The introduction of parental behaviour in naive animals has been studied in several species. Male and female adult Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus were singly exposed to protected pups (PP exposures). Exposures lasted for ten minutes, and were carried out each day. Behaviour patterns shown by the adults were recorded, and their frequencies measured. After several PP exposures (3-18), adults were exposed to unprotected pups (UP exposures) in order to detect whether or not the normal aggressive response to pups was still present, or had been overcome and replaced by parental responsiveness. Preliminary experiments showed the aggressive response could be overcome in as little as five ten minute exposures. A variety of parental behaviour patterns were shown by some individuals, suggesting that stages may exist in the process under investigation. Following on from preliminary experiments, the effect of increasing the number of both PP and UP exposures was investigated. Increasing PP and UP exposures increased the percentage of animals responding non-aggressively towards pups. However no increase was seen in the range of parental responses shown. Again, results suggested the development of the parental response was a non-unitary process occurring in stages: first the overcoming of fear of pups or aggression towards pups; second, investigation of the pup; third, the development of parental responsiveness. The role of olfactory and auditory cues from the pups were next investigated. If a pup bore the scent gland sebum of the experimental adult, aggression was overcome more quickly than before. Also, more parental behaviour patterns were shown. If the pup bore the experimental adult's urine, aggression was overcome more quickly than in preliminary experiments, but not as quickly as when the pups bore the adult's sebum. No correlation was found between the rate of ultrasonic calling and the rate of the induction of parental responsiveness. This was thought to be an artefact of the recording procedure, since the source of individual calls was not identified, and the frequency of calls could therefore have been increased due to adults calling. Parental responsiveness appeared to be maintained 2 weeks after its induction, but not 10 weeks after induction. An exception to this was the animals exposed to pups smeared with the experimental adults sebum, who did not appear to maintain responsiveness even up to 2 weeks after induction. Overall twice as many males as females were able to be induced to show parental responsiveness. Males overcame their aggression to pups, and showed parental responsiveness more quickly than females did. Further work arising from the present studies would include a more detailed study of both the influence of ultrasonic calling by pups on the development of parental responsiveness and the quicker development of parental responsiveness found when pups bore an odour familiar to the adults.

Parent involvement in treatment programmes for child anxiety disorders aims to change the parental behaviours and cognitions implicated in the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety disorders. However, very few studies have included parental behaviours and cognitions as outcomes, and the methodological shortcomings of those that have, preclude clear conclusions. This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive examination of change in parental behaviours and cognitions after a guided parent-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) programme compared to a waitlist control. The association between change in parental behaviours and cognitions with child treatment outcome was also considered. Eighty-eight children aged 7 to 12 years old with a diagnosed anxiety disorder were randomised to either an 8-week guided parent-delivered CBT programme (n=41) or waitlist control group (n=47). None of the parents met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder. Observational measures of parental behaviours whilst their child completed an anxiety-provoking task were taken before and after the intervention. Parent expectations were also measured of their child's and own response in the laboratory task, as well as for hypothetical situations that were ambiguous for whether or not they presented a threat. The treatment programme was not associated with greater change in parental behaviours compared to the waitlist control. After the treatment programme there was a change in specific parental cognitions, in that parents perceived themselves and their child to have more control in hypothetical threat ambiguous situations. Change in parental behaviour and cognition was not significantly associated with child treatment outcomes. The results suggest that guided parent-delivered CBT can increase parental self-efficacy in the management of child anxiety. However, the absence of any association of treatment with other parental cognitions or behaviours questions the salience of parental change in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders.

In the present phenomenological study, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were interviewed using semi-structured, open-ended interview questions. The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and joys, and parental coping associated with having a child with ASD, before and after out-of-home placement. A total of 9 mothers, six from British Columbia and three from Alberta, participated in the study. The findings suggest that along with stressors, parents experienced a multitude of joys throughout their caregiving experiences. Also, joys had an impact on caregiver's stress-coping process. This study, therefore, expanded upon current states of knowledge on the adaptational function of joys to caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions. In light of the findings, modified stress-coping process model based on the work of Lazarus and Folkman (1984), Folkman (1997), and Pearlin et al. (1990; 1980) is proposed. Also, findings shed light on mothers' lived-experiences leading up to and after out-of-home placement, illuminating an understudied aspect of caregiving for children with ASD.

In the present phenomenological study, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were interviewed using semi-structured, open-ended interview questions. The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and joys, and parental coping associated with having a child with ASD, before and after out-of-home placement. A total of 9 mothers, six from British Columbia and three from Alberta, participated in the study. The findings suggest that along with stressors, parents experienced a multitude of joys throughout their caregiving experiences. Also, joys had an impact on caregiver's stress-coping process. This study, therefore, expanded upon current states of knowledge on the adaptational function of joys to caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions. In light of the findings, modified stress-coping process model based on the work of Lazarus and Folkman (1984), Folkman (1997), and Pearlin et al. (1990; 1980) is proposed. Also, findings shed light on mothers' lived-experiences leading up to and after out-of-home placement, illuminating an understudied aspect of caregiving for children with ASD.

Bakgrund: Sömnproblem hos barn inbegriper svårigheter med insomning och sömnkontinuitet. Omkring 20-30% tros ha sömnproblem, där 5-6% är svåra och ihållande. Det kan leda till att livskvaliteten försämras för föräldrar. Följden av sömnbrist har ett samband med utmattning, stress och depression. Barnhälsovården (BHV) har en viktig roll i att bedöma sömnproblem och vägleda föräldrar. Tidigare forskning visar att föräldrar upplever att BHV inte har tillräcklig kunskap gällande sömnproblem hos barn. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa föräldrars upplevelser kring sömnproblem hos barn. Metod: Insamling av data genomfördes digitalt genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med föräldrar (n=11). Rekrytering utfördes via sociala medier genom ett bekvämlighetsurval. Data analyserades därefter utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt metoden beskriven av Burnard m.fl. (2008). Resultat: Analysen resulterade i två huvudkategorier: Barnets sömnproblem är livsförändrande och Barnhälsovården brister kring sömn samt sex underkategorier. Dessa är: Känslan av att bli överrumplad, Sömnbristens konsekvenser för förälderns hälsa, Upplevelser av mognad och förändring över tid, Känslan av att inte bli tagen på allvar, Okvalificerade råd och Otillräcklig kunskap om barns sömnproblematik. Konklusion: Föräldrar upplever att barnets sömnproblem har en omfattande påverkan på familjen. Utifrån föräldrars upplevelser finns det utrymme för förbättring av BHVs kompetens, handläggning och bemötande, där det centrala är att barnets sömnproblem upplevs bli generaliserat. Slutsatsen är att när en generalisering av barnets sömnproblem inte upplevs rimlig för situationen, kan det leda till att BHV missar kärnan i bedömningen kring omfattningen av barnets sömnproblem. / Background: Sleep problems in children include difficulties with sleep onset and sleep continuity. About 20-30% are thought to have sleep problems, with 5-6% being severe and persistent. This can lead to a deterioration in the quality of life for parents. The consequence of sleep deprivation is associated with exhaustion, stress and depression. Child health care service (CHCS) has an important role in assessing sleep problems and guiding parents. Previous research shows that parents feel that CHCS lacks knowledge about sleep problems in children. Aim: The purpose of the study was to elucidate parents' experiences of sleep problems in children. Method: The data was collected digitally through semi-structured interviews with parent’s (n=11). Recruitment took place via social media through a convenience sampling. The data was then analysed according to the method of qualitative content analysis described by Burnard et al. (2008). Result: The analysis resulted in two main categories: The child's sleep problems are life-changing and Child Health Care is inadequate regarding sleep and six subcategories. These are: The feeling of being caught off guard, The consequences of sleep deprivation on the parent's health, Experiences of maturity and change over time, The feeling of not being taken seriously, Unqualified advice and Insufficient knowledge of children's sleep problems. Conclusion: Parents' experience is that the child's sleep problems have a wide-ranging impact on the family. Based on parents' experiences, there is room for improvement of CHCS's competence, handling and treatment, where the key is that the child's sleep problems are perceived to be generalized. The conclusion is that when a generalization of the child's sleep problems is not perceived as reasonable for the situation, it can lead to CHCS missing the core of the assessment about the extent of the child's sleep problems.