Family Functioning

This study investigated the relationship between the perception of family functioning and depressive symptomatology in individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Subjects were evaluated by diagnostic clinical interview using DSM-III-R criteria for EDs, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version (SADS-L), and two self-report measures, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). A significant association was found between self-reported depressive symptomatology and perceived poor family functioning. Subjects with bulimia nervosa (BN) reported a significantly more dysfunctional family background than subjects with anorexia nervosa (AN). In our sample, the presence of self-reported depressive symptomatology was a more powerful predictive variable for perceived family dysfunction than the diagnosis of affective disorder. Also, the diagnosis of BN was a more consistent predictor of dysfunctional family interaction than the diagnosis of affective disorder. Depressive symptoms and EDs seem to play different roles in the way in which they contribute to dysfunctional family patterns.

Twenty three adolescents with a history of cancer, 27 physically abused adolescents, and 23 healthy, nonabused adolescents were administered structured posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interviews and self-report questionnaires regarding family functioning. Thirty five percent of adolescent cancer subjects met criteria for lifetime PTSD as compared to only 7% of the abused adolescents: 17% of the cancer subjects and 11% of the abuse subjects met criteria for current PTSD. Adolescents with cancer viewed their mothers and fathers as significantly more caring and more protective than the comparison and abused adolescents. Cancer subjects who met criteria for lifetime PTSD save their families as significantly more chaotic than those who did not have PTSD. Eighty three percent of cancer subjects who had lifetime PTSD also had mothers who had PTSD.

Child and adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymic disorder (DD) are common, chronic, familial, and recurrent conditions that usually persist into adulthood. These disorders appear to be manifesting at an earlier age in successive cohorts and are usually accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders, increased risk for suicide, substance abuse, and behavior problems. In addition, depressed youth frequently have poor psychosocial, academic, and family functioning, which highlights the importance of early identification and prompt treatment. Both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have been found to be beneficial for the acute treatment of youth with depressive disorders. Opinions vary as to which of these treatments should be offered first and whether they should be offered in combination. In general, the choice of initial therapy depends on clinical and psychosocial factors and therapist's expertise. Based on the current literature and clinical experience, psycho...

Although similar processes and functions have been proposed for privacy regulation and place attachment, little theoretical or empirical work encompasses both constructs. In the present study, a theoretical model relates privacy regulation to place attachment in the home. ...

Within various stages of life, individuals encounter events filled challenges and distress, which can hinder or hamper them in overcoming and moving forward to the next stage. Resilience is psychological approach of positively adjusting to the environment, when struck with adversity. Childhood, youth, adolescence and young adult stages are each delicate stages of life, in which potentially traumatic events might occur. Children and youth in particular have a greater likelihood of encountering problems throughout their developmental process due to lack of proper familial support and societal intervention. Adverse events during family life cycle can translate into issues in family relationships, mental health and overall family functioning. These contexts may be escalated due to other challenges such as differences in structure and composition of families, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The current review examines the psychological approach (resilience), its manifestation and inf...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present research was to determine the role of family functioning and psychological problems of drug addicts and non addicts by assessing the difference between the two groups. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that scores on the variable of communication, affective expression and control among family members of addicts will be higher than non addicts. Furthermore scores on the variables of anger control problems, emotional distress and positive self will also be higher of addicts. METHODS This was a cohort study. A cluster sampling method was used. Sample of present research consisted of 240 adolescents divided into two groups of 120 addicts and 120 non-addicts each from different socio-economic status. General scale of Family Assessment Measure-Version III (FAM-III) was administered in order to measure the level of communication, value and norms whereas dyadic Relationship Scale was used to measure affective expression and control am...

Despite the existence of a large number of family functioning measures and validation studies of such measures, there have to date been little validation of any family functioning instrument using South African data. This paper uses confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multiple-group CFA (MGCFA) and examines the validity and reliability of the Family Attachment and Changeability Index (FACI8) in South Africa. Data originate from the 2012 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS). Results indicate acceptable reliability as well as discriminant validity of FACI8. Furthermore, the CFA results show that FACI8 largely reflects the theoretical FACI8 factor structure. MGCFA reveal the presence of configural and metric invariance across South Africa's racial groups, but no evidence of scalar invariance. The factor structure is similar across racial groups, the latent concept of family functioning is conceptualized similarly across the races, but the latent means differ significantly according to racial group. FACI8 is a valid and reliable measure of family functioning dimensions in South African households.

This paper describes an evaluation study of a home-based, family-focussed counselling scheme providing support for English-speaking and Bangladeshi families of children with intellectual or multiple disabilities. Mothers and children in the intervention groups showed significant and positive changes compared to randomly allocated controls. The greatest benefits were derived by the more deprived and initially less well-supported Bangladeshi families. Mothers changed positively in ratings of perceived support and family functioning, and in their constructions of their child, themselves, husbands and family relationships. Although systematic teaching was not included, their children also showed improvements in developmental progress and behaviour problems.

To document the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female juvenile offenders and its relationship to trauma history, comorbid diagnoses, attributional style, and family functioning. The psychological profiles and trauma histories of 100 incarcerated female juvenile offenders (ages 13.5-19 years) were assessed using a semistructured interview. Two self-report measures were used to assess family functioning and attributional style. High rates of PTSD were reported by offenders (37%), with sexual abuse the precipitant in 70% of cases. Offenders with PTSD had significantly more comorbid diagnoses than those without (PTSD = 5.4, no PTSD = 3.1, p < .001). The majority (73%) of comorbid diagnoses appeared concurrently with or after PTSD onset. The presence of four or more psychiatric diagnoses (OR = 14.48, p < .001) and a history of sexual abuse (OR = 7.91, p < .001) were independently associated with a diagnosis of PTSD among female juvenile offenders. These results suggest a link among trauma, PTSD, and the development of further psychopathology in female juvenile offenders. This link highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of this and other comorbid disorders to ensure the effectiveness of interventions designed to treat antisocial behavior.

Research on childhood sexual abuse has often examined, in isolation of one another, such highly correlated risk factors as parental substance abuse, domestic violence, and pathological family functioning. Investigating comorbid antecedents separately does not allow accurate specification of the predictors of abuse. Moreover, sexual trauma research has tended to neglect parental sociopathy as a risk factor. Given the limitations of past research, the present study examined the relationships among parental sociopathy, parental substance use, marital violence, poor family functioning, and childhood sexual abuse. We administered a battery of questionnaires to a nonclinical sample of 130 college women and replicated previous findings by showing that parental substance use predicted sexual abuse when examined in isolation. However, when parental sociopathy and the other risk factors were included in a regression model, parental sociopathy was the only significant predictor. Mother's ...

Homework tasks are an essential com ponent of BSFT. Therapists strategically implement tasks to achieve improvements in family interactions that are directly related to the prevention or reduction of adolescent behavior problems. The use of tasks in BSFT is consistent with the model’s emphasis on having family members “do” rather than simply “talk about.” Tasks are assigned based on the therapist’s assessment of family functioning. Early in treatment relatively easier tasks are assigned to foster a sense of success and competence in family members. Later in treatment, tasks tend to be more difficult and complex. In all instances, however, the therapist creates opportunities for family members to practice and demonstrate competence in the task, prior to assigning homework.

This exploratory study used Bronfenbrenner's (1979) multi-systemic framework to determine the factors predicting scores on the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) with a sample of low SES and culturally diverse (White non-Hispanic, African-American, and Hispanic) teenagers attending both primary and secondary pregnancy prevention programs. Factors studied at the individual (micro) level involved the adolescent's pregnancy status; at the level of the immediate social environment (meso), family structure was assessed, and SES and race were studied as broader social environment influences (macro). Overall, scores on the FAD were high, indicating unhealthy functioning according to teen self-reports. Support was indicated for the Bronfenbrenner model with all three systems levels exerting an influence on family functioning. Adolescents who had grown up in homes without their parents seemed most at risk for perceptions of poor family functioning although racial differences were found. Overall, minority teens rated their families as higher functioning. Pregnancy and parenting as a teenager also appeared to put a strain on family functioning. Implications for service delivery are discussed.

Introduction: Family-related factors play an important role in adolescent’s addiction to the Internet. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Internet addiction and family functioning in high school students. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study with a cross-sectional design conducted on 796 high school students in Rasht city, Iran who were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Data collection tools were a demographic form, the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, and the Family Assessment Device. Chi-Square test and rank-ordered logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results:The response rate of of students was 86.81%; 85.7% had at least two family members who were using the Internet; 71.2% of students had no addiction, 27.5% were exposed to Internet addiction and 1.3% had Internet addiction. The majority (65.0%) of studnets had unhealthy family functioning. The relationship between Internet addicti...

Twin relationships remain understudied despite the increasing prevalence of twinning and the unique influence it entails for individual development and family functioning. The current study assessed closeness, conflict, dependence, and rivalry within 1281 pairs of 3-year-old twins via maternal reports. Relationship quality was compared based on the twins' zygosity and dyadic sex-composition. As expected, monozygotic (genetically identical) twins were perceived

Experiencing cancer - Psychosocial aspects: Cancer diseases are a growing problem not only in terms of individuals’ health, but also in terms of society. Statistics show that the experience of oncological disease is becoming more and more common. A serious, potentially fatal disease undeniably affects life and functioning, not only physically but also psychologically and in the dimension of social functioning, an aspect which often seems to be overlooked in the discourse on this problem. In the case of oncological diseases, this impact is extremely significant. There is therefore a large and important body of research and practice in supporting the quality of life and everyday functioning of people suffering from oncological diseases. The author refers to the theory and the results of her research (based on interviews with people suffering from cancer and specialists) and describes the extremely important aspects of living with and, apart from cancer, functioning as a patient, functioning in the family and in society. The monograph consists of five chapters. The first presents the specificity of neoplastic diseases and anticancer treatment, as well as psychosocial aspects of the disease (focused on the psychological coping with cancer, the social perception of oncological diseases and the symbolic meaning given to them). The second chapter outlines the methodology of the research, the results of which are presented in the following chapters. Chapter Three is an attempt to present the specifics of functioning as a patient, with particular emphasis on the factors that affect quality of life during hospitalization and the specialist support needs of cancer patients. The fourth chapter deals with the issue of family functioning, focusing on the impact of the disease on the life of the family, on the parenthood of people struggling with cancer, love relationships and the sexual sphere. Chapter Five focuses on social functioning, which describes the risk of people suffering from oncology (self)social exclusion, and examples of negative reactions related to the disease, as well as social support (with particular emphasis on the forms of support most appreciated by patients), in addition to the aspect of self-help and patient organizations. After the main conclusions, the book ends with recommendations regarding the support for the psychosocial functioning of people suffering from oncological diseases. This publication aims to familiarize readers with the specific difficulties and related needs of cancer patients, which may be the first step to a better understanding and better support for people struggling with cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Internet addiction and family functioning in high school students. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study with a cross-sectional design conducted on 796 high school students in Rasht city, Iran who were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Data collection tools were a demographic form, the Young's Internet Addiction Test, and the Family Assessment Device. Chi-Square test and rankordered logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The response rate of of students was 86.81%; 85.7% had at least two family members who were using the Internet; 71.2% of students had no addiction, 27.5% were exposed to Internet addiction and 1.3% had Internet addiction. The majority (65.0%) of studnets had unhealthy family functioning. The relationship between Internet addiction and family functioning was statistically significant (P=0,001). There was a significant statistical relationship between Internet addiction and family income (P= 0.003), father's job (P=0.001), and duartion of internet usage per day (P=0.001). Logistic regression model showed that the family functioning score (OR=1.02, 95% CI;1.01-1.04, P=0.001), duration of Internet usage per day (OR=1.02, 95% CI;1.11-1.20, P=0.0001), and gender (male) (OR=1.02, 95% CI; 1.26-2.58, P=0.001) significantly affected Internet addiction. Conclusion: Due to the direct statistical relationship between Internet addiction and family functioning, it is necessary to pay serious attention to the phenomenon of Internet addiction and make appropriate plans for adolescents and their families to use the Internet properly.