Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1982.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 36 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 47 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

A asma e a doenca respiratoria cronica de maior ocorrencia no Brasil. Em criancas menores de cinco anos ainda nao e possivel diagnostica-la, mas alguns sintomas, tais como crises de sibilancia, sao indicativos de que estas criancas podem desenvolver asma. A presenca de problemas cronicos de saude na infancia pode representar um importante fator de mediacao da qualidade da interacao cuidador-crianca, pois a rotina da familia e marcada por permanentes cuidados. A Psicologia, neste contexto, pode contribuir por meio do desenvolvimento e implementacao de intervencoes preventivas que ajudem estas familias a enfrentar os eventos estressores influenciados por essa condicao. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um programa de orientacao parental, com enfoque preventivo para problemas de comportamento infantis, sobre as praticas educativas empregadas por cuidadores cujas criancas apresentavam crises de sibilancia. Foram participantes 19 pais, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Tratamento (GT), composto de oito pais, e Grupo Comparacao (GC), constituido de onze pais. Os participantes foram recrutados em quatro locais de assistencia a saude infantil no municipio de Sao Paulo/SP e foram abordados para participar da pesquisa pessoalmente, por contato telefonico ou por cartas enviadas pelo correio. Os instrumentos de avaliacao utilizados foram: Adult Self-Report (ASR); Inventario de Comportamentos para Criancas entre 1 . a 5 anos (CBCL/1.-5) e Roteiro de Entrevista de Habilidades Sociais Educativas Parentais (RE-HSE-P). O GT participou do Programa de Orientacao Parental (POP); ambos os grupos foram avaliados em dois momentos: pre e pos-intervencao; os participantes do GC receberam orientacoes pontuais apos o termino da intervencao com o GT. O POP foi estruturado em 10 sessoes, semanais, de 90 minutos cada. Os resultados indicaram que os participantes apresentaram escores elevados para problemas de comportamento (ASR), especificamente do tipo internalizante, sendo que os pais do GT apresentaram mais escores considerados clinicos do que os do GC; os pais de ambos os grupos reportaram escores elevados de problemas de comportamento em seus filhos (CBCL), principalmente do tipo internalizante, observando-se uma reducao destes escores na avalicao pos-intervencao na comparacao dos grupos com eles mesmos e nao entre os grupos. Os cuidadores participantes do POP apresentaram melhora das habilidades educativas nos aspectos positivos da interacao, condicao que nao foi notada no GC, pois dentre estes participantes os escores permaneceram estaveis, sendo que tal melhora foi estatisticamente significativa nas habilidades sociais educativas (p = 0,043). Nos aspectos negativos da interacao, o GT apresentou diminuicao estatisticamente significativa no uso de praticas negativas, principalmente em termos de frequencia (p = 0,019); o GC tambem apresentou reducao da aplicacao de praticas negativas, porem esta reducao nao foi tao expressiva quanto a do GT. Os pais do GT foram avaliados novamente seis meses apos o termino da intervencao, participaram de uma sessao de fortalecimento e os resultados obtidos permaneceram estaveis. Os resultados do estudo indicam que o POP e uma intervencao que pode auxiliar as familias, cujos filhos apresentem problemas cronicos de saude na infancia, no manejo das dificuldades decorrentes desta condicao adversa / Asthma is the most frequent chronic respiratory disease in Brazil. In children under five years of age, it cannot be diagnosed, but some symptoms, such as wheezing attacks, are indications that these children may develop asthma. The presence of chronic health problems during childhood may be an important mediating factor of the caregiver-child interaction quality, because it marks the family routine with permanent care. Psychology, in this context, can contribute by developing and implementing preventive interventions to help these families facing the stressful events influenced by this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a parental guidance program, using a preventive approach to child behavior problems, on educational practices employed by caregivers of children that presented wheezing attacks. The sample was composed by 19 parents, divided into two groups: Treatment Group (TG), with eight parents, and Comparison Group (CG), with eleven parents. Participants were recruited by telephone or mail in four childrens health care facilities located in Sao Paulo/SP. Assessment tools used were: Adult Self-Report (ASR); Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.-5 (CBCL/1.-5) and Parental Educative Social Skills Interview Script (RE-HSE-P). TG participated of the Parental Guidance Programme (PGP); both groups were assessed pre and post-intervention; CG received specific orientations after the post-intervention assessment. The PGP had 10 weekly sessions, lasting 90 minutes each. Results indicated that participants reached high scores for behavioral problems (ASR), specifically on the internalizing scale, and that TG parents had more scores in the clinical range than CG parents. Parents of both groups reported that their children presents high level of behavioral problems (CBCL), mainly of the internalizing type. Problems levels were reduced on the post-intervention assessment when comparing the group within itself, but not on the between groups comparison. On the interaction positive aspect (RE-HSE-P), TG caregivers showed improvement of educational skills, while CG caregivers presented stable educational skills scores. This difference was statistically significant (p = .043). Considering the interaction negative aspects, TG showed a statistically significant decrease in the use of negative practices, especially in terms of frequency (p = .019); CG also declined the use of negative practices, but this reduction was not significant. TG parents participated in a recapitulation session six months after the end of the intervention and were assessed again, presenting stable results. These findings indicate that PGP is an intervention that can help families whose children present chronic health problems on handling difficulties that arise from these adverse conditions

O nascimento prematuro é um problema de saúde pública, cujas consequências incidem tanto sobre as condições de sobrevivência do neonato, quanto sobre as reações emocionais dos pais. A separação precoce entre a mãe o bebê, as limitações impostas pelo ambiente tecnológico de uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal para interação dos pais com o recém-nascido e o sofrimento psicológico vivido pelo casal parental podem repercutir na relação da tríade pai-mãe-bebê. O objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar o conjunto das reações emocionais apresentadas pelos pais de bebês pré-termo de muito baixo peso e as relações entre essas reações e o processo de transição para a parentalidade. Nesta pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, os participantes foram 4 mães e 4 pais de bebês prematuros internados no Hospital Universitário da USP. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevista semi-estruturada e analisados através da análise de conteúdo. As coordenadas teóricas que sustentaram a análise foram as da teoria psicanalítica de Winnicott, junto a contribuições de outros autores, cuja elaboração teórica foi considerada relevante para a discussão do tema. Foram identificadas reações emocionais ligadas à interrupção precoce da gravidez, ao relacionamento com a criança, à relação do casal parental e à relação com a equipe de saúde. Sensações de medo, apreensão, estranhamento, sentimentos de incompletude, irrealidade e impotência, necessidade de apoio, percepção de transformação pessoal e dos vínculos conjugais compuseram as singulares reações emocionais de cada casal parental. Algumas dessas reações mostraram-se favorecedoras e outras dificultadoras do processo de transição à parentalidade. Nesse estudo, as dificuldades vividas pelos pais não se apresentaram, a priori, como um impedimento para a construção de um vínculo seguro e saudável com os seus filhos. Mas tais dificuldades evidenciam a necessidade, apontada em outros trabalhos, de que os pais recebam atenção especializada do profissional da saúde mental, assim como, assistência integral da equipe de saúde tanto na internação, quanto no período da gravidez e após a alta hospitalar / The birth of a premature infant is a public health problem, whose consequences affect the living conditions of the newborn and parents emotional reactions. The early separation between mother and baby, the limitations established by technological environment of a neonatal intensive care unit for parents-child relation and parental couples psychological distress may affect the relationship of triad father-mother-infant. The goal of this study was investigate the emotional reactions set presented by very low birthweight infants parents and relationship between these reactions and transition to parenthood. This study used qualitative research and the subjects were 4 mothers and 4 fathers of very low birthweight infants admitted at University Hospital of USP. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through content analysis. The theoretical coordinates that supported analysis were the Winnicotts theories add contributions from other authors, whose theoretical elaborations were considered relevant for discussion. Were identified emotional reactions linked to early interruption of pregnancy, to relationships with child, with health team and parental couples relationship. Fear, apprehension, estrangement, feelings of incompleteness, unreality and helplessness, need support, personal transformation and marital bonds composed the singular emotional reactions of each parental couple. Some of these reactions proved to be favoring and other cause difficulties of transition to parenthood. In This study, the difficulties experienced by parents were not a obstacle to building a secure and healthy bond with their children. But, these difficulties highlight the need for parents to receive specialized care of mental health professionals, as well as, comprehensive care of the health team during hospitalization, pregnancy and after discharge

This descriptive comparative and correlational study was designed to determine the degree of environmental stress perceived by mothers and fathers during the first week of their infant's admission to a Special Care Nursery (SCN) and to determine the differences in their perceptions. In addition, the variables of gestational age, birth weight and paternal attitude toward caregiving were investigated for their relationship to the perceived degree of environmental stress. A convenience sample of 31 sets of parents was selected from a tertiary level SCN in a large urban children's hospital. Both parents completed the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parental Stress Scale and an information sheet; fathers also completed the Paternal Attitude Scale. Overall, mothers and fathers perceived the SCN environment as a low source of stress. Mothers were moderately stressed by their altered parental role. In addition, mothers were significantly more stressed by the environmental aspects of SCN and the total SCN experience than were fathers. Environmental stress arising from staff communications and relations was significantly negatively related to birth weight and gestational age. No significant relationship was found between paternal attitude toward care giving and the fathers' perception of environmental stress. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

This study describes ways that parents attempt to help their preschool children with asthma meet their basic human needs. Information about such parental guidance is lacking in the literature and yet parents need assistance from health professionals about how to accomplish the task of rearing their chronically ill children. Ten couples with asthmatic preschool children from the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia were identified and interviewed in their homes. The couples were asked about the actions they took to help their preschool children with asthma meet their basic human needs and the ways they perceived asthma and its treatment affecting their efforts to help these children. An Interview Guide was developed based on the University of British Columbia's Model for Nursing. It is a model with a basic human needs and systems theory framework. All interviews with the couples were audiotaped and later analyzed for content of their communications. The analysis revealed 17 specific helpful actions common to all of the couples, and additional emotions, decisions, and physical efforts to normalize their asthmatic children's and family's daily lives. It was concluded that the couples in this study assumed the responsibilities of helping their preschool children, sick or well, meet their needs to grow and develop according to parental tasks. The intensity of the helping behaviours tended to increase during the children's asthmatic attacks. There are implications for health professionals for developing programs to assist parents to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes: to facilitate the growth and development of their children with a chronic disease such as asthma. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate parental knowledge and misconceptions with regard to asthma and its treatment, to identify parental concerns with regard to the disease and its effects on their children, and to identify selected socio-demographic and medical correlates of the above. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 54 families with a child with asthma. The sample comprised all the parents of a consecutive series of asthmatic patients between the ages of two to eighteen years attending a family practice in Mandalay on the Cape Flats. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered to 52 mothers and 48 fathers, reflecting a 95.2 per cent response rate. Respondents completed the questionnaire in their homes. A 55 item Asthma Knowledge Test was developed and validated to assess medical knowledge. Parents obtained an average score of 72%. Scores of over 70% were obtained in the sub-sections of aetiology, symptomatology, pathophysiology, precipitants and environmental control. Parents were less informed in the sub-sections of asthma prognosis, general medical knowledge and asthma therapy. Misconceptions and deficiencies in asthma knowledge which could lead to inadvertent non-compliance were identified. The following misconceptions were shared by a significant number of parents: inhaler therapy weakens the heart, regular administration of medication leads to addiction and medicines becoming ineffective, and folk remedies are effective in asthma therapy. Parental educational status was the only significant correlate with performance on the Asthma Knowledge Test. There was no significant difference in the performances of mothers and fathers. 47% of parents smoked but there was no significant difference in the scores of smokers and non-smokers. Parental concerns centred predominantly on their lack of confidence to manage acute asthma attacks, followed by concern as to whether their children will outgrow asthma. Dependence on asthma medication and its perceived harmful effect on the heart and lungs were other concerns. The findings suggest the need for systematic asthma education especially with regard to acute attack management and preventive medications. The aims of such education should be to increase asthma knowledge, develop skills, improve attitudes, and develop positive expectations toward the outcome and effectiveness of treatment. An effort should be undertaken to discourage parental smoking in asthmatic families. Attention should be given to dispel misconceptions during educational programmes. The increased information needs of parents with a lower education should be addressed by health professionals. Parents should receive adequate information during the early stages of the disease to minimise their insecurity in coping with the illness and prevent the development of misconceptions that undermine their confidence in medications and care givers.

The aim of this literature review was to illuminate children's experiences and stories of parents with mental illnesses. This thesis also aimed to look into how the parent-child relationship is influenced by the parents mental illness. A search was conducted through various databases, and a total of 17 articles were reviewed. The method for analysis was a qualitative thematic content analysis and the results are based on the patterns and themes that were identified. The results show that these children are continuously excluded by their parents and often take responsibility for the parents' condition. Children are also forced to take on responsibility beyond their years, and develop strategies to compensate for the parents' shortcomings. These strategies also support the child's development of resilience. The children also experience overwhelmingly negative emotions as a result of their circumstances, as well as the on-going stigmatization regarding mental illness. Children of parents with mental illnesses are thus more at risk of developing a mental illness; though not all do. The results also show that the children's resilience determines their ability to process and adapt to the surrounding hardships. The authors´conclusion was that the primary obstacle to overcome is the lacking inclusion and communication of children to parents with mental illnesses; that way appropriate strategies and support can be provided and alleviate the situation.

Research has demonstrated the importance of early social interactions in the development of self-talk. It does not appear, however, that existing research has examined the relationship between parents' self-talk and the self-talk that develops in their children. This study examined the relationship between self-talk in parents and their college-age children. Results revealed significant relationships between students' and parents' positive self-talk, but not negative self-talk. Marginal relationships were found for self-talk ratios (ratios of positive and negative self-talk). Maternal communication was found to mediate the relationship between students' and their mothers' positive self-talk. Different trends also were noted between genders. Finally, self-talk was related significantly to depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Overall, results of this study emphasize the relationship between parents' and their children's positive self-talk and the importance of self-talk in psychological functioning. These findings lend promise to the possibility of modifying parents' self-talk and communication as a way to modify their children's self-talk and psychological functioning.