The effects of parent-child relationship quality and racial socialization on reports of racial discrimination to parents are examined in an African American emerging adult population. The effects of parent-child relationship quality and racial socialization on reports of racial discrimination to parents are also considered. The influences of demographic characteristics on reports of racial discrimination are also assessed. The purpose of this study is to examine if there are relationships between cultural origin, gender, socio-economic status and reports of racial discrimination to parents. The study also aims to determine if parent-child relationship quality has an effect on whether or not black youth report experiences of racial discrimination to their parents. The study included 133 emerging adult participants between the ages of 18-25, and 33 didactic pairs of parents and their emerging adult children. Via electronic surveys, young adults answered questions about their relationships with their parents, while the parents answered questions about their racial socialization strategies. The results indicated that cultural origin, gender, and SES did not have a relationship with reports of racial discrimination to parents. However, analyses suggested that having a low or working SES has a relationship with reporting racial discrimination to parents. Findings also showed that racial socialization along with parent-child relationship quality had an effect on reports of discrimination. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

Social capital, or access to resources through relationships with other people, can facilitate the socioeconomic mobility of youth living in low-income communities. This study examined whether parent-child relationship quality and participation in a youth development program (YDP) were associated with gains in hope for the future, and whether those associations were mediated by parent social capital (i.e., access to resources through relationships with parents) and non-parent social capital (i.e., access to resources through relationships with people other than parents). The sample included 216 participants of one YDP program, Cool Girls, Inc., and 92 comparisons. Path analyses indicated that program participation for over one year predicted gains in non-parent social capital, and increases in both parent and non-parent social capital predicted increases in hope for the future. There was also evidence that first-year program participation was associated with gains in hope for the future. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

<p>Problem: Gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) adolescent males are disproportionately affected by negative sexual health outcomes compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Their sex education needs are not sufficiently addressed in the home and the larger ecological systems. The omission of their sex education needs at a time when they are forming a sexual identity during adolescence compels GBQ males to seek information in unsupervised settings. Evidence-based interventions aimed at ensuring positive sexual health outcomes through sex communication cannot be carried out with these youth as research on how parents and GBQ males discuss sex in the home has been largely uninvestigated. </p><p>Methods: This naturalistic qualitative study focused on the interpretive reports of 15- to 20-year-old GBQ males’ discussions about sex-related topics with their parents. From a purposive sample of 30 male adolescents who self-identified as GBQ, participants who could recall at least one conversation about sex with their parents were recruited for one-time interviews and card sorts. This strategy revealed, using Bronfenbrenners’ Bioecological Theory, their perceptions about sex communication in the context of their reciprocal relationship and the ecological systems that GBQ males and their parents navigate.</p><p>Results: Parents received poor ratings as sex educators, were generally viewed as not confident in their communication approach, and lacked knowledge about issues pertinent to GBQ sons. Nevertheless, participants viewed parents as their preferred source of sex information and recognized multiple functions of sex communication. The value placed by GBQ youth on sex communication underscores their desire to ensure an uninterrupted parent-child relationship in spite of their GBQ sexual orientation. For GBQ children, inclusive sex communication is a proxy for parental acceptance. </p><p>Results show that the timing, prompts, teaching aids, and setting of sex communication for this population are similar to what has been reported with heterosexual samples. However, most GBQ sons rarely had inclusive guidance about sex and sexuality that matched their attraction, behavior, and identities. Furthermore, the assumption of heterosexuality resulted in the early awareness of being different from their peers which led them to covertly search for sex information. The combination of assumed heterosexuality and their early reliance on themselves for applicable information is a missed parental opportunity to positively impact the health of GBQ sons. More importantly, due to the powerful reach of new media, there is a critical period of maximum receptiveness that has been identified which makes inclusive sex communication paramount in the pre-sexual stage for this population. Our findings also indicate that there are plenty of opportunities for systemic improvements to meet this population’s sexual education needs.</p> / Dissertation

A gestação e os primeiros tempos da vida de um bebê são fundamentais para o estabelecimento do vínculo com seus pais; além de garantir sua sobrevivência, fornecem matéria-prima para as tramas de seu psiquismo, formando um solo no qual se desenvolverão suas relações ao longo da vida. Concomitante a essa construção, transcorre um processo análogo com os pais, que se vão construindo gradativamente nessa condição ao se relacionar com o filho. No entanto, esses primeiros tempos podem ter um forte impacto em quem gera e cuida do bebê. Assim, a finalidade deste estudo é iluminar as vivências psíquicas da mulher no pós- -parto e verificar que recursos desenvolve para lidar com o trabalho psíquico necessário para enfrentar os lutos e construir e exercitar a parentalidade. Por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa balizada teoricamente pela psicanálise, estudaram-se cinco duplas mãe-bebê. Houve ao menos quatro encontros como cada dupla: pelo menos um na gestação e três após o parto (uma semana, um mês e dois meses). Os encontros gestacionais se deram num lugar escolhido pela participante e os no puerpério, em sua casa. Com o instrumental da psicanálise, fizeram-se entrevistas semidirigidas e observação da relação que a mãe estabelecia com o bebê e com a pesquisadora. Analisou-se cada caso em separado e se verificaram possíveis confluências entre eles. Tendo em conta a especificidade do funcionamento psíquico materno e o impacto das exigências de um filho para quem deve ajudá-lo a viver, a pesquisa revelou a importância de considerar a amplitude dos fenômenos de gestar e cuidar. Esse papel, que toda mãe deve exercer, foi vivido, ao menos num primeiro momento, como brutal e desorganizador não só pela mulher, mas por toda a família. As dificuldades de se metabolizarem essas vivências e as perdas inerentes ao processo por exemplo, o bebê ideal, a maternidade idealizada, o narcisismo, o ritmo anterior e a rotina, entre outras podem prejudicar a construção e o exercício da parentalidade e mesmo obstar a superação do baby blues, eventualmente desencadeando fenômenos depressivos (manifestos ou encobertos). Os ganhos reais decorrentes da chegada do bebê podem ser vividos a partir desse contato com as perdas e de sua elaboração. Concluiu-se também que se devem construir mecanismos de prevenção e cuidados para a família nesses primeiros tempos de vida do bebê, com a colaboração entre as várias disciplinas envolvidas e com políticas de saúde pública. Entre as questões levantadas a esse propósito, alerta-se para o risco de se negligenciarem ou, no outro extremo, patologizarem as dores inerentes à delicada construção da parentalidade / Gestation and the first times in a babys life are fundamental to the establishment of bonds with the parents; apart from guaranteeing their survival, it provides the basis for the webs of their psychism, forming the ground on which their relationships will develop throughout their life. Concomitant to this construction, the parents go through an analogue process, gradually building themselves in this condition as they relate to the child. However, these first times may have a strong impact on who generates and cares for the baby. Thus, the aim of this study is to enlighten the womans post-partum psychic experiences and to verify the resources developed to cope with the psychic work necessary to face the grieves and to build and exercise parenthood. Through a qualitative research theoretically bound by psychoanalysis, five mother-baby pairs were studied. There were a minimum of four encounters with each pair: at least one on gestation e three post-partum (one-week, one-month and two-month old). The gestational meetings took place at a location chose by the participant and the puerperium encounters, at her home. With psychoanalysis instrumental, semi-guided interviews and observation of the relationship established by the mother with the baby and with the researcher took place. Each case was separately analyzed and possible confluences between them were verified. Taking into account the specificity of the psychic maternal functioning and the impact of the demands of a child on who must help them live, the research revealed the importance of considering the amplitude of the carrying and caring phenomena. This role, that all mothers must play, was experienced, at least at first, as brutal and disorganizing not only by the woman, but by the whole family. The difficulties of metabolizing these experiences and the losses inherent to the process for instance, the ideal baby, idealized motherhood, narcissism, the previous rhythm and the routine, among others may damage the construction and the exercise of parenthood and even thwart the overcoming of the baby blues, eventually unfolding depressive phenomena (manifest or covered). The real gains resulting from the babys arrival may be lived from this contact with the losses and its elaboration. It was also concluded that prevention and care mechanisms for the family must be built in these first times of the baby\'s life, with collaboration between the various disciplines involved and with public health policies. Amongst the issues raised to this purpose, an alert is made to the risk of neglecting or, on the other end, pathologizing the pains inherent to the delicate construction of parenthood

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2015-05-14T12:58:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Paula Casagranda Mesquita .pdf: 2078488 bytes, checksum: 7879cf2cbdbd1d1dd624b0c9f8381270 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:58:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paula Casagranda Mesquita .pdf: 2078488 bytes, checksum: 7879cf2cbdbd1d1dd624b0c9f8381270 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-17 / Nenhuma / Esta dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia Clínica buscou compreender a representação materna na perspectiva de crianças cujas mães apresentam problemas de saúde mental, no caso o Transtorno Depressivo. Para tal, foram investigados aspectos maternos relativos a manifestações clínicas das mães e também à compreensão de características intrapsíquicas ligadas à qualidade das relações objetais maternas. Ainda foram analisadas as manifestações clínicas infantis, bem como a identificação da expressividade emocional, dos processos defensivos, das estratégias de resolução de conflitos, indicativos de comportamento social e conflitos familiares. Esse estudo foi pautado pela abordagem qualitativa, adotando-se o procedimento de Estudos de Casos Múltiplos. Participaram desta pesquisa cinco duplas de mãe-criança. As crianças tinham uma faixa etária entre 7 e 11 anos. Para essa investigação foram utilizadas a entrevista semiestruturada, a ficha de dados sociodemográficos, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI-O), o Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL), o MacArthur Story Stem Battery (MSSB) e o Teste do Desenho da Família. Conforma a análise qualitativa, foi possível constatar que essas crianças apresentam a representação de uma mãe disciplinadora com dificuldades na expressão do afeto. As crianças também indicaram resultados clínicos em sintomas de internalização e sofrimento emocional. Ainda, desenvolveu-se um artigo de revisão conceitual e do instrumental com o objetivo de discutir as bases conceituais do constructo da representação parental, bem como analisar as possibilidades de avaliação das representações infantis, a partir das narrativas do MacArthur Story Stem Battery. Considera-se que esta dissertação pode contribuir para a ampliação das reflexões acerca da representação materna em crianças cujas mães apresentam problemas de saúde mental, abrindo espaço de aprimoramento e discussão sobre essa questão, na busca por estratégias de prevenção e intervenção em famílias que vivenciam esta problemática. / This Master’s Degree thesis in clinical psychology aims to comprehend the maternal representation from the child’s - whose mothers have mental issues (Depressive Disorder) - perspective. Therefore, maternal aspects related to clinical manifestations of the mothers and also to the comprehension of intrapsychic characteristics associated with the quality of the maternal object relationships have been investigated. Yet, the clinical manifestations of the children as well as the identification of the emotional expression, the defensive processes, the strategies in conflict management, social behavior signs and famil y conflicts have been analyzed. This is a qualitative study - in a multiple-choice case-study procedure – in which five mothers and their children, aged between 7 and 11, participated. A semi-structured interview, Socio-demographics data analysis, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI-O), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), MacArthur Story Stem Battery (MSSB) and the family drawing test have been used for this investigation. According to the qualitative analysis, it was possible to verify that these children have a representation of a disciplinarian mother who has difficulties in expressing affection and clinical results such as internalization and emotional suffering. A conceptual and instrumental review article was developed aiming to discuss theconceptual basis of the construct of the parental representation and to analyze the possibilities to evaluate the child representations based on the narratives of MacArthur Story Stem Battery. This dissertation can contribute to enlarge the reflections on maternal representation in children whose mothers have mental health problems, providing a refinement and a discussion opportunity aiming prevention and intervention strategies in families who live this problem.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:11:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mayra Moslavacz de Camargo.pdf: 1391431 bytes, checksum: 7022e6f5d7131cb8e364193cf7001580 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-31 / Introduction: Mothers of children with Down Syndrome (D.S) report that the impact of diagnosis results in negative feelings, (FIGUEIREDO, 2008), (BASTOS & DESLANDES, 2008), (NAJAVAS & CANIATO, 2003), (BASTOS & DESLANDES, 2008), which may affect bonding between the mother and her baby (DESSEN & SILVA, 2002). These reactions may supposedly generate different maternal expectations towards these children s Language development (CUNHA, BLASCOVIASSIS e FIAMENGUI JR, 2010). When adopting the theoretical conception that the process of Language acquisition derives, essentially, from an adult inserting the child in Language, symbolically recognizing her singular subjective characteristics, how does Language development occur in these children? Aim: To investigate maternal impact of DS diagnosis and its repercussions on the children s Language development. Method: quantitative study, approved by the Ethics Committee of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. Subjects: 25 children with SD, in between 1.0 and 5.0 years of age, attending the Stimulation and Habilitation Program at APAE DE SÃO PAULO. Procedure: Semi-structured interviews with mothers and administration of the Behavioral Observation Protocol (PROC) to the children, in specific items: Communication Skills and Verbal Comprehension . The data were registered and submitted to statistical treatment. Results: 88% of studied mothers reacted negatively to diagnosis and had negative expectations regarding their children s Language development; 52,1% changed their expectations and 47,9% did not change them. In regards to the PROC administration there was a slight tendency towards better performance in children whose mothers had changed their expectations. CONCLUSION: The quantitative results revealed that in the studied population there is a strong tendency towards mothers suffering a negative impact by the DS diagnosis of their children. There is also an association between the nature of this impact, maternal expectations regarding their children s oral Language development and their performance in this aspect / Introdução: Mães de crianças com Síndrome de Down (S.D) relatam que o impacto do diagnóstico resulta em sentimentos negativos (FIGUEIREDO, 2008), (BASTOS & DESLANDES, 2008), (NAJAVAS & CANIATO, 2003), (BASTOS & DESLANDES, 2008), podendo afetar a construção do vínculo mãe-bebê (DESSEN & SILVA, 2002). Supõe-se, que tais reações possam gerar expectativas maternas diversas quanto ao desenvolvimento de linguagem dessas crianças (CUNHA, BLASCOVI-ASSIS e FIAMENGUI JR, 2010). Ao adotarmos a concepção teórica de que o processo de aquisição de linguagem deriva, essencialmente, de o adulto inserir a criança na linguagem, reconhecendo simbolicamente suas características subjetivas singulares. Como se dará o desenvolvimento de linguagem destas crianças? Objetivo: Investigar o impacto materno do diagnóstico de SD e suas repercussões sobre o desenvolvimento de linguagem das crianças. Método: pesquisa quantitativa, aprovada pelo Conselho de Ética da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo. Casuística: 25 crianças com SD, de 1,0 a 5,0 anos, atendidas no Serviço de Estimulação e Habilitação da APAE DE SÃO PAULO. Procedimento: Entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as mães e aplicação do Protocolo de Observação Comportamental (PROC) nas crianças, nos itens Habilidades Comunicativas e Compreensão Verbal . Os dados foram tabulados e submetidos a tratamento estatístico. Resultados: 88% das mães estudadas reagiram negativamente ao diagnóstico e tiveram expectativas negativas em relação ao desenvolvimento de linguagem de seus filhos, 52,1% modificaram tais expectativas e 47,9% não modificaram; quanto ao PROC, houve uma leve tendência do desempenho ser melhor nas crianças cujas mães modificaram suas expectativas. CONCLUSÂO: Os resultados quantitativos revelaram que, na população estudada, há forte tendência das mães sofrerem impacto negativo frente ao diagnóstico de SD de seus filhos. E também existe associação entre a natureza desse impacto, as expectativas maternas quanto ao desenvolvimento da linguagem oral das crianças e o desempenho das mesmas quanto a esse aspecto

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among early parenting experiences, adult mental health functioning, and adult parenting behaviors among a population of incarcerated women in San Bernardino, CA. An archival data set was utilized. Data were collected from three hundred thirty-six female participants in the San Bernardino County Jail System in 2011, aged 18 – 60 years (M = 34.02). Only those who are mothers (N=132), with children between the ages of two and 18 years old, participated in the current study. Structural equation modeling was conducted using EQS. Results showed that early experiences, specifically adverse childhood experiences, were strongly predictive of adult mental health. Surprisingly, adult mental health was not predictive of adult parenting behaviors. Adult parenting behaviors, though, were strongly predictive of the quality of parent-child relationship. Contrary to expectation, the hypothesized relationship between early experiences and adult parenting behaviors was not supported. The implication of these findings is that the central task of interventions seeking to improve adult mental health should include a focus on the impact of negative early experiences.

Relationship separation is prevalent in Western society and ongoing problems for adults and children are common, resulting in high personal and social costs. A literature review revealed that no existing measure of separation adjustment assessed multiple domains of separation adjustment, and was psychometrically sound. Additionally, a literature review revealed that few studies have investigated change in separation adjustment over time using cognitive predictors. This thesis is a program of research investigating separation adjustment in recently separated adults. Five studies were conducted with three main aims: (1) to develop a multidimensional, psychometrically reliable and valid measure of separation adjustment; (2) to assess the trajectory of separation adjustment over time; and (3) to test the hypothesis that certain cognitive variables predict the trajectory of separation adjustment. A conceptualisation of separation adjustment was developed consisting of the following five domains: Connection to the former partner, loneliness and emotional negativity (referred to as lonely negativity), parenting negotiation, parent-child relationship and general psychological adjustment. The Problems After Separation Test (PAST) was developed to reflect the first four of the five domains. In Study 1, 268 participants separated for up to 18 months, were recruited to assess the factor structure and internal consistency of the PAST. In Study 2, 209 participants were recruited to assess the stability of the factor structure, and temporal stability. In Study 3, participants from Study 2 were used to obtain convergent and divergent validity. The results of the first three studies showed that separation adjustment is a multidimensional construct, and that the PAST is a reliable and valid measure of separation adjustment. Study 4 aimed to assess the trajectory of separation adjustment over a 6 month period using the PAST and another measure of general psychological adjustment. Participants from both Study 1 and 2 were used, and a longitudinal cohort sequential design was employed. The sample consisted of three cohorts: those separated for up to six months, those separated between 6 and 12 months, and those separated between 12 and 18 months. The results showed that connection to the former partner, lonely negativity, and general psychological adjustment improved over time, but parent-child relationships and parenting negotiation were stable, and chronic parenting problems were common. Men showed greater parent-child relationship problems than women, possibly because men were most likely to be the non-resident parent. Participants separating from a de facto relationship reported only slightly more problems on lonely negativity, general psychological distress and parent-child relationships than participants separating from a marriage. Study 4 also provides information on clinical and reliable change, suggested cut-offs that might be used to define normal, moderate and severe adjustment problems, and attrition analyses. Using participants from Study 2, Study 5 aimed to assess cognitive predictors of change on connection to the former partner, lonely negativity and psychological distress. The cognitions assessed at each data collection were dysfunctional attitudes, attachment style, causal attributions, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy. Causal attributions were obtained by asking participants "For three minutes tell my about the problems you had in your relationship and what lead to the separation". The responses were transcribed, a coding manual was devised, and inter-rater reliability of coding was good. Cross-sectionally, the majority of cognitions were associated with one or more domains of separation adjustment, however longitudinally, cognitions did not predict change in separation adjustment over a 6-month period. Cognitions themselves were found to be somewhat variable, which is not surprising given that stressful life events, such as relationship separation would alter cognitions. Other variables that might be responsible for changes in separation adjustment trajectory are discussed. The results of the combined 5 studies have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, separation adjustment is a construct made up of distinct domains which have different trajectories. Connection, lonely negativity and psychological adjustment generally represent transient problems. Although the current research found that a non-trivial minority of participants continued to show distress on these domains two years post separation. On the other hand, parenting negotiation and the parent-child relationship was a chronic problem for many separated people, particularly men. Practically, the results of the current research suggests that most therapeutic attention should be directed towards improving parenting adjustment post separation. Limitations of the current research and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous tenterons de contribuer à la compréhension des processus qui régissent la relation entre le parent et l’infans, en nous intéressant plus spécifiquement au primat de l’autre en tant que constituant nécessaire de la psyché de l’infans, au sens ou l’entend la psychanalyse. Sachant que le développement de l’enfant dépend grandement de la qualité des soins psychiques et corporels qu’il reçoit, nous chercherons néanmoins à montrer comment la relation parent-enfant doit néanmoins prendre la forme d’une certaine violence. Nous baserons nos analyses sur les théories développées par Piera Aulagnier et Jean Laplanche. À partir des concepts de la violence primaire et secondaire développés par Aulagnier, ainsi que des notions d’implantation et d’intromission théorisées par Laplanche, nous tenterons de définir et déceler comment et sous quelles formes la violence décrite par les auteurs dans la relation mère/infans marque ou plutôt « signe » le développement psychique. À travers l’analyse comparative de ces théories, nous chercherons à voir les différences et les accords entre la pensée de ces deux auteurs, en vue d’en obtenir une compréhension plus riche. / In the context of this paper, we try to contribute to the understanding of the processes that govern the relationship between the parent and the infant, by focusing more specifically on the primacy of the other as a necessary component of the child’s psyche, as understood in psychoanalysis. Knowing that the child development depends greatly on the quality of the mental and physical care they receive, we try nonetheless to show how the parent-child relationship must still take the form of a « violence ». We base our analysis on the theories developed by Piera Aulagnier and Jean Laplanche. Using the concepts of primary and secondary violence developed by Aulagnier and the notions of « implantation » and « intromission » theorized by Laplanche, we try to define and identify how and in what forms the violence that takes place in the mother-infans relationship brands the psychic development of the latter. Through the comparative analysis of these theories, we will try to see the differences and agreements between the thought of these two authors in order to get a richer understanding of the phenomenon of violence.

There are hundreds of thousands of children living in foster care in the United States on any given day. Mental health professionals may be called upon to assist with evaluating the parental capacity of these children’s parents in order to inform reunification decisions. One of the key parental capacity domains to be evaluated is the relationship between parent and child (Schmidt et al., 2007). The Working Model of the Child Interview coding scheme (WMCI; Zeanah et al., 1996) is one tool for evaluating this relationship. There is a significant practice-to-research gap with this measure. To date, no peer-reviewed studies have established the WMCI coding scheme’s psychometric properties; the need for such research with this measure has been cited in the literature (Sprang, Clark, & Bass, 2005). In this dissertation, the literature was reviewed on attachment theory and internal working models of caregiving, the WMCI and other measures of similar constructs, the importance of establishing a measure’s construct and criterion-validity, and forensic standards for measures. Then, it outlined a series of research questions aimed at exploring the psychometric properties of the WMCI Coding Scheme with mothers who have maltreated. Next, the methodology was described. Based on the results of the 403 biological mothers who completed the WMCI as part of court-appointed evaluations following child maltreatment, the items of the WMCI Coding Scheme were best conceptualized using two-factors: Quality and Content. This finding was consistent with the manual. Significant differences in item-level scores existed for all three WMCI descriptive classifications and for overall factor scores. Due to the instability of the two-item Content factor, this dissertation explored the use of a WMCI Total Score (combining the two factors) and using only the WMCI Quality factor and items. No significant relationships existed between any demographic characteristics and WMCI factor scores. Weak, negative correlations with other measures provided some evidence of convergent validity. In conclusion, some potential clinical/research implications for the WMCI Coding Scheme were made and limitations and future directions were described.