published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Adolescence is a period of rapid development marked by significant neurological and behavioral change. Normative neurological shifts that take place during this stage of life occur in the areas of the brain most associated with response inhibition and emotion regulation which is understood in the context of the observed increases in impulsivity and emotional lability among many adolescents. These facets of development may present unique challenges for those adolescents who enter parenthood ruing this period of life as increasing evidence suggests that emotional and cognitive control are highly related to parenting behavior. Those parents who are better able to modulate their emotional responses are best able to cultivate sensitive and nurturing home environments for their children. Compounding the risk for themselves and their children, adolescent mothers also face a constellation of risk factors including poverty, low educational attainment, elevated levels of stress and high rates of early life trauma exposures. Those adolescent mothers who experience homelessness face additional risk, in part because social support and family involvement have been shown to benefit young parents and their children. A substantive body of literature suggests that these interrelated risk factors may stress the capacity to effectively parent, leading adolescent mothers to be less affectionate, less positive, more hostile and intrusive and less emotionally available when interacting with their children. Consequently, supporting adolescent mothers is of great public health concern as they, and their children, are at risk for a range of non-optimal outcomes. The aim of this dissertation was to contribute to the current body of literature linking maternal emotion regulation with positive parenting practices among a highly vulnerable sample of homeless adolescent mothers and their children. Specifically, this dissertation used archival data to extend the current understanding of these associations by exploring the ways in which early life exposure to psychological aggression influenced the regulatory capacities and parenting behaviors of a sample of homeless adolescent mothers. To date, few studies have utilized a computerized measure of response control and behavioral inhibition under emotionally salient conditions in conjunction with ecologically valid multiple observer coded video observations of parent-child interactions within this high-risk population. Participants (N=72) were adolescent mothers and their children living in nine Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) across a Northeastern state, aged 16-22 years old and predominantly Latinx and Black American. On average, participants had one child (M=1.3 years-old). Nearly half of the participants reported a history of foster care or group home involvement. Thirty-two percent of the sample self-reported clinically significant levels of depression and, on average, participants reported slightly elevated levels of anxiety. Consistent with the literature, the sample evidenced significant trauma exposures with participants reporting having experienced an average of three discrete traumatic events. For example, 37.3% reported having experienced physical violence in their home, 72% reported having experienced violence in their community, 45.3% reported having witnessed violence in their community, and 36.3% reported having experienced some form of sexual abuse. Data were collected from the baseline interview of a randomized control trial examining the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase positive parenting among a sample of adolescent mothers living in TLPs. For this study, interpersonal trauma exposure was operationalized via the Psychological Aggression Scale of the Parent Child Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1999). Maternal sensitivity and hostility were operationalized using the Sensitivity and Non-Hostility scales of the Emotional Availability Scales, 4th edition (EA Scales; Biringen, 2008). Maternal emotion recognition and regulation were operationalized via the Emotion Go/NoGo (EGNG) paradigm. Maternal depression and anxiety were also examined. Consistent with the literature, this study found evidence for the complex associations between maternal exposure to psychological aggression, maternal emotion regulation and parenting behaviors. Specifically, there was a significant positive association between the accurate discrimination of sad from neutral facial expressions and maternal sensitivity. The accurate discrimination of fearful from neutral facial expressions, however, was associated with less sensitive parenting. Additionally, those mothers who were more impulsive when confronted with sad facial expressions during the EGNG sad emotion “go” task were less sensitive when interacting with their children. This study also found evidence for a significant interaction between maternal exposure to psychological aggression and impulsivity in the EGNG fearful emotion “go” task in the explanation of maternal sensitivity. Specifically, for those adolescent mothers who had experienced psychological aggression, impulsivity when confronted with fearful facial cues on a computerized task was associated with increased maternal sensitivity during dyadic interactions. For those mothers who had not experienced psychological aggression, however, increased impulsivity when confronted with fearful faces on the computerized task was associated with reduced maternal sensitivity. Maternal exposure to psychological aggression was consistently associated with increased hostility with those mothers who had been exposed to psychological aggression evidencing more hostility when interacting with their children. Finally, in optimal conditions on a computerized task (i.e., when confronted with happy faces during the EGNG paradigm) those mothers who were rated as more sensitive during dyadic interactions all responded within approximately the same amount of time to the computerized stimuli. No relationship between maternal sensitivity and mean response time was found in the negatively valenced EGNG conditions. There was not sufficient evidence to suggest that emotion regulation and behavioral impulsivity mediated the relationship between exposure to psychological aggression and parenting behavior. Consistent with the literature, these findings suggest a role for both maternal trauma exposure and regulatory capacities in the explanation of parenting behavior. These findings highlight the need for greater research on these complex and multidetermined relationships, particularly within the highly vulnerable adolescent parent population. Additionally, this study’s findings suggest possible avenues for interventions within this population, highlighting the need to consider the ways in which adolescent mothers’ regulatory capacities may influence their ability to intuit and respond to their children. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / The child's becoming is influenced by the education situation as a whole. The mother-child relationship plays a crucial role to the child's becoming, hence the initial bonding between mother and child is considered all-important. All further becoming is based on the motherchild relationship. Another factor that influences becoming is the family situation, with specific reference to the father. Because the family functions in the context of a particular society, the shift of emphasis in the modem family and social factors cannot be discounted in the discription of becoming. Becoming takes place in conjunction with learning, development and maturation. These processes are differentiable but inseparable. The different domains of becoming and development, namely the affective, cognitive, normative, physical and social, form the overall context within which the child is investigated. An adequate educational environment leads tot the child's adequate becoming. At the centre of any adequate educational environment is the educator acting as mediator between child and learning content. Both the primary and the secondary educational situation should comply with the requisites for adequacy. An empirical investigation was undertaken in accordance with ideographic research methods. The status of overall becoming and development in children who had been subjected to different types of daycare was determined in relation to the education situation as a whole, which is why both the primary and the secondary educational situation were drawn into the investigation. This research has produced the finding that daycare does not necessarily harm the child's becoming. The overall educational situation must be considered at all times. Daycare has a recognisable influence on the child's becoming, but the mother-child relationship is the most decisive factor for the child's becoming. / Kinderlike wording word deur die opvoedingsituasie as totaliteit belnvloed. Die moederkindverhouding speel die allerbelangrikste rol by kinderlike wording. Daarom word die aanvanklike binding tussen moeder en kind baie hoog aangeskryf. Alie verdere wording word geskoei op die moeder-kindverhouding. Die gesinsituasie, met spesifieke verwysing na die vader, is verdere faktore wat wording belnvloed. Omdat die gesin binne 'n bepaalde samelewing funksioneer, kan die klemverskuiwing van die moderne gesin en die samelewingsfaktore nie buite rekening gelaat word by die beskrywing van wording nie. Wording vind sy neerslag in samewerking met leer, ontwikkeling en ryping. Hierdie begrippe is onderskeibaar, maar kan nooit geskei word nie. Die verskillende domeine van wording en ontwikkeling, naamlik die affektiewe, kognitiewe, normatiewe, fisieke en sosiale domeine, vorm die totaliteit waarbinne die kind beskou word. 'n Toereik:ende opvoedingsmilieu gee aanleiding tot toereikende wording by die kind. Midde 'n toereikende opvoedingsmilieu staan die opvoeder as bemiddelaar tussen die kind en die inhoud. Die primere sowel as die sekondere opvoedingsituasies behoort aan die vereistes van toereikendheid te voldoen. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is aan die hand van die ideografiese navosingsontwerp onderneem. Die wording en ontwikkeling van kinders vanuit verskillende tipes dagsorg is bepaal. Die wording en ontwikkeling van die kind in totaliteit word in aanmerking geneem. Wording word dan in verband gebring met die opvoedingsituasie in sy totaliteit. Daarom is die primere sowel as die sekondere situasies by die ondersoek betrek. Hierdie navorsing bevind dat kinderlike wording nie noodwendig negatief deur dagsorg beinvloed word nie. Die totale opvoedingsituasie van die kind moet telkens in berekening gebring word. Dagsorg oefen wel 'n invloed op kinderlike wording uit, maar die moederkindverhouding is die mees bepalende faktor by kinderlike wording. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / The child's becoming is influenced by the education situation as a whole. The mother-child relationship plays a crucial role to the child's becoming, hence the initial bonding between mother and child is considered all-important. All further becoming is based on the motherchild relationship. Another factor that influences becoming is the family situation, with specific reference to the father. Because the family functions in the context of a particular society, the shift of emphasis in the modem family and social factors cannot be discounted in the discription of becoming. Becoming takes place in conjunction with learning, development and maturation. These processes are differentiable but inseparable. The different domains of becoming and development, namely the affective, cognitive, normative, physical and social, form the overall context within which the child is investigated. An adequate educational environment leads tot the child's adequate becoming. At the centre of any adequate educational environment is the educator acting as mediator between child and learning content. Both the primary and the secondary educational situation should comply with the requisites for adequacy. An empirical investigation was undertaken in accordance with ideographic research methods. The status of overall becoming and development in children who had been subjected to different types of daycare was determined in relation to the education situation as a whole, which is why both the primary and the secondary educational situation were drawn into the investigation. This research has produced the finding that daycare does not necessarily harm the child's becoming. The overall educational situation must be considered at all times. Daycare has a recognisable influence on the child's becoming, but the mother-child relationship is the most decisive factor for the child's becoming. / Kinderlike wording word deur die opvoedingsituasie as totaliteit belnvloed. Die moederkindverhouding speel die allerbelangrikste rol by kinderlike wording. Daarom word die aanvanklike binding tussen moeder en kind baie hoog aangeskryf. Alie verdere wording word geskoei op die moeder-kindverhouding. Die gesinsituasie, met spesifieke verwysing na die vader, is verdere faktore wat wording belnvloed. Omdat die gesin binne 'n bepaalde samelewing funksioneer, kan die klemverskuiwing van die moderne gesin en die samelewingsfaktore nie buite rekening gelaat word by die beskrywing van wording nie. Wording vind sy neerslag in samewerking met leer, ontwikkeling en ryping. Hierdie begrippe is onderskeibaar, maar kan nooit geskei word nie. Die verskillende domeine van wording en ontwikkeling, naamlik die affektiewe, kognitiewe, normatiewe, fisieke en sosiale domeine, vorm die totaliteit waarbinne die kind beskou word. 'n Toereik:ende opvoedingsmilieu gee aanleiding tot toereikende wording by die kind. Midde 'n toereikende opvoedingsmilieu staan die opvoeder as bemiddelaar tussen die kind en die inhoud. Die primere sowel as die sekondere opvoedingsituasies behoort aan die vereistes van toereikendheid te voldoen. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is aan die hand van die ideografiese navosingsontwerp onderneem. Die wording en ontwikkeling van kinders vanuit verskillende tipes dagsorg is bepaal. Die wording en ontwikkeling van die kind in totaliteit word in aanmerking geneem. Wording word dan in verband gebring met die opvoedingsituasie in sy totaliteit. Daarom is die primere sowel as die sekondere situasies by die ondersoek betrek. Hierdie navorsing bevind dat kinderlike wording nie noodwendig negatief deur dagsorg beinvloed word nie. Die totale opvoedingsituasie van die kind moet telkens in berekening gebring word. Dagsorg oefen wel 'n invloed op kinderlike wording uit, maar die moederkindverhouding is die mees bepalende faktor by kinderlike wording. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar, como elemento de escuta analítica, as relações familiares presentes no psiquismo do paciente atendido individualmente. Para tanto, realizou-se uma sistematização do conteúdo teórico sobre os aspectos psíquicos do funcionamento grupal familiar, no enfoque de sua participação no psiquismo de seus membros. Foi necessária, também, uma sistematização acerca de alguns elementos da clínica psicanalítica, particularmente, a escuta, a transferência e a contratransferência. Do ponto de vista metodológico, recolheu-se dos textos escolhidos as considerações teóricas que tornaram mais consistente a lógica do objetivo. O desenvolvimento do trabalho focalizou três temáticas centrais, apresentadas em três capítulos: no primeiro, destacou-se o caráter intersubjetivo da constituição psíquica. Desse modo, utilizou-se como referencial principal Kaës, enfocando-se a dimensão grupal no sujeito individual, e Winnicott, para a importância da relação primária mãe/bebê (e da família) na constituição do psiquismo. No segundo capítulo, foram apresentados possíveis aspectos da clínica que contemplam uma escuta dos aspectos grupais familiares do paciente atendido individualmente. Nesse contexto, refletiu-se sobre a clínica na atualidade, ressaltando-se as manifestações que revelam certo empobrecimento da capacidade simbólica. Em seguida, comentou-se sobre alguns elementos que definem o espaço/campo clínico, abordando principalmente a perspectiva da evolução desses conceitos na trajetória da Psicanálise. No terceiro capítulo, discutiu-se sobre alguns dos elementos grupais da constituição psíquica que podem ser escutados no atendimento individual. Empregaram-se fragmentos de casos para ilustrar essa discussão. Acredita-se que esse estudo possa contribuir para uma discussão da clínica psicanalítica a partir de uma escuta expandida, ou seja, uma escuta que evidencie o sujeito constituído na família. / The present research aims to study, as part of the analytic listening, the family relationships present in the psyche of the patient treated individually. To achieve this purpose, it was developed a systematization of the theoretical content of the psychological aspects of family group functioning, concerning the participation in the psyche of its members. A systematization of some elements of psychoanalytic clinic was also carried out, particularly the listening, the transference and the countertransference. From the methodological point of view, we compiled theoretical considerations that turned the logic of our goal more consistent. The development of the work focused on three central themes presented in three chapters. In the first one, the highlight was the intersubjective nature of the psychic constitution. For this, we used as main reference Kaës, focusing on group dimension in the individual subject, and Winnicott, on the importance of the primary relationship mother / baby (and family) in the psyche constitution. In the second chapter, we discussed the clinic from a listening that considers the family group aspects of the patient treated individually. In this respect, we made a brief consideration on clinic today, highlighting the events that reveal some depletion of the symbolic capacity. Then we discussed about some elements that define the space / clinical field, addressing mainly the perspective of the evolution of these concepts in the history of psychoanalysis. In the third chapter, we discussed about some of the group elements of psychic constitution that can be listened in individual treatment. We used fragments of cases to illustrate this discussion. We believe that this study contributes to a discussion of psychoanalytic clinic from an "expanded listening", a listening that enhances the subject who is constituted in the family.

The study attempted to show that parenting styles are directly related to parents' goals with respect to their children's education. Parents' goals, and the behaviors they motivate, were assumed to be a mechanism accounting for well-established effects of parenting style on children's school achievement. The sample consisted of 223 undergraduate college mothers enrolled in psychology courses. The results indicated that parents' use of an authoritative style was positively related to their adoption of learning goals with respect to their child, as evident, for example, in their use of a process focus and indirect homework assistance strategies. Moreover, mothers' use of an authoritarian style was positively related to their adoption of performance goals, as evident in their use of a product focus. Results are discussed in terms of goal theory and the limitations of self-report methods.

This thesis explores mothers' reactions to, and methods of dealing with, the sudden death of a child, using a constructivist approach. The study focusses on the meanings that mothers construe in relation to the sudden death of their child and the role of these constructions in her "recovery" from this loss. It also explores the grieving process, the effect of the loss on the mother, including a focus on changes in her value system, her role as a mother and as a wife, as well as the impact of this loss on the family system. The study was conducted on the basis of qualitative research methodology, making use of the case study method. The sample consisted of three mothers, selected purposively. The data gathered was analysed inductively. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

This thesis explores mothers' reactions to, and methods of dealing with, the sudden death of a child, using a constructivist approach. The study focusses on the meanings that mothers construe in relation to the sudden death of their child and the role of these constructions in her "recovery" from this loss. It also explores the grieving process, the effect of the loss on the mother, including a focus on changes in her value system, her role as a mother and as a wife, as well as the impact of this loss on the family system. The study was conducted on the basis of qualitative research methodology, making use of the case study method. The sample consisted of three mothers, selected purposively. The data gathered was analysed inductively. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:08:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 regina_marcia_manicardi_vaz.pdf: 21630787 bytes, checksum: 2ee6df3db75d9a14029b169639699a68 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-02 / The present research aims to study, as part of the analytic listening, the family relationships present in the psyche of the patient treated individually. To achieve this purpose, it was developed a systematization of the theoretical content of the psychological aspects of family group functioning, concerning the participation in the psyche of its members. A systematization of some elements of psychoanalytic clinic was also carried out, particularly the listening, the transference and the countertransference. From the methodological point of view, we compiled theoretical considerations that turned the logic of our goal more consistent. The development of the work focused on three central themes presented in three chapters. In the first one, the highlight was the intersubjective nature of the psychic constitution. For this, we used as main reference Kaës, focusing on group dimension in the individual subject, and Winnicott, on the importance of the primary relationship mother / baby (and family) in the psyche constitution. In the second chapter, we discussed the clinic from a listening that considers the family group aspects of the patient treated individually. In this respect, we made a brief consideration on clinic today, highlighting the events that reveal some depletion of the symbolic capacity. Then we discussed about some elements that define the space / clinical field, addressing mainly the perspective of the evolution of these concepts in the history of psychoanalysis. In the third chapter, we discussed about some of the group elements of psychic constitution that can be listened in individual treatment. We used fragments of cases to illustrate this discussion. We believe that this study contributes to a discussion of psychoanalytic clinic from an "expanded listening", a listening that enhances the subject who is constituted in the family. / A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar, como elemento de escuta analítica, as relações familiares presentes no psiquismo do paciente atendido individualmente. Para tanto, realizou-se uma sistematização do conteúdo teórico sobre os aspectos psíquicos do funcionamento grupal familiar, no enfoque de sua participação no psiquismo de seus membros. Foi necessária, também, uma sistematização acerca de alguns elementos da clínica psicanalítica, particularmente, a escuta, a transferência e a contratransferência. Do ponto de vista metodológico, recolheu-se dos textos escolhidos as considerações teóricas que tornaram mais consistente a lógica do objetivo. O desenvolvimento do trabalho focalizou três temáticas centrais, apresentadas em três capítulos: no primeiro, destacou-se o caráter intersubjetivo da constituição psíquica. Desse modo, utilizou-se como referencial principal Kaës, enfocando-se a dimensão grupal no sujeito individual, e Winnicott, para a importância da relação primária mãe/bebê (e da família) na constituição do psiquismo. No segundo capítulo, foram apresentados possíveis aspectos da clínica que contemplam uma escuta dos aspectos grupais familiares do paciente atendido individualmente. Nesse contexto, refletiu-se sobre a clínica na atualidade, ressaltando-se as manifestações que revelam certo empobrecimento da capacidade simbólica. Em seguida, comentou-se sobre alguns elementos que definem o espaço/campo clínico, abordando principalmente a perspectiva da evolução desses conceitos na trajetória da Psicanálise. No terceiro capítulo, discutiu-se sobre alguns dos elementos grupais da constituição psíquica que podem ser escutados no atendimento individual. Empregaram-se fragmentos de casos para ilustrar essa discussão. Acredita-se que esse estudo possa contribuir para uma discussão da clínica psicanalítica a partir de uma escuta expandida , ou seja, uma escuta que evidencie o sujeito constituído na família.