9 research outputs found

    The impact on family functioning of social media use by depressed adolescents: a qualitative analysis of the family options study

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    BACKGROUND: Adolescent depression is a prevalent mental health problem, which can have a major impact on family cohesion. In such circumstances, excessive use of the Internet by adolescents may exacerbate family conflict and lack of cohesion. The current study aims to explore these patterns within an intervention study for depressed adolescents. METHOD: The current study draws upon data collected from parents within the family options randomized controlled trial that examined family based interventions for adolescent depression (12-18 years old) in Melbourne, Australia (2012-2014). Inclusion in the trial required adolescents to meet diagnostic criteria for a major depressive disorder via the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Childhood Disorders. The transcripts of sessions were examined using qualitative thematic analysis. The transcribed sessions consisted of 56 h of recordings in total from 39 parents who took part in the interventions. RESULTS: The thematic analysis explored parental perceptions of their adolescent\u27s use of social media (SM) and access to Internet content, focusing on the possible relationship between adolescent Internet use and the adolescent\u27s depressive disorder. Two overarching themes emerged as follows: the sense of loss of parental control over the family environment and parents\u27 perceived inability to protect their adolescent from material encountered on the Internet and social interactions via SM. CONCLUSION: Parents within the context of family based treatments felt that prolonged exposure to SM exposed their already vulnerable child to additional stressors and risks. The thematic analysis uncovered a sense of parental despair and lack of control, which is consistent with their perception of SM and the Internet as relentless and threatening to their parental authority and family cohesion

    Wanless social care review: securing good care for older people, taking a long-term view

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    More than one million older people (aged 65 and over) use publicly funded social care services in England. In light of criticism and controversy about the funding of these services, The King’s Fund commissioned Sir Derek Wanless to undertake a review of social care. The review sought to determine how much should be spent on social care for older people in England over the next 20 years and what funding arrangements need to be in place to ensure that this money is available and will produce high-quality outcomes. This report of their findings will make a significant contribution to the debate on the future of social care

    Elections and Voting

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