Relationships between demographic variables and family dynamics of childbearing families

Hakulinen T, Paunonen M, Laippala P. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1997; 3: 247–254
Relationships between demographic variables and family dynamics of childbearing families
In this study relationships between demographic variables and family dynamics of childbearing families in Finland were studied. The sample was 160 urban families expecting their first or second child in the third trimester of pregnancy. One-hundred and eighteen families participated in the study. The Family Dynamics Questionnaire (FDQ) and the Family Dynamics Measure (FDM) were used in this study. Most expectant parents reported their family was well-functioning. Mothers of higher socioeconomic status found more flexibility in their families than mothers of lower socioeconomic status. Fathers in families expecting their first baby reported more mutuality, role reciprocity and more stability than second-time fathers. The findings contribute cues for public health nurses and midwives regarding parity, socioeconomic status and family dynamics to provide more specific family guidance during the transition to parenthood. Realistic information on the changes in family dynamics after childbirth should be given to pregnant parents.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

儿童行为问题与家庭动力学特征关系研究

目的探讨儿童行为问题与家庭动力学特征，为家庭干预提供依据。方法采用Achen—bach儿童行为父母问卷、家庭动力学自评量表和自制一般情况调查问卷对昆明市盘龙区城市、农村、城郊结合部三所小学的627名四、五年级学生进行调查分析。结果627名学生中检出行为问题者131名，阳性率20．1％，其中男生67名（21．7％），女生64名（20．1％）。相关影响因素分析中发现，单亲家庭阳性率显著高于双亲家庭（P〈O．05），双亲家庭阳性率显著低于多代同堂家庭（P〈0．05），城市家庭阳性率显著低于外来务工家庭（P〈0．05）。单因素方差分析显示，在有、无行为问题儿童家庭中，动力学个性化因子差异有极显著性（F=10．58，P〈0．01）。结论单亲家庭和多代同堂家庭儿童行为异常发生率显著高于双亲家庭；在家庭动力学因子中以个性化因子的影响较大。     

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.     

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     

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.     

Relationships between demographic, clinical and pain variables and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain treated with instrumented fusion

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationships between demographic, clinical and pain variables and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients who had undergone instrumented spinal fusion because of chronic low back pain (CLBP). The sample comprises 101 patients (70% women, mean age 46 years) who had received surgery between 1993 and 2000. The SF-36 Health Survey was used to assess HRQOL. Pain was assessed by sensory, affective and evaluative subgroups of the Norwegian Pain Questionnaire (modified McGill Pain Questionnaire). Age, work status, number of years after surgery, physical training, other chronic conditions and affective and evaluative pain (all p < 0.05) were the most prominent factors affecting HRQOL. The highest adjusted R(2) to explain the variance was physical function (52%) and the lowest was emotional role limitations (15%). Pain, particularly affective and evaluative pain, contributed more to the explained variance of HRQOL than demographic and clinical variables.     

Longitudinal study on infants’ temperament and physical development in Beijing,China

The objective of this longitudinal study is to explore the relationship between temperament and physical development among infants in Beijing, China. A total of 1117 term, normal and singleton infants were followed regularly for 12 months. Body weight and horizontal length were measured at 42 days and monthly from the third to twelfth month of their lives. Infants’ temperament was assessed using the revised Chinese infants’ temperament scale when the infants were 6 months. There was a significant difference on temperament dimensions between infants’ genders (P < 0.05). Infants’ weight and length were significantly related to their parents’ weight and height. Infants with positive temperaments (easy and intermediate) were heavier than those with negative temperaments (difficult and slow to warm up) (P < 0.05). The horizontal length of boys was related to their temperament categories (P < 0.05). Infants’ weight and length were significantly related to their temperament category and parents’ weight and height.     

老年性痴呆家庭护理者的人口学信息及身心负担调查

[目的]了解老年性痴呆家庭护理者的自然、社会人口学信息及其在实施家庭护理过程中所承担的身体、精神负担。[方法]招募已被诊断为老年性痴呆病人的家庭护理者,通过电话采访录音及现场访问的方式完成统一问卷。[结果]老年性痴呆病人的家庭护理者以已婚中年妇女为主,教育程度及收入水平均较低,其中42%的受访者认为自己健康状况水平在下降,58%曾经有过负面情感的自我体验。[结论]老年性痴呆家庭护理者本身所承受的身体、精神负担应引起足够重视,可能最终影响到对病人的护理效果。     

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.     

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.     

不同气质类型孤独症谱系障碍儿童的行为问题与其家庭环境的研究

目的:比较不同气质类型孤独症谱系障碍(autism spectrum disorders,ASD)儿童的行为问题及家庭环境差异,深入探讨ASD儿童气质类型及家庭环境对其行为问题的影响,为ASD儿童临床诊断和早期家庭干预提供新思路.方法:选取2018年12月-2019年11月在佳木斯大学附属第三医院住院及门诊明确诊断的3...     

青光眼患者习得性无助感与家庭动力学的相关性研究

目的探讨青光眼患者习得性无助感与家庭动力学的关系,为护士对患者进行家庭评估及发挥家庭的潜在作用提供参考。方法对256例青光眼患者运用习得性无助自评量表和系统家庭动力学自评量表进行测试。结果青光眼患者习得性无助感和系统家庭动力学得分分别为(2.25±0.37)分和(2.37±0.43)分;家庭动力学中疾病观念、家庭气氛和个性化3个维度能预测习得性无助感(P0.01)。结论青光眼患者习得性无助感较差,家庭动力学较好;疾病观念、家庭气氛和个性化是习得性无助感的影响因素,建议眼科护士协助患者发挥家庭的良好作用,以减少患者的习得性无助感。     

Incestuous experience among Korean adolescents: prevalence, family problems, perceived family dynamics, and psychological characteristics

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of incest among Korean adolescents and to determine the family problems, perceived family dynamics, and psychological consequences associated with incest in South Korea. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed, using an anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire. Data were analyzed by percentages, Chi-square, and t-test statistical analyses, using SAS software program. SAMPLE: A total of 1,672 adolescents (1,053 student adolescents and 619 delinquent adolescents) were selected using proportional stratified random sampling method in this study. RESULTS: The results showed a 3.7% prevalence of incest in the tested Korean population. Families in which incest occurred were characterized by higher levels of problems, such as psychotic disorders, depression, criminal acts, and alcoholism among family members. Adolescent incest victims showed significantly more dysfunctional and unhealthy in terms of family dynamics and expressed significantly higher maladaptive and problematic psychological patterns than nonvictimized adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings identified some of the family problems and dysfunctional family dynamics may associate with intrafamilial child sexual abuse in Korea. Therefore, when an allegation of intrafamilial sexual abuse is made, health professionals should carry out a comprehensive assessment of their family dynamics and an evaluation of the impact of the abuse on the child and family.     

食管癌患者就医延迟与家庭动力学特征的相关研究

目的了解食管癌患者就医延迟与家庭动力学特征的现状及二者之间的相关性。方法采用自行设计的问卷对2012年3月至2014年3月的144例食管癌患者进行就医延迟和家庭动力学特征的调查。结果食管癌患者就医延迟天数中位数为117 d,有97例(67.36%)的患者就医延迟时间3个月;就医延迟时间3个月的患者家庭气氛和疾病观念评分显著高于就医延迟≤3个月的患者(P0.01或P0.05);家庭气氛和疾病观念与食管癌患者就医延迟时间呈正相关(P0.01或P0.05)。结论食管癌患者就医延迟的现象较普遍,家庭气氛和疾病观念会影响其就医延迟情况。