Relations between Parents\u27 Expressive and Instrumental Traits and Expectations and Several Early Adolescent Outcomes

The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine the degree to which parents\u27 instrumental and expressive expectations are predicted by their instrumental and expressive personality characteristics, (2) to determine the degree to which these parental trait and expectation variables predict several selected early adolescent outcomes, and (3) to examine differences between the findings for sons and the findings for daughters. The subjects were 174 seventh-grade girls and 103 seventh-grade boys and their mothers and fathers. All members of these triads filled out questionnaires and participated in interaction sessions. Data from the parental and child expectations Q-Sort, parental responses to the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), and child responses to questions concerning their self-esteem, self-consciousness, educational aspirations, and views of their parents were all employed in this study. The PAQ was viewed as measuring instrumental and expressive traits rather than the global constructs of masculinity and femininity. It was hypothesized that parental traits would be positively but moderately predictive of parental expectations. It was also predicted that parental traits (to a lesser degree) and parental expectations (to a greater degree) would be predictive of all child outcomes (the androgyny hypothesis). Differences between sons and daughters were predicted with respect to all of the child outcomes. Analyses were run separately for each parent-child dyad via hierarchical regressions (with forward selection procedures being applied at each step). Also, the median split technique was applied to the PAQ data and differences between the four resulting groups were assessed with ANOVAs. Differences between the son and daughter findings were assessed with t-tests. It was found that parental traits were predictive of parental expectations only for the father/daughter dyad. Fathers\u27 expectations were predictive of many of the male child outcomes and mothers’ traits were predictive of many of the female child outcomes. It was hypothesized, on the basis of the present findings, that same-sex parents are more influential with respect to their children than Opposite-sex parents. Other implications of these findings were discussed. Parental expressive traits were predictive of child self-esteem for same-sex dyads. The importance throughout early childhood of parental warmth and acceptance for resulting child outcomes may underlie such findings. These stable parenting behaviors may be tapped by parental report on the FAQ. Parental expectations were predictive of child self-expectations but only for sons. Also, the androgyny hypothesis was not supported by these data. The median split and regression analyses yielded similar findings, with regressions being the preferred method. It was found that girls experience lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of self-consciousness than boys. Such a finding was in line with the Gender Intensification Hypothesis (Hill & Lynch, 1983). It was also found that both instrumental and expressive expectations were seen as more important by parents of daughters than by parents of sons. To explain such results, additional analyses were run whereby pubertal status was taken into account. Directions for future research were discussed

The Role of Familial Conflict in the Adaptation to Menarche: Sequential Analysis of Family Interaction

Past research has suggested that temporary perturbations characterize parent-adolescent relations after the onset of pubertal change. The purpose of this study was to further delineate the characteristics of these disruptions in families with seventh-grade girls. Current operational definitions of family conflict in an observational context are inadequate and a potentially more useful definition was offered: conflict is believed to exist when there is the simultaneous occurrence of opposing interpersonal forces. Two studies were conducted. A validation study was done to determine the psychosocial correlates of the following conflict variables: frequencies and reciprocal dyadic sequences of interruptions and disagreements. The affective nature of these variables was also assessed. The sample consisted of 17 families with seventh-grade girls and 20 families with seventh-grade boys who filled out questionnaires and participated in the Structured Family Interaction Task (SFIT). 2-scores were computed to represent the sequential variables. Results revealed that interruptions and disagreements tap disruption and conflict in the family in certain contexts. Frequencies of interruptions tap power in the family, whereas frequencies and sequences of disagreements tap both conflict and power. When interruptions and positive affect co-occurred more frequently, there was less disruption and conflict within the family system. The second study (Study 2) was conducted on 111 families with seventh-grade girls who participated in the SFIT. Relations between the observational measures and menarcheal status were assessed. The results supported the notion that familial adaptation to menarche involves a temporary period of conflict and withdrawl of positive affect in family relationships, especially in the mother-daughter dyad. Although a number of researchers in this area have found similar results, explanations of the role of conflict in the process have not been forthcoming. It is argued here that conflict plays a role in the adaptation to pubertal change in the sense that it promotes adjustment to developmental change. There appear to be two processes--one intrapsychic and the other extrapsychic--that allow conflict to play this role and make moderate levels of conflict inevitable in healthy families

Disorders of Sex Development: Lessons to be Learned from Studies of Spina Bifida and Craniofacial Conditions

The purpose of this review is to discuss research methods and clinical management strategies employed with other conditions (i. e., spina bifida and craniofacial conditions) and how these methods and strategies could be applied to youth with disorders of sex development (DSD). The review focuses specifically on the potential overlap between DSD and these other conditions across the following 3 areas: (1) developmentally- oriented theories that underlie the research base for chronic physical conditions; (2) research designs and methodological features that have proved fruitful in these areas; and (3) the potential applicability to DSD of clinical management practices for youth with craniofacial conditions

Profiles of Neuropsychological Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Spina Bifida: Associations with Biopsychosocial Predictors and Functional Outcomes

The current study examined neuropsychological performance among children with spina bifida (SB) to determine biological and functional correlates of distinct “profiles” of cognitive functioning. Methods: A total of 95 children with SB myelomeningocele (ages, 8–15 years) completed a neuropsychological assessment battery. Hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses were used to identify and confirm a cluster solution. Hypothesized predictors of cluster membership included lesion level, number of shunt surgeries, history of seizures, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and family stress. Outcomes included independence, academic success, expectations for the future, and quality of life. Results: Ward’s cluster method indicated a three-cluster solution, and was replicated with two other cluster analytic methods. The following labels were applied to the clusters: “average to low average” (n=39), “extremely low to borderline” (n=27), and “broadly average with verbal strength” (n=29). Socio-econimc status, lesion level, and seizure history significantly predicted group membership. Cluster membership significantly predicted independence, academic success, parent expectations for the future, and child reported physical quality of life. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest qualitatively different cognitive profiles exist among children with SB, and the relevance of neuropsychological functioning for day-to-day adaptive functioning and quality of life. Clinical implications and future research are discussed. (JINS, 2016, 22, 804–815

Socioeconomic Status and Parental Perceived Social Support in Relation to Health-Related Quality of Life in Youth with Spina Bifida

Spina bifida (SB) is a congenital birth defect causing a wide variance of physical and intellectual disabilities. The first objective of this study was to examine SES and parental perceived support as predictors of HRQoL among youth with SB. It was hypothesized that lower SES would predict lower youth HRQoL, and higher parental perceived support would predict higher youth HRQOL. The second objective of this study was to examine parental perceived support as a moderator of the association between SES and youth HRQoL. Parental perceived support was hypothesized to serve as a buffer of the negative impact that low SES has on HRQoL. Results indicated significant effects of SES on school, physical, and total HRQoL subscales when covariates were not included. In addition, parental perceptions of social support from family members were significantly associated with Emotional HRQoL in youth with SB. There was a significant interaction between SES and parental perceived support from friends predicting youth Social HRQoL. However, post-hoc simple slope analyses were not significant. This study works to expand the understanding of the roles of SES and parental perceived social support on the HRQoL in children with SB, a population susceptible to poor quality of life due to the physical and cognitive challenges commonly associated with this condition

ADHD and Attention Problems in Children With and Without Spina Bifida

Objectives: To identify differences in the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between typically developing children and children with spina bifida. Method: Sixty-eight children with spina bifida and 68 demographically matched, typically developing children participated in a larger, longitudinal study. Rates of maternal, paternal, and teacher reports of attention problems, as well as rates of maternal reports of ADHD diagnosis, diagnosing provider, pharmaceutical treatment, mental health treatment, and academic accommodations were obtained at 5 time points over a period of 8 years and were compared across groups. Results: Children with spina bifida were more likely to have an ADHD diagnosis and attention problems. Attention problems and ADHD diagnoses were first reported at earlier time points for children with spina bifida than typically developing children. Among children with ADHD or attention problems, children with spina bifida were more likely to be treated with medication, but they were just as likely to use mental health services and receive resource services at school. Conclusions: Children with spina bifida were diagnosed with ADHD and identified as having attention problems more frequently and at an earlier age. This finding could be due to earlier symptom development, greater parental awareness, or more contact with providers. Among those with ADHD or attention problems, stimulant medication was more likely to be prescribed to children with spina bifida, despite research that suggests it may not be as beneficial for them. Further research on the effectiveness of ADHD pharmacological treatment for children with spina bifida is recommended

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida (SB) is a relatively common congenital birth defect that has a pervasive impact on the physical, neurocognitive, psychological, and social functioning of affected individuals and their families. Given the characteristics of this condition as well as the complexities of medical adherence in this population, pediatric psychologists are uniquely qualified to provide assessment and intervention services to these individuals

Use of an Observational Coding System with Families of Adolescents: Psychometric Properties among Pediatric and Healthy Populations

Objective: To examine reliability and validity data for the Family Interaction Macro-coding System (FIMS) with adolescents with spina bifida (SB), adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and healthy adolescents and their families.Methods: Sixty-eight families of children with SB, 58 families of adolescents with T1DM, and 68 families in a healthy comparison group completed family interaction tasks and self-report questionnaires. Trained coders rated family interactions using the FIMS.Results: Acceptable interrater and scale reliabilities were obtained for FIMS items and subscales. Observed FIMS parental acceptance, parental behavioral control, parental psychological control, family cohesion, and family conflict scores demonstrated convergent validity with conceptually similar self-report measures.Conclusions: Preliminary evidence supports the use of the FIMS with families of youths with SB and T1DM and healthy youths. Future research on overall family functioning may be enhanced by use of the FIMS