Community-level social capital,parental psychological distress,and child physical abuse: a multilevel mediation analysis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between community-level social capital and physical abuse towards children, and the mediating effect of parental psychological distress by multilevel mediation analyses.

Methods

We analyzed data from a population-based study of first-grade elementary school children (6–7 years old) in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. The caregivers of first-grade students from all elementary schools in Adachi City (N?=?5355) were asked to respond to a questionnaire assessing parents’ self-reported physical abuse (beating and hitting) and neighborhood social capital. Among them, 4291 parents returned valid responses (response rate 80.1%). We performed multilevel analyses to determine the relationships between community-level parental social capital and physical abuse, and further multilevel mediation analyses were performed to determine whether parental psychological distress mediated the association.

Results

Low community-level social capital was positively associated with physical abuse (both beating and hitting) after adjustment for other individual covariates (beating: middle, OR?=?1.54, 95% CI 1.11–2.13; low, OR?=?1.33, 95% CI 0.94–1.88; and hitting: middle, OR?=?1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.80; low, OR?=?1.16, 95% CI 0.86–1.57). Multilevel mediation analyses revealed that community-level parental psychological distress did not mediate the association (indirect effect ß?=?0.10, 95% CI ??0.10 to 0.29, p?=?0.34 for beating; ß?=?0.03, 95% CI ??0.16 to 0.23, p?=?0.74 for hitting).

Conclusions

Fostering community-level social capital might be important for developing a strategy to prevent child maltreatment, which may have a direct impact on abusive behavior towards children.

     

The handicapped child: psychological effects of parental, marital, and sibling relationships.

Although the nature and severity of a handicapping condition are not the sole determinants of family functioning, the presence of a child with a pervasive developmental disorder has a significant effect on family members. Maternal mental health suffers, and the resulting depression affects her role as mother and marriage partner. Unlike other handicapping conditions with obvious physical stigmata, the invisible handicap of the autistic child and the frequent delay in diagnosis contribute to the mother's self-doubt about her parental competence. While the impact on paternal psychological health is less, the fathers of autistic children are nevertheless highly stressed and appear to be particularly vulnerable to the stress generated by these difficult children. Living within this family climate, the risks for emotional and behavioral problems for siblings must be evaluated, along with their intrinsic strengths, to plan preventive interventions for these children. Effective work with these families requires an understanding of the evolution of family system problems and their dynamic and reciprocal interaction over time.     

Parenting stress in mothers of adults with an intellectual disability: parental cognitions in relation to child characteristics and family support

Background There is a body of evidence that indicates that the cognitions of parents of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) play an important role in influencing parental stress. However, there is a paucity of evidence about the experience of parents of adult children with ID. This study sought to apply a model of parenting stress to mothers of adults with ID. Of particular interest were the parental cognitions of parenting self‐esteem and parental locus of control. Method Face‐to face interviews were administered with 44 mothers of adults with ID. They completed the Vineland Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviour Scale, the Family Support Scale, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, a shortened version of the Parental Locus of Control Scale and the Parenting Stress Index. Results Correlations were observed between parenting stress and the other study variables. Regression analysis revealed that parental cognitive variables predicted 61% of the variance in parenting stress. Parenting satisfaction, a subscale of the measure of parenting sense of competence, mediated the relationships between adaptive behaviour and parenting stress and between family support and parenting stress. Conclusions These results indicate the importance of cognitive variables in the stress of mothers of adults with ID. Potential avenues of future research might focus on the experience of fathers and the impact of positive perceptions as a cognitive factor.     

Parenting stress in mothers of children with an intellectual disability: the effects of parental cognitions in relation to child characteristics and family support

Background Recent theories of stress and coping in parents of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) emphasize the importance of cognitive appraisals in influencing parents’ levels of stress and their adaptations to difficulties presented by the children. This study investigated the relationships between parental cognitions, child characteristics, family support and parenting stress. The aspects of cognitions studied were: parenting self-esteem (including efficacy and satisfaction) and parental locus of control. Methods The group studied consisted of 46 mothers of children with ID. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and Maladaptive Behavior Domain were administered by interview. Mothers also completed four questionnaires: the Family Support Scale, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, a shortened form of the Parental Locus of Control Scale and the Parenting Stress Index (Short Form). Results Data were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, partial correlations and a regression analysis. The results indicated that most of the variance in parenting stress was explained by parental locus of control, parenting satisfaction and child behaviour difficulties. Whilst there was also a strong correlation between family support and parenting stress, this was mediated by parental locus of control. Conclusions The results demonstrate the potential importance of parental cognitions in influencing parental stress levels. It is argued that these results have implications for clinical interventions for promoting parents’ coping strategies in managing children with ID and behavioural difficulties.     

Sex differences in child psychiatric outpatients: Cognitive,personality, and behavioral characteristics

This paper describes sex differences in a clinically referred sample on direct measures of child competence and ratings of psychopathology. The sample comprised 117 6-12 year-old boys and 63 girls referred to a psychiatric outpatient service. The results indicated that although boys and girls did not differ in overall problems or on externalizing problems, girls had significantly more internalizing problems and were more impaired as measured by both individual and composite measures of competence.     

Long-term psychological distress in parents of child survivors of severe meningococcal disease

Objective: To study psychological distress in parents of child survivors of Severe Meningococcal Disease (SMD) after discharge of their child from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Methods: This study approached parents of child survivors of SMD treated on the PICU between 1993–2001. Five cross-sectional groups were created for mothers and fathers separately. The five groups differed from each other by the period after discharge they entered the project (ranging from 3 months to 7 years after discharge). For research purposes, mothers and fathers (n =?192) individually completed the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ), measuring their level of psychological distress.

Statistics: Mean group scores were examined and a one-way-analysis of variance (ANOVA) performed to study differences between groups for mothers and fathers separately. In addition, percentages of parents with GHQ scores above cut-off were calculated and it was determined whether it differed from norm data.

Results: Data reveal that both mothers and fathers experience high mean levels of psychological distress after discharge, showing no significant differences in group means over time. High percentages of parents experience psychological distress after discharge, if compared with the normal population.

Conclusions: Parents of child survivors of SMD experience profound and prolonged psychological distress after discharge. Future interventions should focus on follow-up care for this population to help them re-adjust after this stressful event.     

Refugees,labour migrants and psychological distress

This paper shows the strength and influence of ethnicity on mental health in comparison with material factors and lifestyle, which are well-known risk factors for psychological distress. The focus was on health differences between Latin-American refugees and labour migrants from Finland and the south of Europe. The study was designed as a population-based cross-sectional study, with 338 Latin-American refugees aged 16–74 years (response rate=81.8%) in Lund, a random sample of 396 Finnish and 161 South European labour migrants, and 996 age-, sex- and education-matched Swedish controls from the Swedish Annual Level-of-living Surveys. The data were analysed unmatched with logistic regression in main effect models. The strongest independent risk indicator for self-reported psychological distress was being a non-European refugee, i. a. a Latin-American refugee, with an estimated odds ratio of 4.39 (2.49–7.31). There was a non-significant association in logistic regression between South European labour migrants and psychological distress, but a crude odds ratio of 2.29 (1.09–4.81). There was no association between Finnish labour migrants and psychological distress. Not feeling secure in daily life was a strong riks indicator for psychological distress, with an estimated odds ratio of 3.29 (1.90–5.45).     

Exploring mediating factors in the association between parental psychological distress and psychosocial maladjustment in adolescence

Abstract  

Parental psychopathology is associated with increased psychosocial maladjustment in adolescents. We examined, from a psychosocial perspective, the association between parental psychological distress and psychosocial maladjustment in adolescents and assessed the mediating role of psychosocial covariates. This is a cross-sectional survey and the setting include representative sample of Quebec adolescents in 1999. The participants of the study include 13- and 16-year-old children (N = 2,346) in the Social and Health Survey of Quebec Children and Adolescents. The main outcome measures are internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders, substance use, and alcohol consumption. For statistical analysis, we used structural equation modeling to test for mediation. Internalizing and externalizing disorders were significantly associated with parental psychological distress, but not substance use or alcohol consumption. The higher the parental distress, the higher the risk of adolescent mental health disorders. The association between parental psychological distress and internalizing disorders was mediated by adolescent self-esteem, parental emotional support and extrafamilial social support. As for externalizing disorders, these variables only had an independent effect. In conclusion, A family’s well being is a necessary condition for psychosocial adjustment in adolescence. Beyond the psychiatric approach, psychosocial considerations need to be taken into consideration to prevent negative mental health outcomes in children living in homes with distressed parents.     

Discrimination and Latino psychological distress: the moderating role of ethnic identity exploration and commitment

This study sought to examine the moderating effect of ethnic identity exploration and ethnic identity commitment on the various types of discrimination and psychological distress within a sample of Latino adults (N?=?397). The results revealed that ethnic identity exploration was associated with increased psychological distress within the context of discrimination in work, academic, and public settings. Ethnic identity commitment, on the other hand, served as a buffer between covert discrimination and mental health. These findings highlight the circumstances in which ethnic identity functioned as a protective and as a risk factor in the psychological distress of Latinos. The implications are discussed within a stress and coping framework and outline directions for future research.     

The developmental origins of externalizing behavioral problems: parental disengagement and the role of gene-environment interplay

A line of research has revealed that the influence of genes on behavioral development is closely tied to environmental experiences. Known as gene-environment interaction, research in this area is beginning to reveal that variation in parenting behaviors may moderate genetic influences on antisocial behaviors in children. Despite growing interest in gene-environment interaction research, little evidence exists concerning the role of maternal disengagement in the conditioning of genetic influences on childhood behavioral problems. The current study is intended to address this gap in the literature by analyzing a sample of twin pairs drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). Analysis of the ECLS-B provided evidence that maternal disengagement moderates genetic influences on the development of externalizing problems.     

Personality characteristics and psychological distress associated with primary exercise dependence: an exploratory study

The aim of this study was to assess personality characteristics and psychological distress associated with primary exercise dependence (ExeDepI) in a mixed gender sample. A cross-sectional study was carried out with adult habitual physical exercisers. A total of 79 participants voluntarily completed a package of self-report questionnaires including the Exercise Dependence Questionnaire (EDQ), the Eating Disorder Inventory II (EDI-2), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the Attitude Toward Self scale (ATS), and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). Significant differences were found on the EDQ exercise for weight control subscale with regard to gender, as well as on the EDI-2 total score and five of its subscales, with higher scores for females compared to males. Participants reporting primary exercise dependence (N = 32) were more likely to present with disordered eating patterns than controls (N = 47). They also showed higher levels of harm avoidance and persistence on the TCI, but lower self-directness and less mature character. Furthermore, ExeDepI group scored higher on the ATS dysmorphophobia subscale, as well as on the anxiety and hostility subscales of the SQ compared to the control group. These findings provide support to the idea that primary exercise dependence can be considered as a clinical syndrome associated with certain personality characteristics and psychological symptoms that might be accurately assessed in clinical settings.     

Children's responses to low parental mood. II: Associations with family perceptions of parenting styles and child distress

OBJECTIVE: In an earlier article (part 1) the authors identified four patterns of children's responses to parental low mood: Active Empathy, Emotional Overinvolvement, Indifference, and Avoidance. They then hypothesized that these response patterns were related to parenting styles and to discrepancies in family members' perceptions of parenting and child mental distress. METHOD: A normal population sample of 990 twelve-year-old Finnish children and their mothers (843) and fathers (573) was used. Within-family multivariate analyses conducted in mother-father-child triads (470) were used to examine whether quality of parenting varied according to children's responses and whether parents' and children's perceptions of parenting and child distress were different. RESULTS: Children in the Active Empathy and Indifference groups experienced more positive parenting than those in the other two groups. Discrepancies in family members' perceptions of child distress and mothering and fathering were especially characteristic of the Emotional Overinvolvement group. Typical for the Avoidance group was a within-family agreement on poor parenting and severe child distress. CONCLUSIONS: Children's response patterns as regards parental low mood are related to family dynamics. The study suggests that discrepancies in parents' and children's perceptions of parenting and child distress can be meaningful in understanding family interactions and child development and well-being.     

The role of parental burden in child mental health service use: longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative contributions of symptom severity, functional impairment, and parental burden in predicting the use of specialist child mental health services over a 4-year period. METHOD: Between 1999 and 2000, parental Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires were completed on a community-based sample of 1,168 (40% response rate) 5- to 11-year-olds in the United Kingdom. Using a prospective longitudinal design, these data were related to subsequent referral records (until 2003). Children who were and were not referred to specialist mental health services were compared. Changes in the association between predictor variables (symptoms, impairment, and burden) and referral over time were also examined. RESULTS: Over 4 years, 5.1% of children were referred. After controlling for all other predictors, only severity of symptoms predicted future referrals (for each 1-point increase on the total symptoms score, odds ratio 1.15; 95% confidence interval=1.09-1.21). Burden was only associated with referrals made during the first year, whereas conduct and emotional problems predicted subsequent referrals. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to cross-sectional studies that have highlighted the roles of functional impairment and parental burden in predicting specialist service use, this longitudinal study indicates that symptom severity best predicts future referrals. For children with mental health problems, there is considerable delay in accessing specialist services.     

The role of early attachment and parental presence in adolescent behavioral and neurobiological regulation

Early attachment shapes brain development underlying emotion regulation. Given that sensitivity to affective cues is heightened during adolescence and effective emotion regulation strategies continue to develop, it is imperative to examine the role of early attachment and parental influence on adolescent regulation. Fifty-one children (M age=32.61 months) participated in a modified Strange Situation with their mother and approximately 10 years later (M age =13.2 years) completed an fMRI scan during which they were presented with appetitive and aversive affective cues (images of adolescent interactions) during a Go-Nogo task. They completed the task alone and in the presence of a parent. Behavioral multilevel models and whole-brain analyses showed attachment-related patterns, such that affective cues elicited greater behavioral and neural dysregulation in insecure (versus secure) adolescents.Furthermore, parental presence buffered behavioral and neural dysregulation toward socially aversive cues for adolescents with early insecure attachment, underscoring the salience of caregivers across development in promoting regulation in their offspring     

Adolescents with ADHD: patterns of behavioral adjustment, academic functioning, and treatment utilization

Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were compared with a control group on a comprehensive assessment battery. More ADHD teenagers had oppositional defiant disorder (68%) and conduct disorder (39%) and were rated as more impaired in social competence, behavioral and emotional adjustment, and school performance by parents and teachers than control teens. The ADHD youths, however, rated themselves as better adjusted than did their parents and teachers, differing only from controls in depressive symptoms and antisocial acts. Poorer performances in verbal learning and vigilance and greater ADHD behaviors during a math task also distinguished the ADHD from control teenagers.     

Impact of parental emotional support and coercive control on adolescents' self-esteem and psychological distress: Results of a four-year longitudinal study

This study aims at investigating the impact of parental practices on youths' adjustment. In all, 605 adolescents completed questionnaires at ages 14, 16 and 18. Self-esteem, psychological distress as well as parental emotional support and coercive control were measured. Analyses based on individual growth models revealed that self-esteem increased with age, but psychological distress remained stable over time. Boys reported higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of psychological distress than girls. Maternal and paternal emotional support reinforced self-esteem over time. Maternal coercive control undermined self-esteem, but only at ages 16 and 18. Psychological distress decreased with parental emotional support but increased with parental coercive control at ages 14, 16 and 18. Overall, these results indicate that positive parental practices are related to youths' well-being. These findings support the importance of establishing intervention strategies designed to promote best practices among parents of teenagers to help them develop into well-adjusted adults.