A mechanism for gratitude development in a child

Most scholars consider gratitude as a moral emotion, with only few seeing it as a character trait. As a result, no systematic mechanism has ever been attempted to develop gratitude in children. Given the social issue of widespread lack of gratitude in the one-child generations of China, this article attempts to outline a mechanism of parental moral education for gratitude development. The mechanism is underpinned by love, induction and discipline; and theoretically justified in accordance with key psychological and sociological theories, such as Piaget's theory of moral development, Kohlberg's moral stages theory, attachment theory, Hoffman's internalisation theory, Rest's social justice theory and Baumrind's parenting styles theory. The benefits and potential risks of each strategy of the mechanism are addressed.     

Family Stress and Functioning in Children: the Moderating Effects of Children''s Beliefs About Their Control Over Parental Conflict

While factors such as gender and SES have been studied as moderators of stress for children, their perceptions of control have received little attention. In the current study, children's domain-specific perceptions of their control during marital conflict were investigated as potential moderators of the impact of family stress on children's behavior problems, and perceptions of competence. Ninety-four children aged 6-12 years and mothers from families ranging in level of parental conflict from nondiscordant to discordant to physically violent were interviewed. Multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of conflict control beliefs acted as compensatory moderators of stress, being associated with lower levels of problem behaviors across stress levels. However, higher conflict control beliefs acted as vulnerability moderators with regard to children's perceptions of competence.     

Parents Expectations and Child Rearing Practices in Hong Kong

This paper reports on some aspects of interactions of parents with their children in Hong Kong. In particular some of the child rearing practices and their educational implications are presented. The study is an interview based research project in which 130 parents of children between the ages of birth-12 years gave their views about a range of issues including what they want for their child (expectations), how they discipline their child, who the parent goes to for advice on child rearing, how much homework the child does each day. The paper sheds some light on the difficult task of rearing children in a situation where traditional family practices are changing and where pre-schools and schools work in very formal ways.     

Obesity of Czech children and adolescents: relation to parental obesity and socioeconomic factors

The purpose of this study was to estimate the change in overweight and obesity prevalence and the influence of socioeconomic status and parental obesity on overweight and obesity of children and adolescents in the Czech Republic. The roles of family history of obesity, dietary factors and physical activity were evaluated. The quota sample of 1,417 children and adolescents aged 6.00–17.99 years was examined in November 2005 as a part of the survey Lifestyle and Obesity. The quota sample was nationally representative, and subjects were selected according to the gender, age, region, size of residential location and education of parents. In the subjects weight, height and waist circumferences were measured and BMI was calculated. Food intake and physical activity were estimated by food frequency and physical activity questionnaires. The results were compared with the data from the 6th National Anthropological Survey of Children and Adolescents 2001, the Czech Republic. The data was evaluated by Pearson’s chi-square test and by linear regression analysis with backward factor reduction. Enhancing prevalence of obesity was found in younger age categories in comparison with the year 2001. Parental overweight and obesity significantly increased the risk of overweight and obesity. BMI in children (6–12.99 years) was associated with the intake of sweetened carbonated drinks and potatoes including fried ones (positive association) and low-sugar carbonated drinks and physical activity (negative association). In adolescents (13–17.99 years) BMI was associated with parental obesity, fat meat intake, time spent on the computer (positive association) and fish intake and physical activity (negative association). The results show an increase in obesity prevalence in younger children in the Czech Republic. Parental obesity significantly enhanced the risk ratio of obesity predominantly in adolescents.     

强迫症患者的防御机制、父母教养方式及个性特征的调查分析

目的　探讨强迫症患者的防御机制、父母教养方式及其个性特征。方法　采用防御方式问卷 (DSQ)、父母养育方式评价量表 (EMBU)及艾森克个性问卷 (EPQ)对 36例强迫症患者进行了问卷调查 ,并与 36例正常受试者加以比较。结果　①强迫症组中间型和不成熟防御机制因子分均明显高于正常对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,而成熟防御机制因子分则明显低于正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;②强迫症组父母的情感温暖因子分低 ,而父母的惩罚、拒绝因子分和母亲的偏爱被试因子分高 ,同正常对照组比较 ,差别均具有显著性或非常显著性意义 (P <0 0 1或P <0 0 5 ) ;③强迫症组EPQ的N因子分明显高于正常对照组 ,而E因子分则明显低于正常对照组 (P <0 0 1)。结论　强迫症患者的防御机制、父母教养方式及个性特征与正常人有着明显的不同 ,它为今后开展分析性心理治疗 ,实施心理干预措施提供了依据。     

腹膜透析患者应对压力的方式与焦虑抑郁情绪的关系

目的：探讨应对压力的方式与腹膜透析患者的焦虑抑郁情绪的关系。方法：采用自填式结构问卷，对81例腹膜透析患者进行调查，了解患者的一般情况和患者应对措施，同时用综合性医院焦虑和抑郁情绪量表测量他们的焦虑与抑郁情绪。结果：控制年龄等因素后的等级回归分析表明：使用“面对”和“自我缓解”应对方式显著降低患者的焦虑情绪，采用“屈从”应对方式增加焦虑的发生；文化程度高的患者采用逃避应对方式则大大增加焦虑情绪的程度，女性和经济收入高者采用面对应对方式可以大大降低焦虑情绪的发生；“自我缓解”应对方式显著降低患者抑郁情绪发生的可能性。结论：不同的应对方式对腹膜透析患者的焦虑抑郁情绪存在差异。     

Perceived adherence to prescribed treatment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis over a one‐year period

Objective

To document perceived adherence to treatment (taking medications and performing exercises) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) over a 1‐year period and to identify related factors.

Methods

We surveyed parents of patients with JIA at the Montreal Children's Hospital and British Columbia's Children's Hospital in Vancouver. Parents were asked to respond to a series of questionnaires every 3 months over a 12‐month period. Perceived adherence was evaluated on a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS) in the Parent Adherence Report Questionnaire (PARQ). Parental coping, distress, child function, disease severity and duration, perceived helpfulness of treatment, problems encountered, and sociodemographic data were also assessed.

Results

The mean age of our sample of 175 children was 10.2 years; mean age at diagnosis was 6.1 years and mean disease duration was 4.1 years. Perceived adherence to medications was consistently high, with average adherence at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months being 86.1, 91.7, 90.4, 92.0, and 88.8, respectively, on the PARQ VAS. Perceived adherence to exercise was lower but remained steady, with corresponding means of 54.5, 64.1, 61.2, 63.0, and 54.3, respectively. Using generalized estimating equation analysis, factors associated with higher perceived adherence to medications included perceived helpfulness of medications and lower disease severity; those associated with higher perceived adherence to exercise were younger age of the child, child involvement in responsibility for treatment, and higher perceived helpfulness of the treatment.

Conclusion

Belief in helpfulness of treatment is associated with higher parental perceived adherence to treatment.     

Mother and father involvement in day care centers serving infants and young toddlers

This study compared the involvement of 28 mothers and their spouses in day care centers serving infants and toddlers. The sample consisted of parents who work at varying distances from the center. Parents were interviewed ten times each to determine the amount of time they spend in the center, frequency of communication with care providers, mid-day visits to the center, playing with the child, and holding the child in the center. Factor analysis reduced these variables to one parental involvement factor. Mothers were significantly more involved than fathers in the center, after statistically controlling for distance to the workplace and occupational status.