The relation between joint physical custody, interparental conflict, and children's mental health

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between joint physical custody and children's mental health, and tested whether interparental conflict moderated the association. Background: Joint physical custody is an emerging post-separation care arrangement that is expected to counter the negative effects of family dissolution on children's overall well-being. There is, however, substantial disagreement about the impact that joint physical custody may have on children's mental health when interparental conflict is high. Method: The statistical analysis was based on data from the Family Models in Germany (FAMOD) study, which was conducted in 2019. The analytical sample consisted of 1,087 post-separation families practicing either sole physical custody or joint physical custody. Linear regression models were estimated to determine the relationship between physical custody arrangements, interparental conflict, and children's mental health problems. Results: Living in a joint physical custody arrangement was positively related to children's mental health, whereas high levels of interparental conflict were negatively related to children's mental health. However, when levels of interparental conflict were high children in joint physical custody arrangements displayed levels of mental health problems that were quite similar to those of children in sole physical custody arrangements. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that joint physical custody is not a "one-size-fits-all model" that is suitable for all post-separation families, and that it is only beneficial for children's mental health when interparental conflict is low

The intergenerational transmission of loneliness between parents and their adult children

Objective: This study examined the relationship between loneliness in parents and in their adult children, and took into account the role of gender differences in the intergenerational transmission of loneliness. Background: Although it is well documented that loneliness has negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health, only a relatively small number of empirical studies have investigated the intergenerational transmission of loneliness between parents and their children, including the potential long-term effects of transmission processes. Moreover, the findings of the few existing studies have been inconsistent and contradictory, particularly with regard to gender differences. Method: The statistical analysis drew on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). Based on data from 2013 and 2017, stepwise multilevel linear regression models were estimated for 4,457 respondents between the ages of 18 and 40 and their parents. Results: Significant associations were found between loneliness in parents and in their adult children. The analysis also revealed that the relationship between loneliness in mothers and in their children did not depend on whether mothers and children were living in the same household. However, no significant differences were found between same-sex and opposite-sex parent-child dyads. Conclusion: This study provided moderate evidence for the intergenerational transmission of loneliness between parents and their adult children, as well as indirect evidence for the long-term effects of transmission processes between mothers and children.Fragestellung: Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen der Einsamkeit von Eltern und der ihrer erwachsenen Kinder unter Berücksichtigung von geschlechtsspezifischen Unterschieden in Bezug auf die intergenerationale Transmission von Einsamkeit. Hintergrund: Obwohl bekannt ist, dass sich Einsamkeit negativ auf die physische und psychische Gesundheit einer Person auswirken kann, existieren bislang nur wenige empirische Untersuchungen, die die intergenerationale Transmission von Einsamkeit zwischen Eltern und Kindern sowie die möglichen Langzeitfolgen von Transmissionsprozessen erforscht haben. Hinzu kommt, dass die Ergebnisse der bisherigen Studien zum Teil inkonsistent und widersprüchlich waren, insbesondere mit Blick auf geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede. Methode: Die Grundlage für die statistischen Analysen bildet das Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP). Basierend auf den Daten aus den Jahren 2013 und 2017 wurden Mehrebenenanalysen für 4.457 Befragte im Alter zwischen 18 und 40 Jahren und ihren Eltern durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse der Regressionsanalysen zeigen signifikante Zusammenhänge zwischen der Einsamkeit von Eltern und der ihrer erwachsenen Kinder. Zudem belegen die Analysen, dass der Zusammenhang zwischen der Einsamkeit von Müttern und Kindern unabhängig davon ist, ob Mütter und Kinder in einem gemeinsamen Haushalt leben. Allerdings zeigen sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen gleichgeschlechtlichen und nichtgleichgeschlechtlichen Eltern-Kind-Dyaden. Diskussion: Die vorliegende Studie liefert moderate Hinweise auf die intergenerationale Transmission von Einsamkeit zwischen Eltern und ihren erwachsenen Kindern sowie indirekte Hinweise auf die langfristige Wirkung von Transmissionsprozessen zwischen Müttern und Kindern

Hydraulic Resistance of Vegetation in River Flow Applications

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/732If vegetated regions become part of a river’s flow field, the hydraulic resistance of vegetation affects the overall conveyance. Several descriptions exist to describe this type of flow; among them are empirical relations and relations that are process-based. In the current work three expressions are considered that have equal input parameters, similar levels of complexity but different theoretical backgrounds. The performance of the three methods is evaluated by comparison with flow measurements (collected from literature), and limits are given for their practical use

Simulating solute transport in an aggregated soil with the dual-porosity model: measured and optimized parameter values

The capability of the first-order, dual-porosity model, which explicitly accounts for non-ideal transport caused by the presence of ‘immobile’ water, to predict the non-ideal transport of non-sorbing solute in a constructed aggregated soil has been investigated. Miscible-displacement experiments performed with a well-characterized aggregated soil and a non-reactive tracer (pentafluorobenzoate) served as the source of the data. Values for the input parameters associated with physical non-equilibrium were determined independently and compared with values obtained by curve fitting of the experimental measurements. The calculated and optimized values compared well, suggesting that the non-equilibrium parameters represent actual physical phenomen

Effect of vegetation growth in drainage canals on water management

In 2002 a new regulation was adopted in the Netherlands to protect flora and fauna. As a consequence mowing of drainage canals will be restricted during the growing season leading to vegetated canals that may hamper the discharge of water. In the summer of 2006 a field experiment has been executed in combination with a model study to investigate the effects of vegetation growth in the Fliert, a drainage canal located in the central part of the Netherlands. The field experiments showed extensive vegetation growth in absence of mowing. For the model study SOBEK Rural was used to evaluate different rainfall and vegetation (mowing) scenarios. From the model study it could be concluded that vegetation growth in combination with high rainfall can lead to water management problems. This means that if mowing is not allowed alternative measures are necessary. Unfortunately, model results could not be validated due to a relative dry summer

Cross - fertilization between three different teaching modes for geo - informatics education

Objective of this study was to determine if the use and student appreciation of course materials differs for native materials (materials that were developed for that course type in which they are used) and foreign materials (materials that were developed for another course type) and if the way the materials are used, (compulsory versus optional, interchangeable versus the only source of information) affects the student appreciation. A comparison was made between a face-to-face course, a blended learning course and a distance course. The comparison was based on a questionnaire, the course evaluation and the statistics from the digital learning environments. Results show no difference between native and foreign course materials, but do however show the influence of the way the materials were used. Appreciation for compulsory, non-interchangeable materials is higher than for optional interchangeable ones, but even for this last category the general appreciation is high. Distance students have the highest overall appreciation for study materials, followed by the face-to-face students

Agent-based modelling of cholera diffusion

This paper introduces a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model for micro-scale cholera diffusion. The model simulates both an environmental reservoir of naturally occurring V. cholerae bacteria and hyperinfectious V. cholerae. Objective of the research is to test if runoff from open refuse dumpsites plays a role in cholera diffusion. A number of experiments were conducted with the model for a case study in Kumasi, Ghana, based on an epidemic in 2005. Experiments confirm the importance of the hyperinfectious transmission route, however, they also reveal the importance of a representative spatial distribution of the income classes. Although the contribution of runoff from dumpsites can never be conclusively proven, the experiments show that modelling the epidemic via this mechanism is possible and improves the model results. Relevance of this research is that it shows the possibilities of agent-based modelling combined with pattern reproduction for cholera diffusion studies. The proposed model is simple in its setup but can be extended by adding additional elements such as human movement and change of behaviour of individuals based on disease awareness. Eventually, agent-based models will open opportunities to explore policy related research questions related to interventions to influence the diffusion process