Embryo donation parents' attitudes towards donors : comparison with adoption

BACKGROUND: Embryo donation produces a family structure where neither rearing parent is genetically related to the child, as in adoption. It is not known how embryo donation parents view the donors compared with how adoptive parents view the birth parents. METHODS: 21 couples with an embryo donation child aged 2–5 years were compared with 28 couples with an adopted child. Parents were administered a semi-structured interview, assessing knowledge of the donors/birth parents, frequency of thoughts and discussions about the donors/birth parents and disclosure of the donor conception/adoption to the child. Comparisons were made between mothers and fathers to examine gender differences. RESULTS: Embryo donation parents generally knew only the donors’ physical characteristics, and thought about and talked about the donors less frequently than adoptive parents thought about and talked about the birth parents. Embryo donation fathers tended to think about the donors less often than did mothers. Disclosure of the child's origins in embryo donation families was far less common than in adoptive families (P < 0.001 for mothers and fathers), and was associated with the level of donor information (P < 0.05 for mothers, P < 0.025 for fathers). CONCLUSIONS: Embryo donation parents’ views on the donors differ from adoptive parents’ views on the birth parents, with donors having little significance in family life once treatment is successful

Embryo donation families : a follow-up in middle childhood

Couples who conceive using donated embryos rear a child to whom they are genetically unrelated. It has been suggested that this may have negative consequences for parenting and child development. Findings are presented of the 2nd phase of an exploratory study of families with a child conceived through embryo donation. Seventeen embryo donation families with a 5- to 9-year-old child were compared with 24 adoptive families and 28 in vitro fertilization families. The quality of the mother's parenting and the child's social and emotional development were assessed using standardized interviews and questionnaires administered to mothers and teachers. Embryo donation children were not at increased risk of psychological problems during middle childhood, and the families were generally functioning well. However, higher emotional overinvolvement of embryo donation parents was found, along with more reluctance to disclose the method of family creation. These preliminary findings are discussed in terms of implications regarding the importance of genetic and gestational relationships between parents and children

Embryo donation families : mothers' decisions regarding disclosure of donor conception

BACKGROUND: Previous data suggest that parents who adopt a child tend to support full disclosure while donor conception families prefer to keep the method of conception relatively private. It is not known whether parents in embryo donation families will tend towards the adoption model, therefore, we studied families with a child conceived using donated embryos. METHODS: A total of 21 embryo donation families with a child aged 2–5 years were recruited through UK fertility clinics. Mothers were administered a standardized semi-structured interview, obtaining data on the extent of their disclosure to children and other family members and their reasons for this decision. RESULTS: At the time of interview, 9% of mothers had told their child how they had conceived; 24% of mothers reported that they were planning to tell the child in future; 43% had decided that they would never tell the child, and the remaining 24% were undecided. However, nearly three-quarter of mothers (72%) had disclosed to other family members. Maternal grandparents were more likely to have been told than paternal grandparents (P < 0.025). Reasons cited for non-disclosure to the child included the desire to protect the child, the belief that disclosure is unnecessary, and the concern that family relationships would be damaged. Reasons in favour of disclosure included the desire to avoid accidental disclosure and the belief that the child has the right to know. CONCLUSIONS: Embryo donation mothers were similar to parents of donor insemination and oocyte donation children in their attitudes towards disclosure of donor conception

Parenting and child development in families with a child conceived through embryo donation

Concerns have been raised regarding the potentially negative effects of conception using donated embryos on parenting and child development. Findings are presented of an exploratory study of families with a child conceived through embryo donation. Twenty-one embryo donation families were compared with 28 adoptive families and 30 in vitro fertilization families on standardized interview and questionnaire measures of the parents' marital and psychological state, the quality of parent-child relationships, and the child's development. In all 3 groups, the children were aged 2-5 years. The differences indicated higher emotional overinvolvement and defensive responding in the embryo donation families, along with greater secrecy about the child's origins. The children were not at increased risk of psychological problems. The study provides interesting but preliminary findings on parent-child relationships and child development in a new family form

Altered images : understanding the influence of unrealistic images and beauty aspirations

In this paper we consider the impact of digitally altered images on individuals’ body satisfaction and beauty aspirations. Drawing on current psychological literature we consider interventions designed to increase knowledge about the ubiquity and unreality of digital images and, in the form of labelling, provide information to the consumer. Such interventions are intended to address the negative consequences of unrealistic beauty ideals. However, contrary to expectations, such initiatives may not be effective, especially in the long-term, and may even be counter-productive. We seek to understand this phenomenon of our continued aspiration for beauty ideals we know to be unreal and even impossible. We draw on our respective disciplines to offer psychological and philosophical accounts for why this might be. We conclude that beauty ideals are deeply embedded in our aspirations, practices, and in our constructions of ourselves. Given this, it is not surprising that simply increasing knowledge, or providing information, will be insufficient to challenge them

The rising number of “beanpole” families in UK: A qualitative insight into the parent-adolescent relationship

Objective: Nearly half of British families are classified as single-child families, showing a gradual but steady increase in this family type from the 1990s onwards. Despite this, research on relationships of only-children in the UK is scant. The aim of this paper was to explore parent-adolescent relationships in single-child families. Design: This study used qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore both parents’ and only-children’s perceptions of the parent-adolescent relationship. Methods: 15 families with an only child and 15 families with multiple children were interviewed when children were aged 11-14 years. Families were recruited using advertising, convenience and snowballing sampling. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of data from parents and adolescents of both groups revealed several common themes: the experience of a positive parent-child relationship, parental support and the impact of early adolescence on parent-child relationships. Closeness in parent-child relationship was also identified as a common theme amongst adolescents in both groups. However this theme differed in the views of parents: parents of an only-child reported a very close relationship with their child including a strong emotional connection in the form of parent-child bonding, while parents with multiple children reported less closeness. Parent gender seemed to influence the relationship. Adolescents in both groups felt closer to their mothers than fathers. However, this difference was much more prominent in single-child families. Some themes were specific to each family type. Adolescent only-children reported a strong emotional connection only with their mothers. They also reported positive differences in parent-child relationships from being an only-child. Adolescents with siblings mostly reported little differentiation in terms of how they perceived their relationship with each parent. Conclusion: This study revealed that adolescent only children share as positive a relationship with their parents as adolescents with siblings. More importantly, only-children seem to be at an advantage compared to non-only children with positive differences in parent-child relationship from both parents’ and adolescents’ perspectives. Gaining a first insight into the nature of parent-child relationship in single-child families and identifying specific aspects of the parent-child relationship which are unique to this family type has valuable implications in light of the growing number of single-child families

Parenting in single-child families in UK

Objective: Nearly half of British families are classified as single-child families showing a gradual but steady increase in this family type from the 1990s onwards. Despite this, research on only children/single-child families is scant. The aim of this paper is to explore parenting in single-child families in depth through qualitative interviews. Design: This study used qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore both parents’ and only-children’s perceptions of the parent-adolescent relationship. Methods: Fifteen families with an only child and 15 families with multiple children were interviewed, where the children were aged 11–14 years. Families were recruited using advertising, convenience and snowballing sampling. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The two family types were similar on many of the themes reported such as practising authoritative parenting, levels of child-centeredness, parental behavioural control and the absence of parental overindulgence. However, whilst parents of an only-child reported high one-on-one parental involvement with their child, parents with multiple children reported less so. Overprotective parenting was also more prevalent in single-child families. Moreover, mothers and fathers of only-children reported using different parenting approaches from each other, while their counterparts reported using mostly a similar parenting approach to each other. Some family-type specific themes were also identified. It was found that single-child families engaged in permissive parenting and pampering of the child as well as pushy parenting. By contrast, a parental perception of parent-child conflict was a theme identified only in multiple-children families. Conclusion: This study concludes that parenting in single-child families is similar to parenting in multiple-children families on many dimensions but those differences do exist. On a positive side, only children seem to be more at an advantage than nononly children as they benefit from higher parental involvement. Nevertheless, only children are also the ones who are more likely to experience overprotection and permissiveness from their parents. Findings suggest that there are both similarities and differences in the parenting of only-children in China, Brazil and those in UK. Insight in parenting of single-child families has valuable implications in light of the growing number of single-child families

When carers end foster placements : exploring foster carers’ experience of adolescent foster placement breakdown

Aims: Foster carers experience the rewards and challenges of parenting vulnerable and complex adolescents, but some of these foster placements break down. Compared to research into the impact of placement breakdown on looked after children (LAC), there are relatively limited reports on foster carer experience. The aim of the present study was to provide an exploratory account of foster carers’ lived experience of ending adolescent foster placements. Methods. Nine participants from seven foster families in the United Kingdom were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed within an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. Results. Exploration of foster carer lived experience identified four superordinate themes, two of which are relevant here: ‘emotional aftermath’ and ‘“we’re only human’”. Conclusions. Following ending a placement, foster carers identified varied emotions including joy, relief and sadness. A grieving process was also identified which involved coming to terms with loss and accepting the termination of the relationship. This study suggests foster carers are likely to experience shame and guilt as a consequence of placement breakdown

Men's experiences of having a partner who requires Mother and Baby Unit admission for first episode postpartum psychosis

Aims The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of men during their partner's admission to a Mother and Baby Unit for first episode postpartum psychosis. Background Postpartum psychosis can be life-changing for women, however little is known about the impact on their partners or their partners' needs. Design An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach was used to analyse interview transcripts. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants. Interviews were conducted in 2014–2015. Findings Two main themes were identified: ‘What the f*** is going on?’ and ‘Time to figure out how your family works’. Partners experienced shock and confusion during postpartum psychosis onset. Most felt hospital admission was beneficial, although there were barriers to accessing help and involvement in their partner's care. A process of understanding changes to roles, relationships and family identity was described. Loss was a common experience, with a potentially lasting impact. Conclusions Men reported a range of challenging and positive experiences associated with their partner's postpartum psychosis. Improvements are needed in awareness of postpartum psychosis, access to appropriate services and support of partners

The Experiences and Views of Service Providers on the Mental Health and Well-Being Services for Syrian Refugees in Coventry and Warwickshire

Objectives: Previous literature demonstrated that, even when mental health and psychological support services are available for refugees, there may still be obstacles in accessing services. This is the first known study to explore the experiences of mental-health and well-being services for Syrian refugees in Coventry and Warwickshire, United Kingdom. The research investigates the views and perceptions of service providers on the current mental-health and well-being services provided for this population. Methods: Eight service providers participated in semistructured interviews and focus groups, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged from an analysis of the data: “positive aspects of service delivery,” “service challenges,” and “recommendations for service improvements and quality.” Conclusion: The findings bring to the fore specific gaps in current provision and interpreting services. Recommendations for proposed improvements in service provision and policy as well as clinical implications are included in this article