The purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to design and determine the effect of Father Involvement Training (FIT), which is based on social-cognitive theory principals, on family functioning in father-adolescent relationships, and (b) to examine the effect of Father Involvement Training (FIT) on the quality of the peer relationships of 9th grade high school students, whose fathers participated in the study. The sample composed of twenty- six 9th grade students&rsquo / fathers. The 2x3 experimental design examined pre-training, post-training and six-month follow-up measurements of an experimental group and control group. Experimental group received a ten-week father involvement training which was developed by the researcher while the control group did not receive any training. Parent Success Indicator (PSI) was used to assess family functioning of fathers and Parent Adolescent Relationship Scale (PARS) was used to assess family functioning of children whose fathers participated in the study. In order to assess peer relationships of children, Peer Relationship Scale (PRS) was used. Data were analyzed by employing Mann Whitney U Test, Friedman Test, and Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test. The results revealed that the Father Involvement Training had significant effects on the father-child relationship and family functioning of experimental group&rsquo / s fathers. The experimental group&rsquo / s fathers had gained higher total scores both at the end of the study and at the follow-up measures in PSI. The adolescents, whose fathers participated in the experimental group, improved in close-relationship and sensitivity dimensions at the end of the study. However, the improvements were not maintained after the six months follow-up measurements. In addition, ratings of the children, whose fathers participated in the experimental group, decreased from pretest to follow-up measures on meeting expectations dimension of the PARS. Lastly, there was a significant improvement in trust and identification dimension of peer relationship levels of children whose fathers received the training compared to children whose fathers did not receive the training. The experimental group fathers&rsquo / evaluation reports indicated that fathers perceived improvement in different dimensions such as father child communication, behavioral changes in relationship with their children.

This study aimed to investigate the differences in parenting stress, coping ways, and family functioning variables of families with a preschool-aged child with autism from Turkey and from the United States (U.S.) and to find out how the factors of parenting stress, coping ways, and social support predict the adaptability of the families in terms of cohesion and flexibility in families of children with autism from Turkey and from the U.S. For this study, only the mothers of a child with autism aged between two and seven years old are included from both cultures. Multivariate Analyses of Covariance (MANCOVA) were conducted for comparing the mothers from both cultures in terms of parentig stress, coping ways, and family functioning variables. According to these analyses, while mothers did not diffenentiate for parenting stress variable, both groups of mothers were found to use different coping ways and to show different family functioning characteristics. Turkish mothers were found to use more problem-focused coping ways than their American counterparts. Moreover, mothers from Turkey were found to report higher flexibility and enmeshment than mothers from the U.S. In order to find out the predictors of family cohesion and flexibility, series of Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses were conducted for both groups of mothers separately. These analyses revealed different predictors of family cohesion and flexibility for mothers of children with autism from Turkey and from the U.S. The differences in group comparison and regression analyses were discussed in accordance with the relevant literature.

The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive values of sociodemographic variables, parental variables (parental stress, family functioning, parental adjustment, coping methods), and child variables (coping methods, self concept) for the adjustment of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Transactional stress and coping model was used as the conceptual framework for the study. The sample of the study was composed of 80 children with spastic cerebral palsy and one of their parents. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the child adjustment by using child gender, parent education, parental stress, family functioning, parental adjustment, parental coping methods, child coping methods, and child self concept as independent variables. Results revealed that parentalstress, parents&rsquo / problem solving/optimistic coping and fatalistic coping predicted the adjustment of children with spastic CP. However, parental adjustment, family functioning, child coping and child self concept were not significantly predicting of child adjustment. The findings, strengths, limitations as well as the implications of the findings were discussed.

This study aimed at revealing the role of the family functioning, coping styles, and basic personality characteristics on depression and anxiety symptoms of mothers. The participants were 155 mothers, having at least one child and living in Ankara. Beck Depression Inventory, Mc Master Family Assessment Device, Trait Anxiety Inventory, Basic Personality Traits Inventory, and The Ways of Coping Inventory were administered in addition to the demographic form. Firstly, it was expected that, there would be significant differences in depression and anxiety levels of the participants&rsquo / who have different income and education levels, different number of children, and different ages. Secondly, it was expected that, there would be significant differences in family functions, coping strategies, and personality traits of participants&rsquo / who have different income and education levels, different number of children, and different ages. Lastly, Associates of depression and anxiety were examined via regression analyses. According to the result of regression analyses, regarding the depression, low income level, high level of neuroticism, and low level of negative valence traits, problems of general functioning of family and using less problem focused coping strategy were found to be associated with the depression level of mothers. With regard to the anxiety symptoms, low income level, low level of extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience, problems of general functioning of family, and using less problem focused and emotion focused coping strategies were found to be associated with anxiety levels of mothers. These findings were discussed with reference to the relevant literature. Future research topics were suggested and clinical implications of the study were stated.

Immigration transition may be an opportunity for physical, psychological, and social improvement, but the health of transitioning individuals may actually be at an increased risk for decline. In order to overcome negative influencing factors on the health of immigrants trying to integrate into a new society, examining the impact of transitioning immigration on the health of immigrants is important. Transition has complex and multidimensional patterns based on an individual’s social and cultural background. Korean immigrants in transitioning to the U.S. have experienced a specific and unique situation. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to identify the impact of immigration transition, which is defined in the middle-range theory of transition, on the health-promoting behaviors and mental well-being of Korean immigrants in the U.S. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational comparative design was used for examining a total of 192 Koreans: 105 in the U.S. and 87 in S. Korea, which were selected through matched age and gender controls with Korean immigrant participants in the U.S. The average ages were 46.8 (Median = 47, SD = 12.5) of Korean immigrants in the U.S and 46.2 (Median = 46, SD = 12.7) of 87 native S. Koreans. Korean immigrants had a low level of acculturation and limited English proficiency. The level of health-promoting behaviors of Korean immigrants was higher than that of S. Koreans, especially in subscales of health promotion, nutrition, and safety. Social resourcefulness was a key predictor of health-promoting behaviors and mental well-being among Korean immigrants. Also, self-control was a dominant mediator on the relationship between behavioral acculturation and mental well-being. Increasing acculturation and English ability for Korean immigrants, as well as increasing self-control, family functioning, and social resourcefulness were found to be important to improve integrating Korean immigrants into the U.S. These findings provide essential information that all health care professionals can use to increase their awareness of the importance of appropriately treating individuals with different cultural perspectives as well as diverse populations coming from varied countries. / text

ADHD is one of the most common behavioral disorders diagnosed in children. These children have difficulties regarding the regulation of emotions, maintaining attention and impulse control, all of which influence family and social life. The aim of this study was to describe and explore the everyday life of families with a child with ADHD and public health nurses’ role in relation to these families. The parents were contending with- and adapting to the parental role and social network. The family attempted to safeguard a functioning family in managing their everyday life, tuning themselves in on the child’s shifting moods, using strict boundaries and developing special skills. The family fought for acceptance and inclusion when interacting with their social network and professionals. Parents with ADHD and families with non-medicated children reported more problems in family functioning. Characteristics in parents and the child with ADHD, as well as support from the social network and community health services, all influenced family functioning. The PHNs described their role as both a peripheral and collaborating partner, asking for guidelines and multidisciplinary collaboration. The public health nurse is in a unique position to support and supervise these families. / Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to describe and explore everyday life in families with a child with ADHD and public health nurses’ role in relation to these families. Methods: An explorative and descriptive design with qualitative and quantitative methods was used. In Study I, data was collected with individual interviews with nine parents, and analyzed using phenomenology. In Study II, the data was collected with individual interviews with 17 family members, and analyzed with phenomenography. In Study III, data was collected with a questionnaire responded by 265 parents, and analyzed with statistics. In Study IV, data was collected with group- and individual interviews with 19 public health nurses, and analyzed with phenomenography.                                                                                                  Main findings: The families’ everyday life was influenced by living in unpredictability, though they were striving for predictability. The experience of being a parent was described as contending and adapting every day, like windsurfing in unpredictable waters (I). The family tried to safeguard a functioning family in managing their everyday life and developing special skills, within the family and the society. They fought for acceptance and inclusion in relation to the social network and professionals (II). Parents’ sense of coherence, children’s behavior, support from social networks and community health services had all an impact on family functioning (III). The PHNs described their role as both a peripheral and a collaborating partner and they asked for guidelines and multidisciplinary collaboration (IV). Conclusions: Everyday life in families with ADHD is both demanding and giving. Acceptance and support from the social network and supervision from the professionals are essential. The public health nurse is in a unique position to support and supervise these families.

Protective factors against problem gambling are important to study, and this thesis focuses on religious affiliation and family solidarity. In this study, 100 Métis Ontarians aged 46-88 completed a cross-sectional survey. The relationships of problem gambling risk with alcohol misuse, age, gender, religious affiliation, and family solidarity were explored. Intergenerational religious concordance (passing down religious affiliation through generations) was examined in the context of healthy family functioning. A qualitative research question asked participants about the potential relationship between religious beliefs and gambling behaviour. Participants at moderate or high risk of problem gambling (score of two or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index) were more likely than those at no or low risk to say that they perceive a relationship between their gambling behaviour and their religious beliefs. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre

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Objective: Past research indicates that comorbid anxiety and depression in youth is associated with greater functional impairment than anxiety alone. To elucidate those factors which may increase vulnerability to depressive disorders, the current study examined several clinical correlates (i.e., feelings ratings, parental psychopathology symptoms, and family functioning) of comorbid depressive symptoms in young anxious children. Method: Sixty-eight children, aged 6 to 10 years (M = 9.06, SD = 1.10), and caregivers completed measures assessing child depressive symptoms. Furthermore, children completed self reports of anxiety symptoms, feelings ratings, and family functioning, while caregivers completed self reports of psychopathology symptoms and family functioning. Predictors of child depressive symptoms were examined separately for girls and boys. Results: In females, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, after controlling for anxiety, higher sadness and lower positive feelings accounted for 30% of variance in child-reported depressive symptoms. Further analyses indicated that child-reported overall family dysfunction moderated the relationship between positive feelings and depressive symptoms, such that high family dysfunction increased the risk of depressive symptoms in females with low positive emotions. In males, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, after controlling for anxiety, higher negative/hostile feelings and child-reported overall family dysfunction accounted for 19% of variance in child-reported depressive symptoms. Further analyses of family functioning in males revealed that child-reported family cohesion and conflict were negatively and positively correlated, respectively, with depressive symptoms. Family dysfunction did not moderate the relationship between feelings ratings and depressive symptoms. The only significant predictor of caregiver-reported child depressive symptoms, for males only, was caregiver self-reported overall psychopathology symptoms. Further analyses indicated that, for males, caregiver depression and hostility symptoms correlated positively with caregiver-reported child depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Different patterns of emotion and family functioning predicted self-reported depressive symptoms in males and females. Self and caregiver reports of child depressive symptoms were not related, with only caregivers’ psychopathology symptoms predicting their reports of child depressive symptoms. Results suggest the importance of assessing child-reported feelings and family dysfunction, and parental symptomatology, of clinically anxious children. To prevent future depressive disorders in these children, different targets of intervention for males and females may be warranted.