Attachment and Human Development, 22(4), 2020, pp.425-447.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The relationships between children with severe or profound intellectual disabilities (ID) and their parents may fulfil attachment functions, such as regulating emotional responses to stress. This study examined the extent to which children with severe or profound ID differentiate between their parents and a stranger as a resource for stress-regulation. A home-based experimental paradigm...
(Publisher abstract)
The relationships between children with severe or profound intellectual disabilities (ID) and their parents may fulfil attachment functions, such as regulating emotional responses to stress. This study examined the extent to which children with severe or profound ID differentiate between their parents and a stranger as a resource for stress-regulation. A home-based experimental paradigm was conducted and video-recorded in 38 families. Children (1–8 years) were exposed to four naturalistic stressors followed by comfort, randomly provided by the parents or the stranger. Emotional behaviour (arousal and valence) and the skin conductance level were simultaneously recorded. With regard to both emotional behaviour and skin conductance, children significantly differentiated between their parents as attachment figures and the stranger during stress and comfort, despite their impairments on various developmental domains. Behavioural observation and physiology show complementary manifestations of parent-child attachment in this population.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, stress, parent-child relations, severe learning disabilities, children, contact;
Background/objective: although informal caregivers (ICG) find caring for a relative mainly satisfying, it can be difficult at times and it can lead to a state of subjective burden characterised by -among others- fatigue and stress. The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between perceived social support and subjective burden in providing informal care to frail older people
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background/objective: although informal caregivers (ICG) find caring for a relative mainly satisfying, it can be difficult at times and it can lead to a state of subjective burden characterised by -among others- fatigue and stress. The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between perceived social support and subjective burden in providing informal care to frail older people. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using data from a large nationwide longitudinal effectiveness study. Pearson correlations were calculated between the variables for support and burden. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the association between being unsatisfied with support and burden, taking into account multiple confounding variables. Results: of the 13,229 frail older people included in this study, 85.9% (N = 11,363) had at least one informal caregiver. Almost 60% of the primary informal caregivers manifested subjective burden, measured with the 12-item Zarit-Burden-Interview (ZBI-12). The percentage of informal caregivers that were unsatisfied with support from family and friends was on average 11.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that being unsatisfied with support is associated with burden (OR1.85; 95%CI1.53–2.23). These results were consistent for the three groups of impairment level of the frail older persons analysed. Conclusions: the association between perceived social support and subjective caregiver burden was explored in the context of caring for frail older people. ICGs who were unsatisfied with support were more likely to experience burden. The findings underline the importance of perceived social support in relation to caregiver burden reduction. Therefore efforts to improve perceived social support are worth evaluating.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
informal care, very old people, carers, stress, social care provision, user views;
Care, the Zarit-12 interview and an ad hoc economic questionnaire. A combination of variables from the Stress Process Model and Role Theory and a sub-group analysis enabled refined multivariate logistic analyses.
Results: The study population consisted of 4175 older persons (average age: 81.4 ± 6.8, 67.8% female) and their informal caregivers. About 57% of them perceived burden. Depressive symptoms...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Abstract: Research into informal caregivers' burden does not distinguish between different stages of impairment. This study explored the determinants of burden from an in-depth perspective in order to identify which determinants apply to which phases of impairment.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including frail older persons aged 65 and above. Instruments used were the interRAI Home Care, the Zarit-12 interview and an ad hoc economic questionnaire. A combination of variables from the Stress Process Model and Role Theory and a sub-group analysis enabled refined multivariate logistic analyses.
Results: The study population consisted of 4175 older persons (average age: 81.4 ± 6.8, 67.8% female) and their informal caregivers. About 57% of them perceived burden. Depressive symptoms, behavioural problems, IADL impairment, previous admissions to nursing homes and risk of falls yielded significant odds ratios in relation to informal caregivers’ burden for the whole sample. These determinants were taken from the Stress Process Model. When the population was stratified according to impairment, some factors were only significant for the population with severe impairment (behavioural problems OR:2.50; previous admissions to nursing homes OR:2.02) and not for the population with mild or moderate impairment. The informal caregiver being an adult child, which is a determinant from Role Theory, and cohabitation showed significant associations with burden in all strata.
Conclusion: Determinants of informal caregivers’ burden varied according to stages of impairment. The results of this study can help professional caregivers gain a greater insight into which informal caregivers are most susceptible to perceive burden.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
stress, carers, older people, intervention, activities of daily living, admission to care, depression;
Child and Family Social Work, 17(1), February 2012, pp.34-42.
Publisher:
Wiley
Foster children often have behavioural problems, which influence the level of parenting stress and can lead to a breakdown. In this study, parenting behaviour of foster mothers is mapped, and the influence of behavioural problems and parenting stress on the parenting behaviour 2 years later is examined. Data of behavioural problems, family stress and parenting were gathered from 49 foster mothers...
Foster children often have behavioural problems, which influence the level of parenting stress and can lead to a breakdown. In this study, parenting behaviour of foster mothers is mapped, and the influence of behavioural problems and parenting stress on the parenting behaviour 2 years later is examined. Data of behavioural problems, family stress and parenting were gathered from 49 foster mothers from Flanders, Belgium. Findings revealed that problem behaviour had a direct negative impact on parenting and lead to less support and more negative control. It also resulted in more parenting stress. The authors concluded that placing children with too many behavioural problems in family foster care should be avoided. At the same time, foster parents should be trained in order to reduce ineffective parenting. Finally, the wellbeing of foster mothers should also be guarded as more parenting stress result in more ineffective parenting behaviour.
GREEFF Abraham P., VANSTEENWEGEN Alfons, DE MOT Liesbeth
Journal article citation:
Social Work in Mental Health, 4(4), 2006, pp.67-81.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
...the positive redefining of stressful situations by the family, the social support of the family, and the family's adaptation after divorce. According to the children there are also significant positive relationships between the family's use of avoidance strategies, the parents' educational level, the number of years that the parent had been divorced, and the family's adaptation. (Copies of this article
The aim of this cross-sectional and exploratory study was to identify resiliency factors that are associated with family adaptation after divorce. Questionnaires (The Family Hardiness Index, The Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, The Relative and Friend Support Index, The Social Support Index, The Family Sense of Coherence Scale) and an open-ended question were used to collect data independently from parents and children belonging to 68 divorced families in Belgium. Results indicate that there is a significant positive correlation between the three components of family hardiness (commitment, challenge, and control-according to the parents) and the family's adaptation to its changed circumstances. There are also positive correlations for both parents and children between the positive redefining of stressful situations by the family, the social support of the family, and the family's adaptation after divorce. According to the children there are also significant positive relationships between the family's use of avoidance strategies, the parents' educational level, the number of years that the parent had been divorced, and the family's adaptation. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Subject terms:
resilience, single parent families, stress, divorce, families, family relations;
International Social Work, 44(1), January 2001, pp.43-55.
Publisher:
Sage
Management methods such as Total Quality Management are being introduced into the non-profit sector without reconsideration. One of these unconsidered items concerns the turbulence in the immediate environment. In this study of a Belgian social service agency we demonstrate the massive impact of short- term changes on the internal network processes as well as managerial potential to react to and control these influences.
Management methods such as Total Quality Management are being introduced into the non-profit sector without reconsideration. One of these unconsidered items concerns the turbulence in the immediate environment. In this study of a Belgian social service agency we demonstrate the massive impact of short- term changes on the internal network processes as well as managerial potential to react to and control these influences.
Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(2), 2019, pp.375-382.
Publisher:
Wiley
Little is known about the dynamics of a group of people giving informal care together. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of an informal care group, the obstacles the informal care group experiences, the needs and desires they have and how the informal care group can be supported by general practitioners (GPs) and other professionals. Nine informal care groups were interviewed based on a questionnaire that was preapproved by the six Flemish official informal caregiver organisations. The results were analysed using open coding. A survey was conducted among 137 caregivers who were part of a group. Univariate analysis was performed. Informal care group usually consist of close relatives of the patient, with often the partner of the patient as the main caregiver. The size of the informal care group depends on the size of the family. If there are more caregivers in a group, the perceived burden of the individual caregiver decreases. The support of the other caregivers in the group increases capacity. The cooperation and agreements are often spontaneously organised and few problems are reported. There is a large variation in the expectations of support from the general practitioner, ranging from availability in emergencies to information about the possibilities of formal home care. This study depicts a positive image of the informal care group. Being part of a caregiver group both decreases burden and increases capacity. Informal care groups usually function well without a need for formal agreements within the group, and they rarely need a third party to coordinate with them or intervene.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Little is known about the dynamics of a group of people giving informal care together. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of an informal care group, the obstacles the informal care group experiences, the needs and desires they have and how the informal care group can be supported by general practitioners (GPs) and other professionals. Nine informal care groups were interviewed based on a questionnaire that was preapproved by the six Flemish official informal caregiver organisations. The results were analysed using open coding. A survey was conducted among 137 caregivers who were part of a group. Univariate analysis was performed. Informal care group usually consist of close relatives of the patient, with often the partner of the patient as the main caregiver. The size of the informal care group depends on the size of the family. If there are more caregivers in a group, the perceived burden of the individual caregiver decreases. The support of the other caregivers in the group increases capacity. The cooperation and agreements are often spontaneously organised and few problems are reported. There is a large variation in the expectations of support from the general practitioner, ranging from availability in emergencies to information about the possibilities of formal home care. This study depicts a positive image of the informal care group. Being part of a caregiver group both decreases burden and increases capacity. Informal care groups usually function well without a need for formal agreements within the group, and they rarely need a third party to coordinate with them or intervene.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
carers, support groups, wellbeing, informal care, qualitative research, groupwork, social work methods, stress;
No psychological research has been done investigating the experiences of adoption by sexual minorities living in Europe. This qualitative study is the first cross-national research within the European context giving the floor to LG (lesbian and gay) adoptive parents in order to explore the main challenges they encountered in the transition to adoptive parenthood. Sixty-two LG adoptive parents (16 lesbians and 46 gay men) living in Belgium (n = 14), France (n = 26), and Spain (n = 22) participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to gather information about two key steps in the adoptive path: the decision making and the adoption process itself. Results revealed that while choosing to adopt, LG adoptive parents experienced numerous self-doubts and emotional conflicts driven by introjected heteronormative assumptions about family. During the adoption procedure, they were confronted with a large number of challenges and legal roadblocks connected to their sexual minority status. Exploring the experience of the first generation of LG adoptive parents in Europe provides insight into the great impact that the sociolegal context has on their lives. Findings suggest the necessity of promoting practice geared not only to fight discrimination but also to provide better support to LG people throughout the adoption process.
(Edited publisher abstract)
No psychological research has been done investigating the experiences of adoption by sexual minorities living in Europe. This qualitative study is the first cross-national research within the European context giving the floor to LG (lesbian and gay) adoptive parents in order to explore the main challenges they encountered in the transition to adoptive parenthood. Sixty-two LG adoptive parents (16 lesbians and 46 gay men) living in Belgium (n = 14), France (n = 26), and Spain (n = 22) participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to gather information about two key steps in the adoptive path: the decision making and the adoption process itself. Results revealed that while choosing to adopt, LG adoptive parents experienced numerous self-doubts and emotional conflicts driven by introjected heteronormative assumptions about family. During the adoption procedure, they were confronted with a large number of challenges and legal roadblocks connected to their sexual minority status. Exploring the experience of the first generation of LG adoptive parents in Europe provides insight into the great impact that the sociolegal context has on their lives. Findings suggest the necessity of promoting practice geared not only to fight discrimination but also to provide better support to LG people throughout the adoption process.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adoption, adoptive parents, LGBT people, gay men, lesbians, stress, user views, qualitative research;
Parental burnout is a specific syndrome resulting from enduring exposure to chronic parenting stress. It encompasses three dimensions: an overwhelming exhaustion related to one’s parental role, an emotional distancing from one’s children and a sense of ineffectiveness in one’s parental role. This study aims to facilitate further identification of the consequences of parental burnout
(Edited publisher abstract)
Parental burnout is a specific syndrome resulting from enduring exposure to chronic parenting stress. It encompasses three dimensions: an overwhelming exhaustion related to one’s parental role, an emotional distancing from one’s children and a sense of ineffectiveness in one’s parental role. This study aims to facilitate further identification of the consequences of parental burnout for the parents themselves, their spouses and their child(ren). In a sample of 1551 parents, the relationship between parental burnout and seven possible consequences: escapism and suicidal thoughts, addictions, sleep disorders, marital conflicts, a partner estrangement mindset, and neglect and violence towards one’s child(ren), was examined. The study also examined (1) to what extent parental and job burnout related to each of these possible consequences and (2) whether parental burnout is specifically related to neglectful and violent behaviour towards one’s child(ren). The results suggest that parental burnout has a statistically similar effect to job burnout on addictions and sleep problems, a stronger effect on couples’ conflicts and partner estrangement mindset and a specific effect on child-related outcomes (neglect and violence) and escape and suicidal ideation. These results emphasize the importance of accurately diagnosing this syndrome.
(Edited publisher abstract)
HOLEN Frank van, VANSCHOONLANDT Femke, VANDERFAEILLIE Johan
Journal article citation:
Child and Family Social Work, 22(3), 2017, pp.1216-1226.
Publisher:
Wiley
Checklist), with respect to breakdown, foster children's externalising problems and foster mothers' parenting stress.
Methods: A randomised controlled trial was used to compare, at baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up, an intervention group (n = 30) with a treatment as usual control group (n = 33) consisting of foster parents of new placements recruited via a routine screening or on-going...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: The aim of this Flemish study (Dutch speaking part of Belgium) is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention based on the social learning theory for foster parents who take care of a foster child (ages 3–12) with externalising problem behaviour (a borderline or clinical score on the externalising broad-band or on one of the externalising problems scales of the Child Behaviour Checklist), with respect to breakdown, foster children's externalising problems and foster mothers' parenting stress.
Methods: A randomised controlled trial was used to compare, at baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up, an intervention group (n = 30) with a treatment as usual control group (n = 33) consisting of foster parents of new placements recruited via a routine screening or on-going placements signed up by their foster care worker. The intervention consists of 10 home sessions.
Results: The intervention had significant small short-term and large long-term effects on externalising problems and medium short-term and long-term effects on parenting stress. No significant effects were found on the breakdown rate.
Conclusions: Giving the evidence for its effects on foster children's externalising and foster mothers' parenting stress, implementation of this foster parent intervention might increase the effectiveness of foster care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
evaluation, foster carers, foster care, behaviour problems, foster children, intervention, stress, placement disruption, family support, childrens social care;