Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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The relationship between exposure to family violence in childhood and post-traumatic stress symptoms in young adulthood: the mediating role of social support
- Authors:
- HAJ-YAHIA Muhammad M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 92, 2019, pp.126-138.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: Extensive research has examined the relationship between exposure to family violence and its long-term mental health effects. Social support has been found to moderate this relationship, but there is a dearth of research on its mediating role. Objectives: The article presents the results of a study on the relationship between witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence during childhood and adolescence on the one hand, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during young adulthood on the other. In addition, the article presents results on the role of social support as a mediator in this relationship. Method, participants, and setting: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 516 Israeli university and college students (90.7% female, and 9.3% male; M age = 24.9, SD = 2.7) using a retrospective, self-administered questionnaire. Results: The results revealed that exposure to each pattern of family violence (i.e., witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence) predicted higher levels of PTSS. Furthermore, social support was found to partially mediate the relationship between exposure to family violence during childhood and adolescence and current PTSS as well as its four symptoms, i.e., depression, sleep disturbance, dissociation, and anxiety. Conclusions: The results of the current study highlight the important role of social support in the association between adversities experienced early in life and young adulthood outcomes. The findings are interpreted on the basis of Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobfoll et al., 1990), which served as the conceptual framework for the study. The limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Individual, group and organised experiential expertise in recovery from intimate partner violence and mental health problems in Finland
- Authors:
- HOKKANEN Liisa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 47(4), 2017, p.1147–1165.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper examines recovery from intimate partner violence and mental health problems through the perspective of experiential expertise (EE). The aim is to investigate the formation of EE in the context of empowerment-oriented recovery in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This triangulated study includes both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative part was acquired through a survey on people with personal experience of mental health problems (N = 133) and the qualitative part was collected from a development project including sixty female victims of intimate partner violence and nine professionals who worked with the women. First, the data were analysed separately through statistical analysis and hermeneutic close reading. Second, a triangulated synthesis was made. There are three types of EE: individual, group and organised. These provide a basis for personal and social empowerment. EE consists of emotional and influential ways of acting, which enable renewed action as well as the reformation of a self-image. The authors' findings indicate that the relation between EE and recovery is reciprocal and mutually beneficial. It is argued that especially group and organised EE should be integrated more firmly into social work practices, preventive social policy and structural social work. (Edited publisher abstract)
Home supervision requirements: messages from research
- Authors:
- GADDA Andressa, FITZPATRICK John Paul
- Publisher:
- Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
This briefing summarises key findings of research on Home Supervision Requirements (HSRs) in Scotland. A HSR is a type of legal supervision order which is unique to the Scottish system of child legislation. Children who are subject to an HSR are ‘looked after’ by a local authority whilst still living at home with a parent or relevant person. A social worker is allocated to the case in order to ensure that the terms of the requirement are being met. It summarises knowledge from existing research and incorporates new evidence from a recent study exploring views and experiences of young people, their parents and social workers with this type of intervention. The briefing suggests that children who are subject to an HSR have typically been known to social work services for a number of years before being placed on compulsory supervision. Families experience multiple, chronic problems such as domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health problems and financial difficulties. The needs of children who are subject to an HSR are similar, if not the same, as those who are ‘looked after’ away from home.
Child welfare involvement of mothers with mental health issues
- Authors:
- WESTAD Callie, McCONNELL David
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 48(1), February 2012, pp.29-37.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Many mothers with mental health issues are caught up in the child protection system and face the prospect of having their children removed from their care. This study examines the prevalence and outcomes for mothers with mental health issues and their children in child maltreatment cases opened for investigation in Canada. Secondary analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003) core data was carried out which contained process and outcome data on a nationally representative sample of 11,652 child maltreatment investigations. Maternal mental health issues were noted in 2,272 (19.7%) cases opened for investigation. The most common child protection concerns were neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence. A significant association was found between maternal mental health issues and child maltreatment investigation outcomes, with many potentially confounding variables held constant. It concludes that broad spectrum, multi-disciplinary services are needed to support mothers with mental health issues. As well as providing effective mental health care there is a need to addressing trauma, strengthen social relationships and alleviate poverty. Systemic advocacy is also needed to ensure that mothers with mental health issues can access broad spectrum supports.
Supporting vulnerable babies and young children: interventions for working with trauma, mental health, illness and other complex challenges
- Editors:
- BUNSTON Wendy, JONES Sarah J.
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 312
- Place of publication:
- London
A guide for people working to support and safeguard babies and very young children, including professionals in health care, social work, mental health and child protection settings. It looks at effective, practice-based and evidence-informed approaches to working across a wide range of issues. Chapters include case examples from around the world to illustrate what interventions look like in direct practice. They include chapters on: young children in foster care, family violence, asylum seeking infants, infants involved in high-conflict parental disputes, and young children with cancer and mental health needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Looking again at troubled families: parents' perspectives on multiple adversities
- Authors:
- BUNTING Lisa, WEBB Mary Anne, SHANNON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Family Social Work, 22(S3), 2017, pp.31-40.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The ‘Troubled Families’ policy and intervention agenda is based on a deficit approach that tends to ignore the role of structural disadvantage in the lives of the families it targets. In an effort to support this rhetoric, both quantitative and qualitative data have been used, and misused, to create a representation of these families, which emphasizes risk and individual blame and minimizes societal factors. This current paper presents findings from an in-depth qualitative study using a biographical narrative approach to explore parents' experiences of multiple adversities at different times over the life-course. Key themes relating to the pattern and nature of adversities experienced by participants provide a more nuanced understanding of the lives of families experiencing multiple and complex problems, highlighting how multiple interpretations are often possible within the context of professional intervention. The findings support the increasing call to move away from procedurally driven, risk averse child protection practice towards more relationally based practice, which addresses not only the needs of all family members but recognizes parents as individuals in their own right. (Publisher abstract)