This thesis used FIT Science (Fletcher & Stead, 2000) as a framework to study different aspects of family functioning. FIT variables measure the cognitive and behavioural characteristics of a person that mediate interpretations of events and attempts at coping with constraints. The research sought to examine whether scores on FIT variables explain differences in perceptions of family functioning and outcomes such as individual stress levels. In the first questionnaire study, members of the general population (N=235) completed The FIT Profiler (Fletcher, 1999), which measures scores on FIT variables, and the Family Assessment Device (Epstein, Baldwin & Bishop, 1983), which measures family functioning across six dimensions. The study found that higher scores on FIT variables were associated with more positive experiences of the family. A similar pattern of results was observed in study two involving participants (N=52) with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASCs). The results of the studies suggested that FIT Science is a useful framework to study family functioning in diverse contexts. Study three compared the stress and perceptions of family functioning of mothers of typically developing children (n=55), and children with ASCs (n=33). Mothers scoring high on FIT variables had better perceptions of family functioning, were less anxious and depressed, and also coped better with the demands of parenting. Studies four and five explored whether FIT Science also offers a useful framework for promoting changes in family functioning and individual well being. Study four reported a randomized control trial of a FIT-­‐Do Something Different (FIT-­‐DSD) intervention, which was administered to mothers (n=13) of children with ASCs. The FIT-­‐DSD intervention aimed at expanding behavioural flexibility and disrupting constraining habits. Study five reported a qualitative follow-­‐up of the intervention group in study four. 17 The results of studies four and five suggested that the FIT-­‐DSD intervention was a useful and novel tool to help mothers across a number of domains of family life. Relative to a wait-­‐list control group (n=11), the intervention group reported moderate to large improvements in their levels of parenting stress, depression, relationship satisfaction and scores on the cognitive FIT variable Self-­‐responsibility. Qualitative investigation also suggested that the intervention helped mothers develop feelings of control, self-­‐esteem and self-­‐efficacy. The thesis suggests that FIT Science offers a fruitful framework with which to study and intervene with family functioning. Further research seeking to explore the use of FIT Science as a vehicle for family change is recommended. This may help promote better physical and psychological health for individuals struggling with their environmental and self-­‐generated constraints.

No / A set of instruments with different response formats is usually used to assess parenting practices in clinical settings and in research studies. These complex protocols can be problematic for parents with low-literacy levels. The Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS) is a brief, easy to read instrument that has been developed to address these concerns. The English version of this instrument suggested that it has good internal consistency (range from .70 to .96), as well as satisfactory construct and predictive validity. The aim of the present study was to explore the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the PAFAS. A sample of 174 Spanish-speaking parents (85 % mothers; M = 37 years old; SD = 9.1) from Panama in Central America completed the instrument alongside the Parenting Scale and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Psychometric evaluations revealed that the measure had satisfactory construct and concurrent validity as well as good internal consistency (values >.60 for all subscales) and test–retest reliability (ICC >.60 for all subscales). The PAFAS shows promise as a brief outcome measure to assess parenting practices and family functioning with Spanish-speaking parents. Potential uses of the measure and implications for further validation with diverse samples are discussed.

Vaikai sudaro penktadalį visų Lietuvos gyventojų. Lietuvai atgavus nepriklausomybę teko susidurti su daugybe problemų: tai plintanti narkomanija, alkoholizmas, pornografija, bedarbystė ir kt. Dėl to daugėja Lietuvoje be priežiūros paliktų vaikų, kuriems reikalinga globa. Bešeimiai vaikai globojami šeimose, šeimynose, įvairiose valstybinėse globos įstaigose. Palankiausia vaikui – būti globojamam darnioje šeimoje. Tik šeimoje gali vykti pilnavertė vaiko socializacija, kai žmogus, gyvendamas tarp žmonių, natūraliai perima jų patirtį, elgesį, papročius. Globojant vaikus šeimoje kyla daug problemų. Kaip, kokiais būdais auklėti vaikus šeimoje, iš kur pasisemti patirties, kad būtų pasiektas teigiamas galutinis rezultatas, ir yra šio darbo problema. Tyrimo objektas – vaikų auklėjimo ypatumai ir būklė vaikus globojančioje šeimoje. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti auklėjimo ypatumus bei auklėjimo būklę šeimose, savanoriškai globojančiose vaikus. Šio darbo uždaviniai: apžvelgti vaikų globos raidą bei dabartinę jos padėtį Lietuvoje; ištirti vaikų auklėjimo būklę bei jų auklėjimo ypatumus vaikus globojančioje šeimoje; išsiaiškinti teikiamą šeimoms pagalbos mastą ir jos poreikį; nustatyti šeimos narių tarpusavio santykius; nustatyti socialinių darbuotojų bei pedagogų požiūrį į šias šeimas. Šiame darbe panaudoti kokybiniai ir kiekybiniai tyrimai. Interviu metodu buvo apklaustos keturios šeimos, globojančios vaikus. Taip pat anketų pagalba buvo apklausta 30 specialistų – socialinių pedagogų ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / About 20% of all inhabitans in Lithuania are children. After getting back the independence Lithuania faced with many difficulties: pervasive drug addiction, alcoholism, pornography, unemployment and etc. Thats why the number of unattended children which need our care is increasing nowdays. Children which are left by their parents are usually in care of other families and different state and private Foster Homes. The best thing is then the child is fostered in harmonious family. Only in a family the child can have the total socialization, when a person is in communication with other family member he naturally obserbs their experience, behaviour, tradicions and language. People who have fosterchildren usually have a lot of difficulties. The main problem of the reseach work is in what ways to bring up children, how to get experience on purpose to achieve the final positive rezult. It means total socialization of the child in society. The main subject of the reseach work ie the peculiarities and state of parenting in families which have fosterchildren. The aim of the reseach work is to show the peculiarities and state of parenting in families which voluntarily have fosterchildren. The pieces of the work are: to review the development of fosterage and its recent state in Lithuania, to survey the situatio and peculiarities of fosterchildren bringing up in families, to see how such families are supported to know what support they need most of all, what support they lack to find... [to full text]