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

Promoting optimal parenting and children’s mental health : a preliminary evaluation of the How-to Parenting Program

Parenting quality is widely accepted as a primary predictor of children’s mental health. The present study examined the effectiveness of a parenting program in fostering optimal parenting and child mental health. The selected program was How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk (How-to Parenting Program). This program was selected because its content corresponds closely to what the parenting style literature suggests is optimal parenting (i.e., includes structure, affiliation and autonomy support). Eleven groups of six to twelve parents were conducted in 7 local grade schools. The program, offered by two trained leaders, consisted of eight weekly sessions and taught a total of 30 skills. A total of 82 parents completed questionnaires both prior to and after the program. Participants’ children between eight and 12 years old (N = 44) completed questionnaires at school, at both assessment points. Repeated measures ANOVAs using parent reports indicated that structure, affiliation and autonomy support were increased after the program, compared to baseline. The level of child internalizing and externalizing problems also decreased significantly. Importantly, children reports confirmed that parental autonomy support increased from pre to post-test and child-reported well-being improved as well. The preliminary evidence from this pre-test versus post-test repeated measures design suggests that the How-to Parenting Program is effective in improving parenting style and in promoting children’s mental health and that future evaluation research examining the potential of this program is warranted

HIV knowledge, risk perception and risk behaviour among male ex-offenders in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The aim of this study is to investigate HIV knowledge, beliefs and HIV risk behaviours among ex-offenders in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. A sample of 85 male ex-offenders conveniently selected from an exoffenders organization were interviewed with a structured and open-ended questionnaire. Results indicate good overall HIV knowledge but also significant misconceptions such as 45.9% believed that many sexual partners are needed to get HIV, 31.8% that there is a cure for AIDS and 25.9% believed that a pregnant woman cannot give HIV to their baby. The personal risk of getting HIV was rated as relatively low, with 8.2% already HIV infected. Almost all ex-offenders (91.2%) had been sexually active in the past 12 months. Various HIV risk behaviours were found, almost one in 5 had multiple sex partners, one in ten commercial sex and almost half lacked condom use and 56.5% had never had an HIV test. Linear regression analyses between HIV risk variables and HIV risk behaviour index controlled by demographic variables found no significant predictors. The study revealed that ex-offenders have high rates of unprotected sex, and limited exposure to effective HIV education and prevention interventions. Community organizations dealing with ex- offenders need to improve HIV training for officers working with exoffenders so that they can impart this knowledge to exoffenders and make HIV risk reduction programmes more available to ex- offenders.Key words: HIV knowledge, HIV risk, HIV risk behaviour, ex-offenders, South Afric

Fatores associados à adequação do cuidado pré-natal e à assistência ao parto em São Tomé e Príncipe, 2008-2009

Neste artigo, foram identificados fatores sociodemográficos associados com o cuidado pré-natal e com a assistência ao parto em São Tomé e Príncipe. A amostra foi composta por 1.326 nascidos vivos de mulheres de 15 a 49 anos que participaram do Inquérito Demográfico e Sanitário de São Tomé e Príncipe, 2008-2009. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão logística e multinomial multiníveis. A adequação global do cuidado pré-natal foi de 26% e da assistência ao parto de 7% quando realizado por médicos e de 76% quando realizado por enfermeiras/auxiliares. Os fatores associados ao pré-natal e à assistência ao parto adequados foram: ordem de nascimento, educação materna e o índice de bem-estar econômico. O local de residência se mostrou fator importante apenas em relação à assistência ao parto. Observou-se que os efeitos aleatórios referentes às áreas onde as mulheres residem exerceram impacto importante sobre a chance de realizar pré-natal adequado e parto com profissionais capacitados. A importância dos fatores socioeconômicos aponta para a elaboração de ações que visem reduzir a desigualdade social em São Tomé e Príncipe