Young children suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm : experiences on entering education

Since 2005, the Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University has been tracing the decision-making process influencing the life pathways of a cohort of very young children who were identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm before they reached their first birthdays. The overall objective of the research is to collect evidence which supports decisions concerning which children require permanent out of home placements (such as adoption) and those that can safely remain with their birth parents

Anxiety Sensitivity and its Association with Parenting Behaviors

The aim of this study was to examine the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity in the context of parenting behaviors, specifically by testing parenting behaviors as moderators or mediators of the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity. Past research implies that parent anxiety sensitivity may be more related to child anxiety sensitivity (moderation) in girls and in the context of certain parenting. Alternatively, parenting behaviors may better account for the association (mediate) between parent and child anxiety sensitivity. To test the hypotheses 191 families (n = 255 youth aged 6-17 and their parents) completed measures of child anxiety sensitivity (CASI) and parenting (APQ-C), and parents completed measures of their anxiety sensitivity (ASI) and parenting (APQ-P). Hypotheses were tested with hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicated that the child’s gender and the child’s report of their parent’s positive parenting behaviors moderated the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity

Anxiety Sensitivity and its Association with Parenting Behaviors

The aim of this study was to examine the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity in the context of parenting behaviors, specifically by testing parenting behaviors as moderators or mediators of the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity. Past research implies that parent anxiety sensitivity may be more related to child anxiety sensitivity (moderation) in girls and in the context of certain parenting. Alternatively, parenting behaviors may better account for the association (mediate) between parent and child anxiety sensitivity. To test the hypotheses 191 families (n = 255 youth aged 6-17 and their parents) completed measures of child anxiety sensitivity (CASI) and parenting (APQ-C), and parents completed measures of their anxiety sensitivity (ASI) and parenting (APQ-P). Hypotheses were tested with hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicated that the child’s gender and the child’s report of their parent’s positive parenting behaviors moderated the association between parent and child anxiety sensitivity

Parent and Child Vagal Tone: Examining Parenting Behaviors as Moderators of the Association

Research indicates that learning how to regulate one’s emotions is critical to successful child development and is associated with adaptive social functioning and psychological adjustment (Dunn & Brown, 1994; Eisenberg, Fabes, Guthrie, & Reiser, 2000; Eisenberg, Fabes, & Murphy, 1996). Children’s emotion regulation abilities are thought to be influenced by both child (e.g., age, temperament) and parent characteristics (e.g., parenting behaviors, parental regulation; Eisenberg, Cumberland, & Spinrad, 1998). Resting heart rate variability (HRV) has emerged as a potentially important biomarker associated with emotion regulation (Porges, 2007; Thayer & Lane, 2000); however, there are still significant gaps in research. In particular, research indicates genetic correlates associated with HRV as well as an important role of parents in children’s emotion socialization, but research has yet to establish a strong link between parent and child HRV. Theoretically, parent and child HRV may be linked but only in specific contexts. For example, parent and child resting HRV may become more or less strongly related in the context of specific parenting behaviors, but research has yet to test this hypothesis. The present study examined the association between parenting behaviors and child resting HF-HRV (i.e., high frequency HRV), the links between parent and child resting HF-HRV, and potential moderating effects of parenting behaviors on the association in youth. Additional analyses examined associations between parent and child vagal regulation. Ninety-seven youth (11-17 years) and their caregivers (n = 81) participated in a physiological assessment and completed questionnaires assessing parenting behaviors. Results indicated that parent’s inconsistent discipline and corporal punishment were negatively associated with their child’s resting HF-HRV while positive parenting and parental involvement were positively associated. Furthermore, parent’s inconsistent discipline and parent’s involvement moderated the relationship between parent and child resting HF-HRV, such that in the context of high inconsistent discipline and high parental involvement, high parent resting HF-HRV was associated with low child resting HF-HRV. Findings add to the literature by providing evidence for the role of parenting behaviors in shaping the development of children’s HF-HRV and indicating that inconsistent discipline and parental involvement may affect the entrainment of HF-HRV in parents and their adolescent children

Framing the Second War in Iraq: An Analysis of ABC, CBS and NBC News and News Interview Show Coverage

Terrorist events that occurred in the United States on September 11 , 2001 put the U.S. on the offensive in dealing with terrorist activity. The U.S. entered into war with Afghanistan and Iraq and journalists were at the forefront of these events reporting from the front lines. This thesis applies the theories of agenda-setting, framing, and priming in answering questions related to media coverage of events surrounding the war in Iraq. News coverage from three U.S. networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) was examined to determine the role that media played in the war in Iraq. Mass media are powerful tools of persuasion (Saso, 2005). The extent to which media has control of what the public views and perceives as relevant, is ultimately decided by the journalist who is reporting those events. This thesis examines frames to determine what are the primary sources for news stories (government, public, journalist, etc.) and what type of news stories are getting the most air time versus those that receive little or no air time. News frames as defined by Semetko and Valkenburg (2000) are tools that can be used to “convey, interpret, and evaluate information” (p. 94). Semetko and Valkenburg (2000) identified five frames that media use in reporting new events: conflict frames, human interest frames, economic consequences frames, mortality frames and responsibility frames. These five categories were used in examining news content from the three major television networks

Supporting care leavers in Scottish further education colleges : a research account of a pilot programme aimed at supporting looked after young people and care leavers in further education colleges in Scotland

The aim of the research, conducted between August 2009 and June 2011, was to conduct an evaluation of a programme funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) which supported three pilot projects concerned with the engagement in further education (FE) provision of young people aged between 15 and 19 who are in local authority care (at home and away from home) or who have left care. The overall aim of the research was to identify clear lessons for the Council and for the Scottish FE college sector more generally, leading to improved participation by care leavers in post-school education

The breeding ecology of the Merlin (<i>Falco columbarius aesalon</i>), with particular reference to north-east Scotland and land-use change

The breeding population of the Merlin in Britain in 1993 and 1994 was estimated at 1300 ± 200 pairs following a survey of around 60% of the range and calculated extrapolation of the remaining suitable habitat. This reflected a recovery, following widespread declines in numbers and range earlier in the 20th century. Over 1000 nest records from the survey were analysed, with habitat and nest site described and quantified, and related to clutch size, successful brood size and productivity. Heather moor or mixed grass-heather moor, and tall conifer plantations were the main core habitats at 88% and 9% of territories respectively. Habitat choice influenced nest site, with 77% of nests on the ground, 2% on crags and 19% in trees. Productivity averaged 2.25 fledged young per pair and was indicative of a stable or increasing population. In north-east Scotland, part of a delimited Merlin study area was afforested with conifers, providing an opportunity to monitor the effects of this land-use change on Merlin breeding ecology. One of the forestry schemes led to public outcry, official objections, Government assessment, judicial Review and an appeal to the European Commission. These events were unprecedented in British forestry history and were seen as a test-case. Despite modifications to the scheme, by leaving approximately 30% of land unpianted, the Merlins declined to zero, as they also did at the other afforested areas. Breeding phenology and clutch size at the afforested areas were similar to comparable adjacent and further afield Merlin study areas, where there was minimal change in habitat management. However, productivity was significantly less and it was concluded that commercially afforested moorland was an inappropriate breeding habitat for Merlin in north-east Scotland. Identifying and quantifying prey remains assessed breeding season diet, with small birds accounting for 95% of numbers and 99% of biomass from 11,225 items. It is reasoned that the majority of the new potential prey resource associated with commercial afforestation was unavailable for Merlin, due to the protection provided by dense thicket plantations. Guidelines for retaining breeding Merlin within commercial forestry schemes in Britain are recommended. These could be requested by conservation planners, adopted by foresters or tested by raptor ecologists, and their use could be a condition within new grant-aided forestry schemes in Britain