Family social environment in childhood and self-rated health in young adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Family social support, as a form of social capital, contributes to social health disparities at different age of life. In a life-course epidemiological perspective, the aims of our study were to examine the association between self-reported family social environment during childhood and self-reported health in young adulthood and to assess the role of family functioning during childhood as a potential mediating factor in explaining the association between family breakup in childhood and self-reported health in young adulthood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed data from the first wave of the Health, Inequalities and Social Ruptures Survey (SIRS), a longitudinal health and socio-epidemiological survey of a random sample of 3000 households initiated in the Paris metropolitan area in 2005. Sample-weighted logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between the quality of family social environment in childhood and self-rated health (overall health, physical health and psychological well-being) in young adults (n = 1006). We used structural equation model to explore the mediating role of the quality of family functioning in childhood in the association between family breakup in childhood and self-rated health in young adulthood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The multivariate results support an association between a negative family social environment in childhood and poor self-perceived health in adulthood. The association found between parental separation or divorce in childhood and poor self-perceived health in adulthood was mediated by parent-child relationships and by having witnessed interparental violence during childhood.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results argue for interventions that enhance family cohesion, particularly after family disruptions during childhood, to promote health in young adulthood.</p

Health education: the family health teams' perspective and clients' participation Educación en salud: perspectiva del equipo de salud de la familia y la participación del usuario Educação em saúde: o olhar da equipe de saúde da família e a participação do usuário

This study aimed to understand the conception and performance of health education developed by the Family Health Team with a view to clients' participation. Qualitative study carried out with clients and professionals at the Family Health Program (FHP) in Crato, CE, Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observation between May and September, 2005. Data were organized according to content analysis and literature. Findings indicate that professionals view health education as guidance and teaching focused on disease prevention and the participation of clients is perceived as listening and attention. Thus, FHP professionals need to broaden their understanding of health education and educative strategies, which should be culturally meaningful, so that clients freely and consciously decide on their participation and behavioral change in health.<br>Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender la concepción y la actuación en Educación en Salud por parte del Equipo de Salud de la Familia buscando la participación del usuario. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo con usuarios y profesionales del Programa Salud de la Familia (PSF), del Municipio de Crato, estado de Ceará, Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de una entrevista semiestructurada y de observación, entre mayo y septiembre de 2005; fueron organizados mediante análisis de contenido con base en la literatura. Evidenciamos que el proceso educativo es percibido por los profesionales como orientar y enseñar a prevenir enfermedades. La participación de los usuarios significó escuchar y prestar atención. Se concluye que los profesionales del PSF necesitan ampliar la comprensión de la educación en salud y de estrategias educativas culturalmente significativas para que la participación y decisión de cambios de comportamiento en salud de los usuarios sean libres y conscientes.<br>Este estudo objetivou compreender a concepção e a atuação de Educação em Saúde pela Equipe de Saúde da Família, objetivando a participação do usuário. Estudo qualitativo com usuários e profissionais do Programa Saúde da Família (PSF), do município do Crato, Ceará, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados através da entrevista semiestruturada e observação, entre maio e setembro de 2005, e organizados mediante análise de conteúdo e à luz da literatura. Evidenciou-se que a Educação em Saúde é percebida pelos profissionais como orientar e ensinar a prevenir doenças. A participação dos usuários significou escuta e atenção. Conclui-se que os profissionais do PSF necessitam ampliar a compreensão de educação em saúde e de estratégias educativas, culturalmente significativas, para que a participação e decisão de mudanças de comportamento em saúde dos usuários sejam livres e conscientes

Integration of Social Epidemiology and Community-Engaged Interventions to Improve Health Equity

The past quarter century has seen an explosion of concern about widening health inequities in the United States and worldwide. These inequities are central to the research mission in 2 arenas of public health: social epidemiology and community-engaged interventions. Yet only modest success has been achieved in eliminating health inequities. We advocate dialogue and reciprocal learning between researchers with these 2 perspectives to enhance emerging transdisciplinary language, support new approaches to identifying research questions, and apply integrated theories and methods. We recommend ways to promote transdisciplinary training, practice, and research through creative academic opportunities as well as new funding and structural mechanisms

Psychobehavioral effects of divorced mother-headed one-child families on children in China

Owing to the national “One Child per Family” policy in China, almost all children are from one-child families. Recent economic development has led to an increase in the number of children living in single parent families. These children may suffer from more mental stress than those living in two parent families. This study aims at clarifying psychobehavioral characteristics of boys and girls from mother-headed one-child families due to divorce. Three questionnaire studies, i.e., Eysenck Personality Questionnaire for Children (EPQ), Mental Health Test (MHT), and Preliminary Problems Conduct Test (PPCT) were conducted on 465 children, aged 9 to 12 years, in three elementary schools of Chengdu, China. Twenty-one boys and 26 girls from divorced families and 186 boys and 217 girls from non-divorced families were selected as study subjects. The results of the multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that boys from divorced families suffered from neurosis, loneliness, impulsiveness, rebellious tendencies and untruthfulness, whereas girls from divorced families suffered from loneliness, horrible feelings and oppressed feelings. It is suggested that the common psychobehavioral characteristic of both boys and girls from divorced families in China is loneliness; the characteristic specific of boys is “antisocial” personality and that of girls is “anxious” personality