The distinction of 'Psychosomatogenic family types' Based on parents' self reported questionnaire information: a cluster analysis

The theory of 'psychosomatogenic family types' is often used in treatment of somatizing adolescents. This study investigated the validity of distinguishing 'psychosomatogenic family types' based on parents' self-reported family features. The study included a Flemish general population sample of 12-year olds (n = 1428). We performed cluster analysis on 3 variables concerning parents' self-reported problems in family functioning. The distinguished clusters were examined for differences in marital problems, parental emotional problems, professional help for family members, demographics, and adolescents' somatization. Results showed the existence of 5 family types: 'chaotic family functioning,' 'average amount of family functioning problems,' 'few family functioning problems,' 'high amount of support and communication problems,' and ' high amount of sense of security problems' clusters. Membership of the 'chaotic family functioning' and 'average amount of family functioning problems' cluster was significantly associated with higher levels of somatization, compared with 'few family functioning problems' cluster membership. Among additional variables, only marital and parental emotional problems distinguished somatization relevant from non relevant clusters: parents in 'average amount of family functioning problems' and 'chaotic family functioning' clusters reported higher problems. The data showed that 'apparently perfect' or 'enmeshed' patterns of family functioning may not be assessed by means of parent report as adopted in this study. In addition, not only adolescents from 'extreme' types of family functioning may suffer from somatization. Further, professionals should be careful assuming that families in which parents report average to high amounts of family functioning problems also show different demographic characteristics

Perceived Family Life Quality in Junior Secondary School Students in Hong Kong

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.The present longitudinal study examined perceived family functioning and related socio-demographic correlates from the perspective of adolescents in Hong Kong. Results showed that adolescent perceptions of family functioning based on different indicators gradually deteriorated over time. Regarding the socio-demographic correlates, (a) boys had more favourable perceived family functioning than did girls; (b) adolescents from non-intact families had poorer perceived family functioning than those from intact families; and (c) economically disadvantaged adolescents had poorer perceived family functioning than non-economically disadvantaged adolescents. Results also revealed that adolescents’ perceived family functioning was positively related to positive youth devel- opment. Analyses further indicated that perceived family functioning and positive youth development were concurrently and longitudinally related

Family profiles in eating disorders: family functioning and psychopathology

Research has studied family functioning in families of patients suffering from eating disorders (EDs), particularly investigating the associations between mothers’ and daughters’ psychopathological symptoms, but limited studies have examined whether there are specific maladaptive psychological profiles characterizing the family as a whole when it includes adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Through the collaboration of a network of public and private consultants, we recruited n=181 adolescents diagnosed for EDs (n=61 with AN, n=60 with BN, and n=60 with BEDs) and their parents. Mothers, fathers, and youths were assessed through a self-report measure evaluating family functioning, and adolescents completed a self-report questionnaire assessing psychopathological symptoms. Results showed specific family functioning and psychopathological profiles based on adolescents’ diagnosis. Regression analyses also showed that family functioning characterized by rigidity predicted higher psychopathological symptoms. Our study underlines the importance of involving all members of the family in assessment and intervention programs when adolescent offspring suffer from EDs

Family functioning, socio-economic status and adolescent’s depressive symptoms: the mediating role of hopelessness.

Research has shown that difficulties in family functioning contribute to developing adolescents’ depressive symptoms. Additionally, little research has been conducted in order to analyze socio-economic status (SES) differences in the relationship between family functioning and adolescent depressive symptoms. This study examined the relationships between the family variables included in the MacMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF), SES and depressive symptoms, as well as the mediating effects of hopelessness. Participants were 643 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (49% male) drawn from secondary schools in Málaga (Spain). They completed the Family Assessment Device, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and a socio-economic measure. We used conditional process analysis to test the moderation effect of gender and a dual mediation model with family functioning and hopelessness as mediators. Results showed that both family functioning as a whole and each MMFF variable, as well as SES, predicted adolescents’ depressive symptoms. In addition, gender moderated the relationship of roles assignment and behavioral control with adolescents’ depressive symptoms, which suggests the need for interventions directed to enhance family rules and boundaries, especially for boys. Finally, we found a serial mediational role of family functioning and hopelessness in the relationship between SES and depressive symptoms, suggesting that the effect of family SES on adolescents’ depressive symptoms through the development of hopelessness should also be targeted.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Family members dealing with childhood cancer : a study on the role of family functioning and cancer appraisal

Objectives: Childhood cancer is a life-threatening disease that poses significant challenges to the life of the diagnosed child and his/her family members. Based on the ABCX-model, the aim of the current study was to explore the association between family functioning, cancer appraisal and the individual adjustment of patients, parents and siblings. Methods: Participants were 60 children with leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 172 parents and 78 siblings (115 families). Time since diagnosis varied from zero to 33 months. Patients, parents and siblings completed the Family Environment Scale (FES), Perceived Stress Scale, Situation-Specific Emotional Reactions Questionnaire and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory/Maudsley Marital Questionnaire. Results: Family functioning and the appraisal of the cancer diagnosis proved to be related to patients', parents' and siblings' cancer-related emotions and quality of life post-diagnosis. In addition, family members differed in their perception of some family functioning domains, the appraisal of the cancer diagnosis, positive feelings and quality of life. Discussion: Our findings led to the conclusion that family functioning and the appraisal of the cancer diagnosis are important for the individual adjustment of patients, parents and siblings when facing a diagnosis of cancer in the child. Differences across members within one family and differences between families speak to the need of screening all family members and intervening at the level of individual as well as the family unit

Family functioning characteristics involved in adolescent depressive symptoms

Research has shown that family functioning contributes to depressive symptoms in adolescents, with a wide range of family functioning characteristics associated to adolescent depressive symptoms. However, these family attributes have been studied through different studies, methodologies and theoretical frameworks, and do not allow envisaging a single whole picture of the family attributes associated to adolescent depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to overcome this deficit. We followed a systematic approach and used the Family Assessment Device (FAD), which comprehensively identify six family variables in which healthy and unhealthy families differ: Problem Solving (PS), Communication (CM), Roles (RL), Affective Responsiveness (AR), Affective Involvement (AI) and Behaviour Control (BC). Independent regression analyses conducted for each variable showed that all the FAD variables significantly predicted BDI scores. However, when the six variables were introduced simultaneously in the same equation to control for the shared explained variance, only AR and AI showed significant effects, with BC approaching significance. These results were confirmed through Prat measure, which showed that the non-overlapping effects of AR, AI and BC accounted for virtually the whole variance explained by the FAD dimensions. Conclusions at both methodological and applied levels emerge from these results. At a methodological level, these results prove the need for controlling the shared variance between family variables before deriving any conclusion about their role. At an applied level, they showed that the family affective aspects are the most important regarding adolescent depression, with only behaviour control playing a role within the non-affective variables.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Hubungan Keberfungsian Keluarga Dengan Kontrol Diri Remaja Pada Siswa SMA Di Bawean

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of family functioning with adolescent self-control which is moderated by gender. The subjects in this study were 516 middle adolescents who attended high school / equivalent in Bawean Island. Family functioning is measured using the Family Assessment Device (FAD) while self-control is measured using the Self-Control Scale (SCS). Data analysis method used in this study is Moderate Regression Analysis (MRA). The results of the analysis in this study indicate that the functioning of families with self-control has a significant effect with Beta = 0.446 with p = 0.000 (p <0.01). However, gender proved unable to moderate the functioning of the family with self-control. In addition, from a separate analysis this study also explained that self-control of adolescent boys and girls alike

Diabetes control and the influence of family functioning

Background: The link between glycaemic control of type 1 diabetes and family functioning is complex, with the existing literature largely focussing upon the association between clear patterns of disturbances in family functioning and suboptimal diabetic control. The more subtle changes to family function that might influence the degree of successful management of a child's diabetes have been less well studied. Methods: This study sought to explore whether suboptimal glycaemic control was associated with variations in family functioning that might not in themselves prompt concern in routine clinic review. The project focussed on families attending for routine follow-up in specialist paediatric diabetes clinics in the North East of England. Mother and child participants provided demographic information and completed the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV), and the quality of their glycaemic control was assessed using the mean HbA1c value for each child over the last year. Families with clear emotional or family difficulties, or where the level of control was causing clear concern were excluded (as were families where there was major physical or a member with significant learning disabilities). The sample was divided into two groups; families whose children were in optimal glycaemic control of their diabetes, and families where the glycaemic control was suboptimal. Results: Whatever the degree of control, nearly all the mothers and index children reported functioning within the balanced range. The mothers of children with optimal glycaemic control reported their family to be more cohesive and expressed greater satisfaction with family life than mothers whose child's glycaemic control was suboptimal. The children with suboptimal diabetic control also tended to view their family life as more chaotic. Discussion: Despite the challenges most families cope reasonably well with the issues that managing type 1 diabetes in a child bring. However suboptimal control tends to be associated with some unhelpful family issues, and the implications for intervention are discussed. Conclusions: Suboptimal control, when it is present, prompts exploration of a wide range of factors. Assessment of family functioning should be part of this process, even if there is no evidence of major family difficulties because subtle distortions in functioning can significantly influence glycaemic control, especially in early adolescence

Transforming Front Line Child Welfare Practice: The Impacts of Institutional Settings on Services, Employment Environments, Children, and Families, NON-RETROSPECTIVE TECHNICAL REPORT: Accessible Program and Agency Based Program Parent Survey Results from Case Opening and Follow Up

Outcomes of accessible and central service models are assessed in this non-retrospective technical report using three criteria: (1) impacts on parent, child and family functioning; (2) impacts on system functioning (e.g. child placements, court involvements); and (3) impacts on parent and community attitudes towards child protection organizations