When a child is diagnosed with a chronic life threatening illness there is a significant impact on the entire family. Siblings are at risk for psychological adaptation problems because of their unique relationship with the ill child and the effect of that illness on family functioning. Few studies have been reported which examine the impact of chronic life-threatening illnesses in children on healthy siblings.The purpose of this study was to investigate the predisposing risk and protective factors that affect the psychological adaptation of healthy siblings of a child with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). A descriptive study was conducted using a convenience sample from two CF centers. The relationship between several variables was explored using non- parametric correlations.In this sample, significant negative correlations were found between parental stress and their reported financial well being and emotional or behavioral problems in the well siblings prior to the diagnosis of CF was made in the sick sibling and perceived parental support.For adolescent siblings, The Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI) was correlated to reported stress in their parents and negatively correlated to the parental perceived support. The Emotional Symptoms Index (ESI) was correlated to the BSI. A significant negative correlation was also noted between age and Internalizing Behaviors. These relationships were not significant for the child siblings in this sample.There were no significant relationships among gender, maternal education, and caretaker for the well sibling when the child with CF was hospitalized and their Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors. The health care teams in these clinics seldom discussed CF with the well sibling. However, for the children in this study, there was a significant negative correlation with this discussion and their Externalizing Behaviors.Findings from this study suggest that the family environment, especially parental stress and perceived social support, may affect the adaptation of the well sibling. Adolescent siblings were more at risk for this environmental influence than their younger counterparts.

No description available.

Ungdomar lever inom en social kontext vilken direkt samt indirekt påverkar deras ställningstaganden gentemot cannabis. För att motverka att bruket ska öka i framtiden bör man se över vilka risk- samt skyddsfaktorer som påverkar deras attityder samt bruk av drogen. Idag råder en oro över att legaliseringsdebatten runt om i världen kan resultera i en negativ följd i form av allt mer liberala attityder bland den yngre generationen. Syftet med denna studie är därav att undersöka relationen mellan ungdomars attityder, eventuella bruk och de risk- samt skyddsfaktorer vilka finns i deras sociala omvärld. Resultatet från föreliggande studie visar att ungdomarna i den berörda kommunen har en restriktiv inställning gentemot cannabis dock visas en liberalare attityd bland de som testat substansen. Tillgången bör däremot ses som ett existerande problem då en stor del av respondenterna idag kan få tag på cannabis och problematiken kan ligga i den höga frekvensen av vänner som testat. Respondenternas alkohol- och tobaksbruk bör även ses som en betydande riskfaktor.

There is limited research into the impact of non-specific factors on the outcome of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). This current study aimed to investigate the relationship between client and therapist attachment styles and client interpersonal problems to the therapeutic relationship and symptom reduction over eight sessions of CBT. Seventeen therapist-client dyads were asked to complete measures of interpersonal problems, attachment style and report on the therapeutic relationship. Results showed that in this small sample there was a relationship between core alliance, as rated by clients, to reduction in symptoms of depression over the course of eight sessions of CBT (TB=0.423, p<0.05) but not anxiety. Client level of confidence in relationships was negatively correlated with the reduction in anxiety symptoms over time (TB =-.320; p<0.05). The level of difference in scores on a measure of ‘confidence in relationships’ between therapists and clients was found to be positively correlated to the level of reduction in anxiety scores over eight sessions (TB = .0428; p<0.05) and negatively correlated to the therapist rated core alliance (TB=-.428, p<0.05). These results indicate that the role of attachment styles in CBT warrants further investigation and both clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. Key words: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, therapeutic relationship, treatment outcomes, attachment, interpersonal problems Service Improvement Project Title: What is helpful about attending an Alzheimer’s café: does it do what it says on the tin? Abstract: Alzheimer’s Cafes were developed in 1997 in the Netherlands and have since been set up all over the world. They are a post-diagnostic support group for people with dementia and their families with an aim to reduce stigma around having dementia. As yet there have been very few evaluations of these cafes. This project aimed to find out what family carers of people with dementia found helpful about attending one of two Alzheimer’s cafes. Seven carers took part in a focus group and two were interviewed individually about what they found helpful about attending an Alzheimer’s Café and what they thought could be improved on in the future. Results showed that people found the opportunities to socialise with others ‘in the same boat’ the most helpful aspect as well as meeting professionals outside of the clinic. The results of this study will enable the development of a questionnaire that can be used to continue to evaluate the café and the feedback provided used to guide future service development. Key words: Alzheimer’s Café, social support, dementia, service evaluation Critical Literature Review Title: Risk and protective factors for psychological adjustment of children born with a cleft lip and/or palate and their families: A review of the literature Abstract: Research suggests that around 30-40% of children born with a cleft lip and /or palate will develop psychological difficulties. Services supporting these individuals need to be able to identify those that might be vulnerable as early as possible so that preventative support can be offered. This review summarises findings from research studies looking at within-group differences in samples of children with a cleft and their families. Risk factors found included being male, experiencing bullying or having additional difficulties. Protective factors included satisfaction with appearance and social support. The methodological strengths and weaknesses of these studies are discussed along with implications of the findings for theory and clinical practice.

<p>Allianser och interventioner</p><p>En studie av hur familjer upplevt en öppenvårdsinsats</p><p>och hur behandlingseffekt kvarstår</p><p>Sammanfattning</p><p>I Sverige utreds årligen uppskattningsvis 100 000 barn av socialtjänstens individ- och famil-jeomsorg och antalet strukturerade öppenvårdprogram har i det närmaste fördubblats sedan 1999. Många av dessa insatser har kommit att ersätta den traditionella institutionsvården. I och med ökningen av att antalet unga som numera hamnar i strukturerade öppenvårdsprogram behövs mer kunskap om såväl innehåll som resultat. Denna studies syfte är att undersöka och belysa en öppenvårdsverksamhets, i en mellansvensk kommun, innehåll d.v.s. vilka föränd-ringar som familjerna kan beskriva har skett samt om positiva förändringar kvarstår efter be-handling. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär och resultaten bygger på intervjuer med familjer som deltagit i den aktuella behandlingen. Studiens tolkningsram belyser förutsättningar vilka ligger till grund för framgångsrik behandling. Viktiga inslag såsom terapeutisk allians och generella behandlingsprinciper vilka tar upp interventioner riktade mot avgörande risk- och skyddsfaktorer belyses. Resultatet visar att öppenvårdsverksamhetens behandlingsfaktorer intensitet och tillgänglighet har varit verksamma för att uppnå förändringar. Flertalet positiva förändringar har bestått efter behandlingens avslut. Resultatet antyder på att verksamheten skulle vinna på att bättre informera om behandlingens innehåll innan familjer tar ställning till att delta i behandling eller ej. Resultatet visar att arbetsplaner och målbeskrivningar skulle kunna göras tydligare för att bättre nå behandlingsresultat. Studiens resultat indikerar också betydelsen av att interventioner inom skolsituationen har betydelse för positiva förändringar. Ytterligare visar resultatet att flertalet familjer beskriver en mycket god terapeutisk allians och dess betydelse för uppnådd förändring.</p> / <p>Alliance and interventions</p><p>A study of how families have experienced open care treatment and the lasting effects of treatment.</p><p>Abstract</p><p>In Sweden approximately 100,000 cases involving children are investigated annually by the social services office for individual and family services. The number of registered cases in the open care service programs has almost doubled since 1999, replacing traditional institutional care. As a result of the increase in the number of children, more knowledge is needed con-cerning the underlying issues and results from the open care service program. The purpose of this study is to investigate and clarify the open care service program of a medium-sized Swe-dish county, to explain changes that have take place as described by the families themselves and which positive changes remain after treatment. The study’s analysis sheds light on which premises should exist for positive treatment. Important elements such as therapeutic care al-liance and general treatment programs and which interventions directed towards conclusive risk and protective factors are addressed. Results show that factors such as intensity and avail-ability of open care service programs treatment are instrumental in reaching changes and that the majority of changes have persisted after concluded treatment. Results suggest that open care service programs could benefit by better informing about treatment’s before families decide on participating in treatment or not. Also results indicate that action plans and descrip-tion of objectives could be made more explicit to better attain therapeutic results. Results also show that the majority of families describe a favorable therapeutic alliance and their signific-ance to viable change. Results also corroborate the importance of intervention in the school environment on attaining positive effects.</p>

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2007.

The aim of this study was to explore school learners’ perceptions of the factors that influence methamphetamine use in Manenberg. To meet this aim, three objectives were proposed namely, to explore school learners’ knowledge and understandings of methamphetamine use / to explore school learners’ perceptions of methamphetamine and its uses and / to explore school learners’ perceptions of the factors that influence methamphetamine use. Methamphetamine use amongst adolescents has become an increasing concern internationally and globally, with Cape Town’s level of methamphetamine users being substantially higher compared to other parts of South Africa. The study was thus important as it firstly, permitted the understanding of adolescents’ knowledge of methamphetamine and its uses in a lower socioeconomic status community, secondly, permitted the understanding of adolescents perceptions of the contributing factors of meth use, and thirdly, by knowing and understanding their viewpoints, key focus areas were recommended for intervention and prevention programs in an attempt to decrease the high drug rate in South Africa.

Allianser och interventioner En studie av hur familjer upplevt en öppenvårdsinsats och hur behandlingseffekt kvarstår Sammanfattning I Sverige utreds årligen uppskattningsvis 100 000 barn av socialtjänstens individ- och famil-jeomsorg och antalet strukturerade öppenvårdprogram har i det närmaste fördubblats sedan 1999. Många av dessa insatser har kommit att ersätta den traditionella institutionsvården. I och med ökningen av att antalet unga som numera hamnar i strukturerade öppenvårdsprogram behövs mer kunskap om såväl innehåll som resultat. Denna studies syfte är att undersöka och belysa en öppenvårdsverksamhets, i en mellansvensk kommun, innehåll d.v.s. vilka föränd-ringar som familjerna kan beskriva har skett samt om positiva förändringar kvarstår efter be-handling. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär och resultaten bygger på intervjuer med familjer som deltagit i den aktuella behandlingen. Studiens tolkningsram belyser förutsättningar vilka ligger till grund för framgångsrik behandling. Viktiga inslag såsom terapeutisk allians och generella behandlingsprinciper vilka tar upp interventioner riktade mot avgörande risk- och skyddsfaktorer belyses. Resultatet visar att öppenvårdsverksamhetens behandlingsfaktorer intensitet och tillgänglighet har varit verksamma för att uppnå förändringar. Flertalet positiva förändringar har bestått efter behandlingens avslut. Resultatet antyder på att verksamheten skulle vinna på att bättre informera om behandlingens innehåll innan familjer tar ställning till att delta i behandling eller ej. Resultatet visar att arbetsplaner och målbeskrivningar skulle kunna göras tydligare för att bättre nå behandlingsresultat. Studiens resultat indikerar också betydelsen av att interventioner inom skolsituationen har betydelse för positiva förändringar. Ytterligare visar resultatet att flertalet familjer beskriver en mycket god terapeutisk allians och dess betydelse för uppnådd förändring. / Alliance and interventions A study of how families have experienced open care treatment and the lasting effects of treatment. Abstract In Sweden approximately 100,000 cases involving children are investigated annually by the social services office for individual and family services. The number of registered cases in the open care service programs has almost doubled since 1999, replacing traditional institutional care. As a result of the increase in the number of children, more knowledge is needed con-cerning the underlying issues and results from the open care service program. The purpose of this study is to investigate and clarify the open care service program of a medium-sized Swe-dish county, to explain changes that have take place as described by the families themselves and which positive changes remain after treatment. The study’s analysis sheds light on which premises should exist for positive treatment. Important elements such as therapeutic care al-liance and general treatment programs and which interventions directed towards conclusive risk and protective factors are addressed. Results show that factors such as intensity and avail-ability of open care service programs treatment are instrumental in reaching changes and that the majority of changes have persisted after concluded treatment. Results suggest that open care service programs could benefit by better informing about treatment’s before families decide on participating in treatment or not. Also results indicate that action plans and descrip-tion of objectives could be made more explicit to better attain therapeutic results. Results also show that the majority of families describe a favorable therapeutic alliance and their signific-ance to viable change. Results also corroborate the importance of intervention in the school environment on attaining positive effects.

The purpose of the study is to see how Fundación Senda De Libertad works in a preventive manner with youths who have social difficulties in Dario, Nicaragua. This study has utilised qualitative method, in order to gain adequate and sufficient information. The analysis of data has been gathered through an ethnographic perspective were observations and qualitative interviews have been used. This study shows how youths are affected with different social problems because of the number of risk factors that surround their environment. The organisation’s preventive works is done by going out and teach in schools, society and churches about self-esteem, sex and relationships, drug abuse and so forth. Conclusions show that many youths are unable to affect their own future and will therefore spend their time committing criminal actions, doing drugs and so forth. Fundación Senda De Libertad therefore works to support in order for them to become active participants in society. This will also help them make changes in the future of the general society.

Bullying is a complex behavior that can cause academic and social problems for students and can contribute to a negative school climate. Students who feel isolated or do not feel connected to their school may experience similar risks to those who are victimized by peers. Recent school violence incidents have led to an increase in bullying behavior research. The importance of the school climate is also emerging in educational discourse prompting a growth of research in school connectedness and positive relationships. However, research on the impact that relationships and school connectedness may have on bullying victimization at school is limited. This is a secondary analysis of a national data set from the 2005 administration of the National Crime Victimization Survey School Crime Supplement. The study focused on the relationship between school connectedness and bullying victimization and whether gender, race, grade level, and academic achievement moderate the relationship. The role of relationships in bullying victimization was considered. Weighted regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between bullying behaviors and school connectedness and to identify the combination of factors that may influence the relationship. Components of school connectedness identified through factor analysis were statistically significant predictors of occurrence and frequency of bullying victimization, but accounted for a very small amount of variance in the outcome. Adding demographic variables of race, gender, grade level, and academic achievement produced a slight increase in the proportion of variance accounted for. Race did not have a statistically significant impact on occurrence of bullying victimization; neither race nor gender was statistically significant in variance of frequency of bullying victimization. Peer relationships proved to be statistically significant in bullying victimization frequency but neither adult-student nor peer relationships were statistically related to bullying victimization occurrence. Overall, school connectedness predicted a very small proportion of variance in occurrence and frequency of bullying victimization, suggesting that bullying prevention efforts should include strategies beyond those to improve a student's sense of connectedness to school. A comprehensive approach is needed to address bullying in schools effectively.