Preschool is a place where children, parents and teachers meet. Preschool is for children but also for the parents, they should feel confident about the place where they leave their children. We who made this study have a common interest to examine how teachers´ attitudes to parental contact in preschool works. The purpose of this study is to examine how teachers relate to parental contact. What do the educators think of their professionalism in the profession? Do educators believe that parental contact is important? And how do they work to obtain a good parent contact? The study has three questioners holder: How does teachers relate to parental contact in preschool? What do the educators think of their professionalism in the profession? And how visible educators child development and learning in daily contact with parents? We chose to do qualitative interviews with four preschool teachers at two different preschools in Sweden, to seek answers to our questions. The results of this study show that teachers have a positive attitude to parental contact, and they felt that parents should feel confident about preschool

This two-part study examined the adjustment of Hispanic immigrants. Part one examined the communication that occurs between Hispanic immigrant parents and their adolescents/young adults about life in the United States (U.S.). It also examined how attitudes toward the U.S. and various protective factors influence psychological adjustment. Hispanic immigrants (n = 123) with an average of 11 years living in the United States and their adolescents/young adults between the ages of 14-22 served as participants. For both parents and their adolescents/young adults, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. were associated with improved psychological adjustment. Contrary to prediction, attitudes toward the U.S. did not correlate with quality of life or life satisfaction for either family member. Further, results indicated that among adolescents/young adults, resiliency predicted positive U.S. attitudes, whereas among parents, openness to new experiences predicted favorable attitudes toward the U.S. Finally, parental views of the U.S. correlated positively with their adolescents'/young adults' views of the U.S. In an extension of the study, 37 Hispanic college students who were either immigrants or children of immigrants were randomly assigned to either a control condition or a psychoeducation condition. The psychoeducation condition focused on improving their emotional regulation and views of the United States. No significant differences were found among the groups.

Young adulthood is a crucial period for identity development, and an unclear sense of identity has been associated with deleterious psychological and social outcomes (Kroger & Marcia, 2011). Young adults have also identified self-sufficiency, including financial independence, as an essential aspect associated with attaining adulthood (Arnett, 2000). However, current realities such as global economic uncertainty and a shift toward greater personal responsibility for financial security may threaten the successful attainment of these essential goals (Furstenberg, Rumbaut, & Settersten, 2005). Hence, I explored identity formation (Erikson, 1950, 1968) in the domain of finance. Four socialization factors (perceived parental SES, parental financial communication, formal financial education, and high school work experience) and three beliefs (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) were used to predict financial identity (achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion) in a sample of college students (N = 2,098) who were surveyed at two time points approximately 2.5 years apart. Four models were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). First, using crossectional data, I tested the extent to which socialization factors and financial beliefs predicted financial identity. I found support for 79% of the hypothesized associations between the variables. Second, using crossectional data, I examined the degree to which financial beliefs mediated the association between socialization factors and financial identity. Findings indicated that financial beliefs partially mediated the association between parental financial communication and financial identity. Third, using longitudinal data, Time 1 (T1) socialization factors and T1 beliefs were used to predict Time 2 (T2) financial identity. As expected, T1 financial identity was the most robust predictor of T2 financial identity. After controlling for T1 financial identity, T1 variables were most predictive of changes in T2 foreclosure: Increases in foreclosure were predicted by perceived parental SES, parental communication, formal education, and subjective norms. Finally, T1 financial beliefs were allowed to mediate the association between T1 socialization factors and T2 financial identity. I found no evidence of mediation using longitudinal data. Findings from this study suggest that identity formation within the financial domain is consistent with identity formation in other recognized identity domains.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation tests if a young adult’s social location determines what type of information he or she will receive about sexual health from parents and formal sexual education programs. I also test whether sexual education mediates direct associations between social location and 4 protective sexual health behaviors: condom communication, consistent condom use, delaying sexual debut, and reducing the number of lifetime sexual partners. Using the 2011-2013 wave of the National Survey of Family Growth, I look for differences in sexual education and engaging in protective sexual health behaviors among white, Hispanic, and African American men and women ages 15-24. I find that communication about sex from parents and formal sex education programs varies by race and gender. I also find that direct associations exist between social location, parental communication, formal sexual education, and protective sexual health behaviors. However, all of these operate independently from one another, and I find that parental communication and formal sexual education does little to mediate the direct associations between social location and protective sexual behaviors. Policy implications, limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed.

No description available.

No description available.

Résumé : Le présent essai doctoral vise à définir les facteurs de risque ou de protection de l’engagement paternel chez les pères ayant eu recours à la médiation ordonnée (Mo) et à l’expertise psychosociale (Exp). L’étude de 222 dossiers légaux et la réalisation de 22 entrevues repose sur une approche exploratoire dont les données quantitatives et qualitatives ont été recueillies de façon ponctuelle (entrevues) et en rétrospective (analyse des dossiers). Cet essai présente à notre connaissance des données originales. L'analyse des tendances démographiques nommée « analyse populationnelle dynamique » et les données qui en sont issues sont appelées « données populationnelles ». Elles tracent un portrait des pères qui tient compte du contexte social dans lequel ils évoluent et situent les échantillons sur la courbe normale ou selon le critère évalué. Cette méthode d'analyse soutient avantageusement le modèle écologique de Bronfenbrenner (1979). Les résultats indiquent qu’au-delà des procédures de cour, le facteur de risque le plus important à l’engagement paternel est la difficile communication avec l’ex-conjointe appelée « communication dégradant le lien parental » dont les deux piliers sont la dépréciation et l'obstruction. Le conflit qui oppose les parents est de longue durée et se prolonge parfois sur une décennie. Cette intensité de conflit discrimine le profil des pères utilisant la médiation ordonnée de celui des pères utilisant la médiation volontaire. À ce conflit sont associés des coûts psychologiques chez les pères et leur famille, mais également des coûts financiers attribuables à la longueur des procédures de cour. Ces coûts constituent également un facteur de risque tout comme les caractéristiques des couples présentant des écarts d’âge, de valeurs et de culture. Les recommandations de l’expertise et les ententes de la médiation ordonnée ont un effet de courte durée sur le conflit qui oppose les parents. Les pères perçoivent l’expertise comme un facteur de protection de leur engagement, car leur capacité parentale y est reconnue et les recommandations que contiennent les expertises influencent les décisions de la cour. La capacité des pères à valoriser leur rôle parental et les stratégies utilisées pour contrer une communication dénigrante sont également des facteurs de protection. De ces constats se dégage une série de recommandations visant tant la recherche que les interventions cliniques. // Abstract : This doctoral essay seeks to define the risk or protective factors of paternal involvement among fathers who have recourse to court-ordered mediation (Mo) and custody assessment (Exp). An examination of 222 legal cases and the 22 interviews which were conducted is based on an approach that is exploratory (both quantitative and qualitative), case-by-case (interviews) and retrospective (case-file analysis), which to our knowledge is innovative in many ways. The analysis of demographic trends called "population-based dynamic analysis", while the data derived from it are called "population-based data". They paint a portrait of fathers that takes into account the social context in which they find themselves and place the samples on a normal curve or in accordance with the criterion being evaluated. This method of analysis favorably supports Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model (1979). The results indicate that beyond court procedures, the most significant paternal-involvement risk factor is difficult communication with the ex-wife, called "communication detrimental to the parental relationship", which is based on two major pillars: depreciation and obstruction. These pillars present a conceptual affinity with parental alienation, negative co-parenting and restrictive gatekeeping. The conflict between the parents is long-lasting, sometimes extending over a decade. This conflict intensity distinguishes the profiles of fathers using court-ordered mediation from those using voluntary mediation. Psychological and financial costs for the fathers and their family associated with the length of court procedures constitute a risk factor as well, as do the characteristics of couples of differing ages, values and cultures. Court custody assessments and court-ordered mediation have a short-term effect on parental conflict. However, fathers perceived court custody assessments as a protective factor for their paternal involvement because their parenting ability is thus recognized and recommendations contained in the assessments influence court decisions. The ability of fathers to enhance their parenting role and the strategies they use to counter derogatory communications are also protective factors. These findings result in a series of recommendations aimed both at research and clinical interventions.

R??sum?? : Le pr??sent essai doctoral vise ?? d??finir les facteurs de risque ou de protection de l???engagement paternel chez les p??res ayant eu recours ?? la m??diation ordonn??e (Mo) et ?? l???expertise psychosociale (Exp). L?????tude de 222 dossiers l??gaux et la r??alisation de 22 entrevues repose sur une approche exploratoire dont les donn??es quantitatives et qualitatives ont ??t?? recueillies de fa??on ponctuelle (entrevues) et en r??trospective (analyse des dossiers). Cet essai pr??sente ?? notre connaissance des donn??es originales. L'analyse des tendances d??mographiques nomm??e ?? analyse populationnelle dynamique ?? et les donn??es qui en sont issues sont appel??es ?? donn??es populationnelles ??. Elles tracent un portrait des p??res qui tient compte du contexte social dans lequel ils ??voluent et situent les ??chantillons sur la courbe normale ou selon le crit??re ??valu??. Cette m??thode d'analyse soutient avantageusement le mod??le ??cologique de Bronfenbrenner (1979). Les r??sultats indiquent qu???au-del?? des proc??dures de cour, le facteur de risque le plus important ?? l???engagement paternel est la difficile communication avec l???ex-conjointe appel??e ?? communication d??gradant le lien parental ?? dont les deux piliers sont la d??pr??ciation et l'obstruction. Le conflit qui oppose les parents est de longue dur??e et se prolonge parfois sur une d??cennie. Cette intensit?? de conflit discrimine le profil des p??res utilisant la m??diation ordonn??e de celui des p??res utilisant la m??diation volontaire. ?? ce conflit sont associ??s des co??ts psychologiques chez les p??res et leur famille, mais ??galement des co??ts financiers attribuables ?? la longueur des proc??dures de cour. Ces co??ts constituent ??galement un facteur de risque tout comme les caract??ristiques des couples pr??sentant des ??carts d?????ge, de valeurs et de culture. Les recommandations de l???expertise et les ententes de la m??diation ordonn??e ont un effet de courte dur??e sur le conflit qui oppose les parents. Les p??res per??oivent l???expertise comme un facteur de protection de leur engagement, car leur capacit?? parentale y est reconnue et les recommandations que contiennent les expertises influencent les d??cisions de la cour. La capacit?? des p??res ?? valoriser leur r??le parental et les strat??gies utilis??es pour contrer une communication d??nigrante sont ??galement des facteurs de protection. De ces constats se d??gage une s??rie de recommandations visant tant la recherche que les interventions cliniques. // Abstract : This doctoral essay seeks to define the risk or protective factors of paternal involvement among fathers who have recourse to court-ordered mediation (Mo) and custody assessment (Exp). An examination of 222 legal cases and the 22 interviews which were conducted is based on an approach that is exploratory (both quantitative and qualitative), case-by-case (interviews) and retrospective (case-file analysis), which to our knowledge is innovative in many ways. The analysis of demographic trends called "population-based dynamic analysis", while the data derived from it are called "population-based data". They paint a portrait of fathers that takes into account the social context in which they find themselves and place the samples on a normal curve or in accordance with the criterion being evaluated. This method of analysis favorably supports Bronfenbrenner???s ecological model (1979). The results indicate that beyond court procedures, the most significant paternal-involvement risk factor is difficult communication with the ex-wife, called "communication detrimental to the parental relationship", which is based on two major pillars: depreciation and obstruction. These pillars present a conceptual affinity with parental alienation, negative co-parenting and restrictive gatekeeping. The conflict between the parents is long-lasting, sometimes extending over a decade. This conflict intensity distinguishes the profiles of fathers using court-ordered mediation from those using voluntary mediation. Psychological and financial costs for the fathers and their family associated with the length of court procedures constitute a risk factor as well, as do the characteristics of couples of differing ages, values and cultures. Court custody assessments and court-ordered mediation have a short-term effect on parental conflict. However, fathers perceived court custody assessments as a protective factor for their paternal involvement because their parenting ability is thus recognized and recommendations contained in the assessments influence court decisions. The ability of fathers to enhance their parenting role and the strategies they use to counter derogatory communications are also protective factors. These findings result in a series of recommendations aimed both at research and clinical interventions.