expecting ( n = 118) and rearing ( n = 94) their first or second child in Finland Two instruments were used in data collection, i e the Family Dynamics Questionnaire and the Family Dynamics Measure, both these tools have been developed in the USA According to the results, childbearing and childrearing families were thought to function quite well Pregnant mothers described their family dynamics in more positive terms than fathers, reporting greater flexibility and clearer communication Similarly, mothers reported more individuation and mutuality than their partners First-time expectant families reported more mutuality than families expecting their second child Childrearing mothers reported more individuation, but also more role conflict than did fathers Communication in families rearing their first child was clearer than in families rearing their second child The birth of a child affected family dynamics by bringing about various changes such as role conflict, isolation and distorted communication     

Relationships between infant temperament, demographic variables, and family dynamics of childrearing families

Relationships between infant temperament, demographic variables, and family dynamics of child-rearing families were investigated in this study. The revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ), the Family Dynamics Questionnaire (FDQ) and the Family Dynamics Measure (FDM) were sent to 118 families who had participated in the first stage of the study as child-bearing families. About 8 months after childbirth 96 mothers and 95 fathers completed the questionnaires. The characteristics of infant temperament and demographic variables related to the variance of dimensions of family dynamics. Characteristics of the temperamentally easy baby related to more positive family dynamics perceived by child-rearing parents. Fathers rearing their first child reported that their families functioned better than fathers with their second infant. In child health clinics families rearing their second child should also be supported, especially families with arhythmic and negative mood infants.     

Family dynamics of families with mental health problems in Finland

This study forms part of the International Family Dynamics Project. Its purpose was describe the family functioning of families with mental health problems on the basis of Barnhill's framework for healthy family systems. The sample consisted of 160 families in which one family member had mental health problems. Both the patients and their relatives took part. The data were collected by questionnaires, i.e. The Family Dynamics Measure and The Family Dynamics Questionnaire. According to the results, mental health patients described family functioning as fairly poor, while relatives described it as fairly good. However, patients' and relatives' perceptions of family functioning did not differ significantly. There were some statistically significant differences between patients' and relatives' perceptions of different family dynamics dimensions. Relatives reported more mutuality (P= 0.006) and clearer communication (P= 0.009) than patients. Older mental health patients reported more isolation than patients under 30. Relatives who mentioned some serious illness in the family reported more role conflict than those who didnt. No differences were found by gender, family structure or education. The results indicated that the mental health problems of a single family member did not impair family dynamics. The study showed that the resources and functioning of families are fairly good in spite of the illness in the family.     

Family dynamics during the third trimester of pregnancy in Denmark

Family dynamics in Danish families during the third trimester of pregnancy were explored in relation to family structure, parity, mother-father differences, and normative versus delayed childbearing. There were differences between married and cohabiting families, first- and second-time expectant parents, mothers and fathers, and between normative and delayed first-time expectant parents. For married couples to have better family dynamics than cohabiting couples is surprising for Denmark where both marriage and cohabitation are examples of a nuclear family lifestyle. A dual-path model is conceptualized as a nursing strategy to support the couples' interrelationship during their role transition.     

Family dynamics and infant temperament in urban Iceland.

Pregnancy is a time of transition and crisis when many families are challenged with the addition of an infant. Studies of this challenge are unknown for Icelandic families. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pregnancy and the young infant on family dynamics and the relationship between family dynamics and the infant's developing temperament. Fifty families completed the Family Dynamics Measure during the third trimester of pregnancy and when the infant was eight months old. Mothers also completed the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire. Mothers perceived a decrease in role reciprocity across this transition. More stable organized families had more rhythmic infants. There was no association between family structure and either family dynamics or infant temperament. After the birth of the child, fathers perceived more role reciprocity while mothers perceived more individuation and mutuality. Mothers of second infants reported greater individuation than mothers with first infants.     

Family dynamics, parental-fetal attachment and infant temperament

Family dynamics, parental-fetal attachment and infant temperament The purpose of this longitudinal study of families having their first or second baby was to explore relationships among family dynamics, paternal- and maternal-fetal attachment, and infant temperament. Data were collected from 156 women and 62 of their partners during the third trimester of pregnancy. One year later, when the infant was 8-9 months old, 75 of the women and 30 of their partners participated. In a hierarchical multiple regression analysis, after controlling for demographic variables, mutuality in the family was associated with greater maternal- and paternal-fetal attachment. Family dynamics were stable across the transition to parenthood except for an increase in role conflict reported by mothers. Sensitivity to specific family experiences by clinicians can provide assistance to families during these periods.     

The Swedish family: transition to parenthood

Family interaction during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood creates the social environment in which the fetus becomes part of the family, family relationships and roles are reorganized, and the infant's temperament appears. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among family dynamics, parental-fetal attachment, and infant temperament across the transition to parenthood. A sample of 91 families in Helsingborg, Sweden completed the Family Dynamics Measure and the Maternal/Paternal Fetal Attachment Scale during the third trimester of pregnancy. When the infant was 8-9 months old, mothers (n = 62) and fathers (n = 54) again completed the Family Dynamics Measure. The mother completed the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire as well. Overall, we found small changes in family dynamics, with an increase in perceived role conflict and mutuality reported by mothers. Fathers reported greater fetal attachment than their partners. Greater paternal- and maternal fetal attachment was related to more positive family dynamics, and maternal-fetal attachment was positively related to infant mood at 8 months. The stability of family dynamics across the transition to parenthood is a sign that most families negotiate this transition without difficulty.     

Adolescent subjective well-being and family dynamics

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adolescent subjective well-being (SWB) and family dynamics perceived by adolescents and their parents. A sample of 239 pupils (51% female) from seventh and ninth grades completed the Berne questionnaire of SWB (youth form), two subscales from an original Finnish SWB scale and the Family Dynamics Measure II, and one of their parents (n = 239) filled in the Family Dynamics Measure II. Results indicated that parents assessed family dynamics better than did their adolescent child. Furthermore, there was no association between family dynamics perceived by adolescents and family dynamics assessed by one of their parents or between the adolescent SWB and parental perception of family dynamics. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that certain aspects of family dynamics perceived by adolescents were related to adolescent global satisfaction and ill-being. Specifically, adolescents' perception of high level of mutuality and stability in the family as well as male gender and lack of serious problems in family were predictors of adolescent global satisfaction. Furthermore, disorganization in the family and poor parental relationship perceived by adolescents, being female, serious problems and illness in family predicted a high level of adolescent global ill-being.     

Family dynamics and postnatal depression

Research has shown that postnatal depression (PND) affects 10-15% of mothers in Western societies. PND is not easily identified and therefore it often remains undetected. Untreated depression has a detrimental effect on the mother and child and the entire family. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the state of family dynamics after delivery and whether the mother's PND was associated with family dynamics. The study used a survey covering the catchment area of one Finnish university hospital. Both primi- and multiparas took part and data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for mothers and the Family Dynamics Measure II (FDM II) for both mothers and fathers. The data were analysed using SPSS statistical programme and frequency and percentage distributions, means and standard deviations were examined. Correlations were analysed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. The significance of any differences between mothers' and fathers' scores was determined with a paired t-test. Of the families participating in the study (373 mothers and 314 partners), 13% of the mothers suffered from PND symptoms (EPDS score of 13 or more). As a whole, family dynamics in the families participating in the study were reported to be rather good. However, mothers having depressive symptoms reported more negative family dynamics compared with other families. With the exception of individuation, mothers having depressive symptoms reported more negative family dynamics than their partners. With the exception of role reciprocity, non-depressed mothers reported more positive family dynamics than their partners. Knowledge of the association of mothers' PND with family dynamics could help to develop nursing care at maternity and child welfare clinics and maternity hospitals. Depressed mothers and their families need support to be able to make family dynamics as good as possible.     

Family dynamics during pregnancy

Pregnancy as a transition in family life is perceived as a crisis by many families. Sociodemographic characteristics of families during pregnancy can serve as important sources of information to nurses in drawing out family strengths and providing assistance during this crisis. Family dynamics were measured in 160 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Half were in their first pregnancy and half were in their second pregnancy. The research question addressed the relationship between family dynamics and several sociodemographic characteristics. Statistically significant relationships were found between the sociodemographic variables of marital and social status, and several dimensions of family dynamics. Families in which couples were married and who enjoyed a higher social status had more positive family dynamics in the dimensions of individuation, stability, flexibility, mutuality and communication. Race, maternal age and parity were not related to level of family dynamics. Strengths in families who have more positive dynamics may be explained by availability of resources, their expertise in using the system, societal approval of marriage and internal family support from the husband. It is essential for nursing care to include systematic family assessment, socialization in effectively using the health care system and individualized family guidance.     

Family dynamics in the United States, Finland and Iceland

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 84–93
Family dynamics in the United States, Finland and Iceland
Understanding the dynamics of contemporary, postmodern families and how these relate to health is critically important to nurses and other health care providers throughout the world. Much can be learned by studying not only one's own culture but also other countries. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare family dynamics of families in the United States, Finland and Iceland. To date relatively little has been published related to families in these Nordic countries. Six family dimensions in Barnhill's Family Health Cycle served as the theoretical framework. Adult respondents (n = 567) purposively selected from varied community groups, completed the Family Dynamics Measure II (FDM II) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Main findings from the three countries were positive family dynamics, with mutuality contributing the strongest factor to partially confirm the theoretical propositions in Barnhill's Family Health Cycle. Respondents from all countries reported (1) clear communication and flexibility that contribute to mutuality; (2) younger age of respondents and increased education that were associated with more positive family dynamics; and (3) larger families associated with more negative dynamics. Mixed reports occurred according to gender, with Nordic men tending to perceive some negative dimensions. Marriage was important for more positive family dynamics only in the United States. Families in the United States and in Iceland had in common more negative family dynamics during illnesses. Problems and changes affected mostly families in the United States. In general, families in Finland and Iceland had greater strengths than in the United States. This benchmark study offers information for health practitioners to assist families, as well as contribute to the improvement of family social policies, especially in the United States.     

Families of adolescent clients and nonclients: their environments and help-seeking behaviors

Family demographic characteristics, family structure, family environment, and help-seeking variables were explored through interviews with two groups of Afro-American adolescents, including 52 clients and 52 nonclients. One parent of each adolescent was also interviewed. The ratio of single-parent families in the two groups differed significantly. Using one-way analysis of variance, significant differences were found between the means of the groups on five of the ten Family Environment Scale (FES) subscales. The family groups differed significantly on only one help-seeking variable, use of formal helpers. Adolescent client families reported using formal helpers more than did adolescent nonclient families (F = 2.69; df 102; p less than 0.05).     

Family Dynamics and Infant Temperament in Danish Families

Transition to parenthood involves the fine balance of family dynamics which both affect, and are affected by, the infant's temperament. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in family dynamics over the transition to parenthood and the relationship of family dynamics to infant temperament. A sample of 99 families in Odense, Denmark, completed the Family Dynamics Measure in the third trimester of pregnancy and again when the infant was 8–9 months old. At this second time, the mothers also completed the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire. Overall we found small changes, although always in a negative direction, in family dynamics over this transition. The largest change was an increase in perceived role conflict reported by both mothers and fathers. Mothers reported more role conflict than fathers. Positive family dynamics were related to infant rhythmicity.     

Dual-earner families' stress levels and personal and life-style-related variables

This study investigated personal and life-style-related variables and stress levels in dual-earner families in the preschool stage of family development. The sample was composed of 92 families receiving child day care through a major day care provider in the Upper Midwest. The Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes was used to measure the family stress level. The majority of dual-earner families in this sample were experiencing a moderate level of family stress based on national stress level norms calculated for families in the preschool stage of development. Parental age and age of children were statistically related to the family stress level. Life-style-related variables statistically significant in this study were amount of income and satisfaction with income level, satisfaction with child care, and flexibility in vacation scheduling. Parents who could easily schedule vacations during the same time period had significantly lower family stress levels than parents who had difficulty scheduling vacations together, p less than .003. Additionally, parents who reported being forced to take separate vacations because of their work schedules had statistically higher scores on family stress than parents who had never had to take separate vacations because of work schedules, p less than .002.     

Family dynamics in families of severe COPD patients

Aim and objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe family dynamics in families with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the basis of Barnhill's framework for healthy family systems. The sample consisted of 35 severe COPD patients and 30 family members at Tampere University Hospital, Finland or in the neighbouring regions. Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a public health problem worldwide. It is a slowly progressive airway disease, producing a decline in lung function which is not fully reversible. Design. The sample included the families of patients without oxygen therapy and the families of patients who had long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). The data were collected using the Family Dynamics Measure 2 (FDM2) and the Family Dynamics Questionnaire (FDQ). Method. A quantitative research method was employed in the study. Frequency and percentage distributions, as well as cross-tabulations, were used to describe the data. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated for the sum variables of six dimensions of the FDM2. Results. In the dimensions of individuation, mutuality and flexibility, dynamics in the families of patients with LTOT was significantly better than of the patients without oxygen therapy. Especially in the dimension of mutuality, the families of LTOT patients functioned very well, while in the dimensions of communication and roles, family dynamics in these families was notably worse, although still good. Conclusion. Poor self-identity – enmeshment, isolation from others and lack of flexibility to varying conditions – in families with severe COPD can weaken the ability of the families to manage in everyday life. Relevance to clinical practice. Families need family nursing to adapt to alterations occurring when a family member has severe COPD. Nurses can give support and help for these families for their roles of patient and caregiver, as well as opportunities to speak with someone about their situation.     

Relationships between family dynamics of Finnish child-rearing families, factors causing strain and received support

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between family dynamics, the factors causing strain on child-rearing parents and the support available to families from public health nurses. Family dynamics was defined as the family's unique way of functioning and was conceptualized by means of six different dimensions. Questionnaires were sent to 118 families, and of these 85 mothers and 79 fathers participated in the study. According to the findings the majority of parents involved in bringing up children aged 3-4 years assessed their families to be well-functioning. There was a correlation between a low level of factors causing strain on the family and a positive evaluation of family dynamics based on the various dimensions. According to the mothers the support, i.e. emotional, appraisal and instrumental support, received from public health nurses, along with a small number of strain-causing factors on the partner relationship, correlated well with their positive assessments of the mutuality and flexibility of their families.     

The Impact of Demographic Characteristics and the Positive Perceptions of Parents on Quality of Life in Families with a Member with Intellectual Disability

Families with children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) have positive perceptions that may raise levels of FQoL. However, little is known about what happens to these positive perceptions and FQoL when the family members with ID reach adulthood. Our main objective was to analyze the predictors of FQoL, incorporating demographic variables and parents’ positive perceptions before and after the family member with ID turns 18. A sample of 861 families who had a family member with ID between 1 and 70 years old completed both the Positive Contributions Scale (PCS) in order to measure their positive perceptions and the Spanish family quality of life scale for under 18-years-old or over 18-years-old in order to assess FQoL. Firstly, a bivariate analysis was conducted to study the effect of demographic variables and PCS scores on FQoL scores. Secondly, variables whose effect was found to be statistically significant in the bivariate analysis were included in a multiple linear regression model to predict FQoL scores. Results indicated that families with higher levels of positive perceptions reported higher levels of FQoL. The predictive analysis of FQoL showed that in both groups of families with a member with ID younger or older than 18 years of age, there was a significant effect from positive perceptions on the reported levels of FQoL, even when the effect of the demographic variables included in the model was eliminated. The present results provide further evidence of the importance of a positive approach toward families with a family member who have ID, reinforcing and broadening the positive perceptions in order to promote their FQoL. The practical implications of these findings are discussed, along with directions for future research.     

Changes in the smoking and drinking habits of future fathers from the onset of their wives' pregnancies

Changes in smoking and drinking habits of fathers of young families expecting their first baby were studied in maternity health care clinics The first phase of the Finnish Family Competence Study included a total of 1414 fathers Of these, 1279 responded to the questionnaire, the drop-out rate being 95% Basic educational level, age, occupation and location of present and childhood home were used as demographic variables Socio-economic factors of the father, his wife and his parents were also studied The fathers were asked to give their own estimation of their smoking and alcohol consumption before and during the wife's pregnancy Changes were seen in alcohol consumption, studied in relation to the amount consumed at one drinking time, frequency of alcohol consumption, age, and location of childhood home Changes in smoking habits were studied in the same way According to the fathers' own assessment, they reduced smoking and drinking of alcohol during their wives' pregnancies Parents seem to transmit their own patterns of health behaviour to their children, and the model provided by them is highly important