Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

La reproducción de Hyla meridionalis en el suroeste de EspañaAlimentación y relaciones tróficas entre larvas de Triturus marmoratus, T. alpestris y T. helveticus (Amphibia: CaudataOrganization of behaviour in isolated lizards (Gallotia galloti galloti) as revealed by multivariate analyseComposición y estructura de las comunidades de aves a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal en tres medios arbustivos del macizo de Ayllón(Sistema Central)La comunidad de aves de un acebuchar del sur de España durante el periodo invernal y de cria.Alimentación del buho chico (Asio otus) en la isla de Tenerife y análisis comparativo con la dieta de Tyto albaAlimentación del zorzal charlo (Turdus viscivoros) en la sierra de Cazorla, SE de España.La migración en España del verderón común (Carduelis chloris, L.) según los resultados de anillamientoIdentificación de los principales quirópteros ibéricos a partir de sus dientes aislados. Valor sistemático de los caracteres morfológicos y métricos dentariosRitmo de actividad en Gazella dorcasSobre la sistemática y biología de Eliomys quercinus en la Cordillera Cantábrica.Primeras citas de Barbus microcephalus Almaça, 1967 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en EspañaSobre la presencia de Lampetra planeri BLOCH, 1784 en España.Sobre el status taxonómico del género Valencia Myers, 1928 en el suroeste de IberiaNuevas localidades de Chondrostroma polypis Steindachner, 1865 (Ostariophysi, Cyprinidae) en España.Sobre la distribución Gobio gobio (L., 1758)(OSTAOPHYSI, CIPRINIDAE) en EspañaNotas sobre la alimentación de larvas de anfibios: 2. Salamandra salamandra de CazorlaNuevos datos sobre la permanencia de caracteres larvarios en individuos adultos de una población de tritón pirenaico (Euproctus asper) en el valle de AránLa variación del diseño natural como método de reconocimiento individual en Triturus boscaiPresencia de Triturus boscai en la provincia de Córdoba.Datos sobre la alimentación de Athene cunicularia en la Reserva de fauna altoandina de Ulla-Ulla, Bolivia.Falco peregrinus cassini en BoliviaAlgunos datos sobre quirópteros de Galicia.Notas sobre la alimentación de la nutria (Lutra lutra) en el embalse de Matavacas, HuelvaPeer reviewe

Differences in family structure and functioning between families with disordered and healthy children

INTRODUCTION During the last ten years, Children and Adolescent psychiatry has experienced a growth in the rates of children consulting for mental disorders. Alteration in family functioning and structure may cause a negative impact in children and adolescent psychological adjustment, being this fact related to the increase in the number of consultations. OBJECTIVES To compare family functioning and structure between families with and without a child affected with a psychopathological disorder. METHOD Parents of children attending for the first time to the Children and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at the Department of Psychiatry at the University Hospital of Navarra or at the General Paediatrics Department of the same institution were invited to fill in a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Family Assessment Device (FAD), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III). Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 124 married couples with a child affected with a psychopathological disorder, and 46 marriages without any psychologically disordered child. Parents of disordered children had been married for a mean of approximately 15 years (+5.8) and those of healthy children had been married for a mean of approximately 9 years (+5.4). Statistically meaningful differences were found between fathers from both groups in the “global functioning” subscale measured by the FAD. In the case of mothers, the “roles” and “global functioning” FAD subscales revealed statistically meaningful differences (p<0.05) between both groups. Finally, the FACES III “cohesion” subscale displayed statistically meaningful differences (p<0.05) also between mothers from both groups. CONCLUSIONS Fathers of disordered children refer a worse global functioning in their families. Mothers of disordered children refer greater difficulty to allocate roles, and an alteration in emotional links between family members

Does the number of children take a role in marital dysfunction?

INTRODUCTION The number of separations and divorces has dramatically increased in Europe in the last few years. In Spain, according to the last report of the Institute for Family Policies entitled “Evolution on the Family in Europe 2009”, the rate represents a 268% increase. Furthermore, birth rates have also decreased, with only 4% of families having three or more children. OBJECTIVES To analyse differences in marital and family functioning depending on the number of children. METHOD We studied a sample of 168 married couples who on their own initiative turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) at the University of Navarra Hospital (Spain) referring marital dysfunction. Sociodemographic data were gathered from all couples. They were asked to fill in the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) in order to assess marital dynamics and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) to assess family functioning. Statistic analysis was done with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS Out of the couples studied (N=168), 78 had three or more children, and 90 had less than three. Couples in large families had been married for a mean of 19.6+10.6 years, and nearly had four children (3.94+1.2) of ages in a range of 10 to 17 years. Couples in families with less than three children had been married for a mean of 13.7+10.3 and had a mean of one child (1.23+0.28) within an age range of 9 to 12 years. Statistic analysis of marital dynamics as measured with the DAS shows that there are statistically meaningful differences in the “Affective expression” subscale (p<0.05) both in husbands and wives. Concerning family functioning as measured by the FAD, we can find statistically meaningful differences in the subscale “communication” (p<0.05) measured in wives. CONCLUSIONS In our sample, marital dysfunction does not seem to be influenced by the number of children in the family. However, further research is necessary to study other variables that could also take a role, in order to get more accurate data

Does the number of children take a role in marital dysfunction?

INTRODUCTION The number of separations and divorces has dramatically increased in Europe in the last few years. In Spain, according to the last report of the Institute for Family Policies entitled “Evolution on the Family in Europe 2009”, the rate represents a 268% increase. Furthermore, birth rates have also decreased, with only 4% of families having three or more children. OBJECTIVES To analyse differences in marital and family functioning depending on the number of children. METHOD We studied a sample of 168 married couples who on their own initiative turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) at the University of Navarra Hospital (Spain) referring marital dysfunction. Sociodemographic data were gathered from all couples. They were asked to fill in the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) in order to assess marital dynamics and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) to assess family functioning. Statistic analysis was done with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS Out of the couples studied (N=168), 78 had three or more children, and 90 had less than three. Couples in large families had been married for a mean of 19.6+10.6 years, and nearly had four children (3.94+1.2) of ages in a range of 10 to 17 years. Couples in families with less than three children had been married for a mean of 13.7+10.3 and had a mean of one child (1.23+0.28) within an age range of 9 to 12 years. Statistic analysis of marital dynamics as measured with the DAS shows that there are statistically meaningful differences in the “Affective expression” subscale (p<0.05) both in husbands and wives. Concerning family functioning as measured by the FAD, we can find statistically meaningful differences in the subscale “communication” (p<0.05) measured in wives. CONCLUSIONS In our sample, marital dysfunction does not seem to be influenced by the number of children in the family. However, further research is necessary to study other variables that could also take a role, in order to get more accurate data

Study of marital communication in marriages with infidelity

INTRODUCTION Infidelity has a significant psychological impact on marriages and families. Marriages with an infidelity experience show a great number of premarital communication problems such as low rates of positive interaction and high rates of invalidation and negative interaction (1). OBJECTIVES To analyse communicative resources of spouses belonging to marriages with at least one unfaithfulness episode. To compare marital communication depending on the sex of the unfaithful spouse. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analized a sample of married couples in which at least one of the partners had had an extramarital relationship and who had turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) during the last five years presenting marital dysfunction related to an extramarital episode. Marital communication was studied through the observational method Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS), analysing a 15-minute conversation between partners, which was coded by two reliable independent raters. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 39 married couples. No statistically meaningful differences were found with the RMICS between unfaithful husbands and faithful wives. However, when the wife was the unfaithful partner, we observed statistically meaningful differences in communication in the codes Hostility (p<0.05) and Problem Discussion (p<0.01) as compared to their faithful husbands. Furthermore, statistically meaningful differences were found in the use of the code Humor (p<0.01) when comparing unfaithful husbands to unfaithful wives. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v.15) program. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in our study show that marital and family communication varies depending on the sex of the unfaithful partner, mainly in the way they discuss and cope with problems, although more studies should be carried out with larger samples in order to confirm the results. We also appreciate that marriages in which the husband has been unfaithful, have a better marital communication than do marriages with an unfaithful woman. Finally, unfaithful women use a communication pattern more hostile than their husbands. BIBLIOGRAFÍA (1) Allen, E.S. The multidimensional and development nature of infidelity: Practical applications. Journal of clinical psychology, 2005; 61; 11; 1371-1400. (2) Heyman E. R. & Vivian, D. Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System. Manual. Ver. 1.7, July, 2000. State University of New York at Stony Brook

Study of marital communication in marriages with infidelity

INTRODUCTION Infidelity has a significant psychological impact on marriages and families. Marriages with an infidelity experience show a great number of premarital communication problems such as low rates of positive interaction and high rates of invalidation and negative interaction (1). OBJECTIVES To analyse communicative resources of spouses belonging to marriages with at least one unfaithfulness episode. To compare marital communication depending on the sex of the unfaithful spouse. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analized a sample of married couples in which at least one of the partners had had an extramarital relationship and who had turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) during the last five years presenting marital dysfunction related to an extramarital episode. Marital communication was studied through the observational method Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS), analysing a 15-minute conversation between partners, which was coded by two reliable independent raters. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 39 married couples. No statistically meaningful differences were found with the RMICS between unfaithful husbands and faithful wives. However, when the wife was the unfaithful partner, we observed statistically meaningful differences in communication in the codes Hostility (p<0.05) and Problem Discussion (p<0.01) as compared to their faithful husbands. Furthermore, statistically meaningful differences were found in the use of the code Humor (p<0.01) when comparing unfaithful husbands to unfaithful wives. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v.15) program. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in our study show that marital and family communication varies depending on the sex of the unfaithful partner, mainly in the way they discuss and cope with problems, although more studies should be carried out with larger samples in order to confirm the results. We also appreciate that marriages in which the husband has been unfaithful, have a better marital communication than do marriages with an unfaithful woman. Finally, unfaithful women use a communication pattern more hostile than their husbands. BIBLIOGRAFÍA (1) Allen, E.S. The multidimensional and development nature of infidelity: Practical applications. Journal of clinical psychology, 2005; 61; 11; 1371-1400. (2) Heyman E. R. & Vivian, D. Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System. Manual. Ver. 1.7, July, 2000. State University of New York at Stony Brook