The purpose of this study was to examine the adjustment of older children and adolescents adopted from Eastern Europe and the impact of their preadoption history and family’s functioning on their adjustment. This is a follow-up study of families first surveyed in 2005 with an addition of new families. One hundred and forty-five families reporting on 194 adopted children (9 to 19 years; 104 girls) participated in this study at Time 2. The project was conducted as an internet-based survey. Parents and adopted children reported on children’s emotional, behavioral and social problems (CBCL and YSR), as well as family environment (FACES-III and PEQ). Children also reported on their attachment to parents (IPPA) and their preoccupation with adoption (ADQ). Results revealed that children adopted as infants or toddlers (18 months and younger) evidenced lower problem behaviors and higher competence scores than children adopted at later ages. History of preadoption abuse and/or neglect also played a role. Children without such history scored better on all problem and competency scales than their peers with reported history of either abuse or neglect. Relationships with the adoptive parents and family environment also contributed to better adjustment in this sample of adopted children. Children from more cohesive families displayed lower levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Additionally, less conflict between adolescents and their parents was associated with lower levels of these problems. Adolescents with higher attachment levels to their parents self-reported lower internalizing and externalizing problems. Adolescents’ interest in their adoptions is a healthy thing; however, excessive preoccupation was associated with higher levels of internalizing behaviors, such as anxiety and depression. Preoccupation with adoption was not related to externalizing behaviors, as reported by children. This study replicates findings of previous studies of intercountry adoption of children from Eastern Europe. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This thesis is concerned with education in dysfunctional families and its impact on relationships. In the introductory part defines technical terms such as family, education and relationships, deal with the theories associated with these phenomena. In the practical part of the three case studies illustrate how the dysfunctional family upbringing affects the young man look at partnerships and expectations of the relationship.

A depressão materna recorrente, pelas suas peculiaridades, pode se associar a outras condições adversas crônicas, configurando-se em cenários familiares diversos com impacto diferenciado para as famílias e para a socialização de crianças em idade escolar. Objetivou-se caracterizar, por meio do método de estudos de caso, o contexto de socialização de crianças em idade escolar que convivem com a depressão materna recorrente, associada a cenários familiares diversos. Comparou-se os recursos e as adversidades pessoais das crianças, das suas famílias e da rede de apoio social, tendo como foco crianças com perfis diferenciados, quanto ao desempenho acadêmico e ao comportamento, expressos pela presença ou ausência de dificuldade de socialização. Foram avaliadas oito duplas mãe-criança, tendo as mulheres entre 25 e 45 anos e diagnóstico de depressão recorrente, e as crianças, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre sete e 12 anos, sendo quatro com dificuldade de socialização e quatro sem tal dificuldade. Definiu-se como dificuldade de socialização, para crianças em idade escolar, problemas referentes ao desempenho acadêmico e ao comportamento. Procedeu-se à aplicação, com as mães: (a) entrevista diagnóstica para confirmação do transtorno depressivo recorrente, com episódios moderados ou graves, (b) entrevista semi-estruturada sobre o impacto da depressão para a vida familiar, com roteiro relativo aos recursos e adversidades do ambiente familiar e aos processos-chave da resiliência, (c) escalas de recursos e adversidades do ambiente familiar e (d) questionário sobre capacidades e dificuldades das crianças. Com as crianças, procedeu-se à avaliação intelectual e do desempenho acadêmico. Para a análise dos dados, integrou-se as informações obtidas com mães e crianças, sob a forma de estudos de caso, que foram agrupados em cenários, delineados a partir das condições contextuais associadas à depressão materna. Identificou-se quatro cenários, a saber: (a) depressão materna como estressor principal, (b) depressão materna associada prioritariamente a condições sócio-econômicas precárias, (c) depressão materna associada prioritariamente a conflitos conjugais e (d) depressão materna associada prioritariamente à psicopatologia paterna e à discórdia familiar. Em cada cenário, foram inseridas uma criança com dificuldade de socialização e uma criança sem tal dificuldade. Os casos e os cenários foram analisados tomando por referência os processos-chave da resiliência, visando identificar semelhanças e diferenças. Evidenciou-se que a depressão materna, nos casos cujas crianças apresentaram dificuldade de socialização, teve impacto negativo para os sistemas de crenças familiares, os processos de comunicação e os padrões organizacionais das famílias, o que foi agravado pela presença de outros estressores crônicos. Os processos de resiliência, que podem ter minimizado o impacto das adversidades, estiveram relacionados à adesão das mães ao tratamento, à flexibilidade das rotinas, à participação afetiva dos pais no cotidiano familiar, à sensibilidade materna quanto às necessidades dos filhos e à presença e utilização de uma rede de apoio efetiva. Concluiu-se que os estressores que se associaram à depressão materna, nos cenários diversos, configuraram uma variedade de condições moderadoras para a competência das crianças em tarefas próprias do período escolar. Considera-se que ao se identificar e analisar tais condições pode-se contribuir para a proposição de práticas diferenciadas de saúde mental. / In view of its peculiarities, recurrent maternal depression is associated with other chronic adverse conditions, resulting in diverse family scenarios that have a different impact on families and on the socialization of schoolchildren. The objective of this study was to characterize by means of case studies the socialization context of schoolchildren whose mothers have recurrent depression associated with diverse family scenarios. The personal resources and adversities of children, their families and social support network were compared, with emphasis on children presenting different profiles in terms of school performance and behavior expressed as the presence or absence of socialization difficulties. Eight mother-child pairs were studied, including women aged 25 to 45 years with a diagnosis of recurrent depression and children of both genders ranging in age from seven to 12 years, four with difficulties in socialization and four without such difficulty. Difficulties in socialization were defined in the case of schoolchildren who presented problems related to school performance and behavioral problems. The following instruments were applied to the mothers: (a) a diagnostic interview for the confirmation of recurrent depressive disorder characterized by moderate or severe episodes; (b) a semi-structured interview on the impact of depression on family life, with a script regarding resources and adversities in the family environment and key processes of resilience; (c) scales evaluating resources and adversities in the family environment, and (d) a questionnaire regarding the childs skills and abilities. The children were evaluated regarding their intellectual ability and school performance. For analysis of the results, the data obtained for the mothers and children were combined in case studies which were divided into scenarios according to the contextual conditions associated with maternal depression. The following four scenarios were identified: (a) maternal depression as the main stressor; (b) maternal depression mainly associated with precarious socioeconomic conditions; (c) maternal depression mainly associated with marital conflicts, and (d) maternal depression mainly associated with paternal psychopathology and family disharmony. One child with socialization difficulties and one child without such difficulty were included in each scenario. The cases and scenarios were analyzed using key processes of resilience as a reference in order to identify similarities and differences. In cases in which the children presented socialization difficulties, maternal depression had a negative impact on family belief systems, communication processes and family organizational patterns, which was aggravated by the presence of other chronic stressors. The processes of resilience, which may have minimized the impact of adversities, were related to maternal compliance with treatment, flexible routines, affective participation of the parents in daily family life, maternal sensitivity regarding the needs of her children, and the presence and use of an effective support network. In conclusion, the stressors associated with maternal depression in the different scenarios resulted in a variety of conditions diminishing the competence of children in school tasks. The identification and analysis of these conditions may contribute to the proposal of differentiated mental health strategies.

A depressão materna recorrente, pelas suas peculiaridades, pode se associar a outras condições adversas crônicas, configurando-se em cenários familiares diversos com impacto diferenciado para as famílias e para a socialização de crianças em idade escolar. Objetivou-se caracterizar, por meio do método de estudos de caso, o contexto de socialização de crianças em idade escolar que convivem com a depressão materna recorrente, associada a cenários familiares diversos. Comparou-se os recursos e as adversidades pessoais das crianças, das suas famílias e da rede de apoio social, tendo como foco crianças com perfis diferenciados, quanto ao desempenho acadêmico e ao comportamento, expressos pela presença ou ausência de dificuldade de socialização. Foram avaliadas oito duplas mãe-criança, tendo as mulheres entre 25 e 45 anos e diagnóstico de depressão recorrente, e as crianças, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre sete e 12 anos, sendo quatro com dificuldade de socialização e quatro sem tal dificuldade. Definiu-se como dificuldade de socialização, para crianças em idade escolar, problemas referentes ao desempenho acadêmico e ao comportamento. Procedeu-se à aplicação, com as mães: (a) entrevista diagnóstica para confirmação do transtorno depressivo recorrente, com episódios moderados ou graves, (b) entrevista semi-estruturada sobre o impacto da depressão para a vida familiar, com roteiro relativo aos recursos e adversidades do ambiente familiar e aos processos-chave da resiliência, (c) escalas de recursos e adversidades do ambiente familiar e (d) questionário sobre capacidades e dificuldades das crianças. Com as crianças, procedeu-se à avaliação intelectual e do desempenho acadêmico. Para a análise dos dados, integrou-se as informações obtidas com mães e crianças, sob a forma de estudos de caso, que foram agrupados em cenários, delineados a partir das condições contextuais associadas à depressão materna. Identificou-se quatro cenários, a saber: (a) depressão materna como estressor principal, (b) depressão materna associada prioritariamente a condições sócio-econômicas precárias, (c) depressão materna associada prioritariamente a conflitos conjugais e (d) depressão materna associada prioritariamente à psicopatologia paterna e à discórdia familiar. Em cada cenário, foram inseridas uma criança com dificuldade de socialização e uma criança sem tal dificuldade. Os casos e os cenários foram analisados tomando por referência os processos-chave da resiliência, visando identificar semelhanças e diferenças. Evidenciou-se que a depressão materna, nos casos cujas crianças apresentaram dificuldade de socialização, teve impacto negativo para os sistemas de crenças familiares, os processos de comunicação e os padrões organizacionais das famílias, o que foi agravado pela presença de outros estressores crônicos. Os processos de resiliência, que podem ter minimizado o impacto das adversidades, estiveram relacionados à adesão das mães ao tratamento, à flexibilidade das rotinas, à participação afetiva dos pais no cotidiano familiar, à sensibilidade materna quanto às necessidades dos filhos e à presença e utilização de uma rede de apoio efetiva. Concluiu-se que os estressores que se associaram à depressão materna, nos cenários diversos, configuraram uma variedade de condições moderadoras para a competência das crianças em tarefas próprias do período escolar. Considera-se que ao se identificar e analisar tais condições pode-se contribuir para a proposição de práticas diferenciadas de saúde mental. / In view of its peculiarities, recurrent maternal depression is associated with other chronic adverse conditions, resulting in diverse family scenarios that have a different impact on families and on the socialization of schoolchildren. The objective of this study was to characterize by means of case studies the socialization context of schoolchildren whose mothers have recurrent depression associated with diverse family scenarios. The personal resources and adversities of children, their families and social support network were compared, with emphasis on children presenting different profiles in terms of school performance and behavior expressed as the presence or absence of socialization difficulties. Eight mother-child pairs were studied, including women aged 25 to 45 years with a diagnosis of recurrent depression and children of both genders ranging in age from seven to 12 years, four with difficulties in socialization and four without such difficulty. Difficulties in socialization were defined in the case of schoolchildren who presented problems related to school performance and behavioral problems. The following instruments were applied to the mothers: (a) a diagnostic interview for the confirmation of recurrent depressive disorder characterized by moderate or severe episodes; (b) a semi-structured interview on the impact of depression on family life, with a script regarding resources and adversities in the family environment and key processes of resilience; (c) scales evaluating resources and adversities in the family environment, and (d) a questionnaire regarding the childs skills and abilities. The children were evaluated regarding their intellectual ability and school performance. For analysis of the results, the data obtained for the mothers and children were combined in case studies which were divided into scenarios according to the contextual conditions associated with maternal depression. The following four scenarios were identified: (a) maternal depression as the main stressor; (b) maternal depression mainly associated with precarious socioeconomic conditions; (c) maternal depression mainly associated with marital conflicts, and (d) maternal depression mainly associated with paternal psychopathology and family disharmony. One child with socialization difficulties and one child without such difficulty were included in each scenario. The cases and scenarios were analyzed using key processes of resilience as a reference in order to identify similarities and differences. In cases in which the children presented socialization difficulties, maternal depression had a negative impact on family belief systems, communication processes and family organizational patterns, which was aggravated by the presence of other chronic stressors. The processes of resilience, which may have minimized the impact of adversities, were related to maternal compliance with treatment, flexible routines, affective participation of the parents in daily family life, maternal sensitivity regarding the needs of her children, and the presence and use of an effective support network. In conclusion, the stressors associated with maternal depression in the different scenarios resulted in a variety of conditions diminishing the competence of children in school tasks. The identification and analysis of these conditions may contribute to the proposal of differentiated mental health strategies.

In this study the goal was to determine if there was a shift in the extent to which children’s attitudes toward deception change as they age. Participants (N=278) enrolled in grades 3-12 completed a survey assessing their lie acceptability and other factors as potential variables associated with a prodeception attitude. Results indicated that greater lie acceptability was correlated with male children who had self-reported acts of bad behavior. Results also suggest that nontraditional family environments may increase one’s perception of the acceptability of lying. These findings provide potential predictors of the acceptability of lying in children and adolescents that offer insight into the development of antisocial attitudes, which may have practical implications regarding the timing of crucial interventions as to prevent the continuance and escalation of such behaviors in the future.

The main objectives of this multimethod exploratory study were to compare parent and college student perceptions of communication patterns, financial/emotional support, family environment, and achieved adulthood during the transition to adulthood while in college. First, focus groups including eight parent figures and 16 students were conducted to provide feedback on important topics as well as on survey instruments. Survey responses from 152 parent figures and their college-age children were then used for the exploratory survey study. Parents reported providing more financial support, more positive family interactions, and less negative family interactions compared to their college-age children. The majority of students as well as parents did not view themselves and their children as having fully completed the transition to adulthood as indicated by the majority using the “in-between” response when asked if their child (or student himself or herself) had reached adulthood.

Despite research that indicates that internationally adopted children are at greater risk for poor developmental outcomes than their non-adopted peers (Bimmel, Juffer, IJzendoorn, Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2003; Juffer, & van IJzendoorn, 2005), girls adopted from China into Western culture tend to thrive, exhibiting high self-esteem, low behavior problems (i.e., both externalizing and internalizing), and excelling academically (Rojewski, Shapiro, & Shapiro, 2000; Tan & Jordan-Arthur, 2012). However, few studies have examined whether this trend continues into adolescence, as well as to what factors lead to these positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of mental health outcomes among internationally adopted adolescent Chinese girls, particularly factors that predicted levels of internalizing pathology (e.g., depression and anxiety) in adolescence. To fulfill this purpose, a secondary data analysis (N = 167) of information collected as part of a longitudinal study of U.S. international adoptions of Chinese children (2005-present) was completed using a hierarchical regression approach. Overall, these variables (e.g., age at adoption, pre-adoption adversity, family stress, parenting style, adolescent self-esteem, and academic competence) predicted 35% of the variance in internalizing behavior outcomes. The positive adjustment that has been seen in childhood continued to adolescence in this study, with 88% of the adolescent girls reporting Total Internalizing T-scores of less than 60 (i.e., in the normal range) on the Youth Self-Report form on the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001b). Authoritative parenting style and self-esteem showed the strongest relations to internalizing behaviors. Implications of the study for practice and discussion of future research based on these findings are explored.

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate predictive value of gender, attachment dimensions, and family environment in determining students&amp / #8217 / loneliness level. For this purpose, firstly, the effect of gender, attachment types and family environment on loneliness level was investigated. The participants of the study were 473 (281 females and 192 males) students from different departments of Ankara University. Participants were administered UCLA Loneliness Scale, Family Environment Assessment Scale, and Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire. Data analysis were carried out by three-way ANOVA (2 gender X 2 Family Environment X 4 Attachment Type) to investigate the effect of gender, attachment types and family environment on loneliness level and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis to investigate predictive value of gender, attachment dimensions, and family environment in determining students&amp / #8217 / loneliness level. The results of three-way ANOVA yielded that while main effects were significant, interaction effects were not significant. Post-hoc analysis revealed that male students were lonelier than females / Families with low coherence scores were lonelier than families with high coherence scores and individuals with fearful pattern of attachment were lonelier than individuals with secure, dismissing, and preoccupied patterns of attachment. Stepwise multiple regression analysis also showed that, attachment types, family environment and gender together explained the 19 % of variance in loneliness.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the roles of basic personality traits, schema coping responses, and toxic childhood experiences on antisocial, borderline, and psychopathic characteristics. Considering the gap in the literature regarding the community samples, the present study also included a non-criminal, besides the criminal sample, in order to observe the differences among the associated variables related to the characteristics of suggested personality disorders. In this way, it was aimed to obtain a general idea about the protective factors from offending. Consequently, the non-criminal sample consisted of 146 participants (78 females and 68 males) and the criminal sample included 131 participants (42 females and 89 males. Data was collected through a demographic form and a package of inventories. In general, the results yielded that a dysfunctional family environment, whether traumatic or non-traumatic seems to play a crucial role in the development of characteristics of personality disorders. Moreover, basic personality traits and coping responses are also observed to affect the behavioral presentation of these characteristics. The findings of the present study is generally in line with the literature suggesting that, dimensional approach to personality disorders, by revealing the sub-clinical features and providing a deeper focus to the underlying dynamics in each personality disorder, have several implications in both clinical and forensic area. The results, as well as their implications and limitations, are discussed with reference to the recent literature. Finally, suggestions for further research are mentioned.

Although there have been many studies investigating international adoptees' outcomes in relation to their pre-adoption experiences, there is a paucity of research investigating the influence of post-adoption experiences. Guided by the proximity of the family to the child in Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory of human development, this study addressed a gap in the literature by investigating the interrelationships among family-related variables (e.g., stress in family environment, parenting behavior) and 648 internationally adopted Chinese girls' behavior problems. Moderate, positive relationships were found between family stress and both internalizing (r = .43, p < .001) and externalizing (r = .59, p < .001) behavior problems. Modest, inverse relationships were found between authoritative parenting and both internalizing (r = -.08, p < .01) and externalizing (r = -.15, p < .001) behavior problems. Additionally, modest to moderate, positive relationships were found between authoritarian and permissive parenting and internalizing (r = .18, p < .001; r = .19, p < .001, respectively) and externalizing (r = .39, p < .001; r = .34, p < .001, respectively) behavior problems. Finally, authoritarian and permissive parenting behaviors were partial mediators between family stress and both internalizing (R2 = .08, p < .001; R2 = .08, p < .001, respectively) and externalizing (R2 = .20, p < .001; R2 = .16, p < .001, respectively) behavior problems while authoritative parenting was not a mediator to either type of behavior problem. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.