Bullying is well known to have harmful effects on child development and mental health, so understanding the underlying factors involved in bullying behaviour is critical (World Health Organization, 2008). In the present study, mental health, parenting challenges, and children’s individual strengths were explored across different types of bullying involvement. In this cross- sectional study involving 91 children between the ages of four to 11 receiving services at a mental health agency, the results indicated significant differences on dependent variables across the four different bullying involvement groups: bully, victim, bully-victim, and non-involved. Children in the bully group were more likely to be experiencing externalizing behaviours and have fewer individual strengths whereas children in the victim group were more likely to be experiencing difficulties with internalizing behaviours and have fewer individual strengths. Children in the bully-victim group were more likely to be displaying externalizing behaviours, come from homes experiencing parenting difficulties, and have fewer individual strengths. In contrast, children who were non-involved in bullying were more likely to have greater individual strengths including stronger peer relations, greater self-expression, able to successfully adapt to change, and have stronger family units. The results of this study highlight the different behaviour patterns across the types of bullying involvement as well as shed light onto the needs and strengths of children accessing mental health services from a community agency.

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. Thirty five percent of Latinos who are currently children will be contributing taxpayers and will be having a great influence on the future economy. Immigrant Latino parents must overcome significant challenges to ensure their children’s well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges and resiliencies of Latino immigrant parents. This study examines the resources Latino immigrant parents lacked and what knowledge and parenting skills they already obtained. This study specifically looked at Latino immigrant parents and their specific needs regarding parental knowledge and resources. This study used a qualitative design accomplished through the use of face to face and phone interviews. This study conducted 15 interviews with first generation Latino immigrant parents who resided in Southern California who migrated to the United States and had at least one child born in the United States. One major finding of this study was that Latino immigrant parents could benefit from school resources for their children such as tutoring, assistance with the college admission program and assistance with applying for scholarships and financial aid. Another major finding was that language was one dominant challenge and barrier that Latino immigrant parents faced that affected their ability to cope with the U.S school system. Based on the findings of this study one of the recommendations is to produce a policy that mandates the U.S school system to have translation services available for Latino immigrant families.

Sammanfattning   Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur föräldrar upplevde sitt föräldraskap fram tills barnet fyllde 18 år.   Metoden som användes var en kvalitativ ansats. Resultatet samlades in med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalsgruppen bestod av fyra föräldrar varav två mammor och två pappor i åldrarna 40-50 år, där föräldrarna varit sammanboende under barnets första 18 år. Respondenterna rekryterades via facebook i ett offentligt inlägg där de kunde anmäla sitt deltagande frivilligt. Intervjuerna spelades in med en smartphone och transkiberades sedan. Materialet analyserades ur ett fenomenologiskt perspektiv.   Resultatet visade att det bästa stödet i sitt föräldraskap fick de från sin partner, nära släkt, vänner och bekanta med barn i samma ålder. Majoriteten upplevde att de fick sämre stöd från skolan och saknade föräldrastöd från samhället. Respondenterna kände stress i form av tidsbrist samt av att konstant vara engagerad i barnets skolgång. Alla föräldrarna upplevde höga krav på sig själv och kände sig otillräckliga då de ville vara en så bra förälder som möjligt. Samtliga respondenter uppgav att de hade tappat/ eller saknat kontrollen som förälder någon gång. Gemensamt för alla föräldrarna i urvalsgruppen var att de ville uppfostra sina barn enligt en auktoritativ fostransstil.   Slutsatsen av studien visade att föräldrarna kände bristande föräldrastöd från samhället. De kände sig stressade på grund av tidsbrist samt otillräckliga som förälder med höga krav på sig själv. / Abstract   Title: Parenthood Challenges-An Interview Study   Course: Public Health C: Theory and method of application and degree. Bachelor Theses in Public Health, 15 hp.   Program: Health education program, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, University of Gävle.   Author: Regina Krantz   The purpose of the study was to investigate how parents perceived their parenthood until their child received the age of 18.    The used method was a qualitative approach and the results were collected by using semi-structured interviews. The selection group consisted of four parents, two mothers and two fathers in the age between 40-50 years, and the parents were cohabitants during the first 18 years of their child. The respondents were recruited through facebook in a public post where they could voluntarily report their participation .  The interviews were recorded with a smartphone and then transcribed. The material was analyzed with a phenomenological perspective.   The results showed that the best support in their parenthood was received from their partner, close relatives, friends and acquaintances with children in the same age. The majority experienced poorer support from the school and lacked parent support from society. Respondents felt stress in terms of lack of time and constant involvement in their child's schooling. All the parents experienced high demands on themselves and felt insufficient as they wanted to be a good parent. All respondents stated that they had sometime lost/ missed control as a parent. Common to all the parents in the selection group was that they would raise their children according to an authoritative foster style.   The conclusion of the study showed that the parents felt lack of parental support from society. They felt stressed due to lack of time and insufficient as parents with high demands on themselves.

The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)