Associations Among Family Strengths, Depression and Life Satisfaction Between Disabled Children and Their Parent Caregivers: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model.

AIM: To explore the actor-partner effect and mediating role of depression on family strength and life satisfaction among children with disabilities and their parent-caregiver dyads. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using secondary data collected from the 2020 (third) Korea Disability and Life Dynamics Panel. METHODS: This study included 434 Korean dyads of children with disabilities and their parent caregivers. A dyadic analysis was performed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. RESULTS: The findings showed significant indirect actor effects of family strength on life satisfaction through depression for children with disabilities and their parent caregivers. The direct partner effects of one's family strengths on a partner's life satisfaction were statistically significant only for children. Additionally, significant indirect partner effects were observed in the association between parents' family strengths and children's life satisfaction through their own and their children's depression. The findings indicated that the life satisfaction of children with disabilities was more likely to be affected by their parent caregivers' perceived family strengths and depression. CONCLUSION: It is significant for health professionals to acknowledge the mediating and cross-over pathways linking family strengths to life satisfaction through depression and, thus, focus on family-based strategies to enhance life satisfaction among children with disabilities and their parent caregivers. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study highlights the need for family-oriented mental health interventions and education to promote life satisfaction among children with disabilities and their parent caregivers. IMPACT: Basic data were provided for establishing efficient healthcare education and counselling protocols and integrated family intervention programmes that can contribute to improving life satisfaction through the reduction of depression by strengthening the family strengths of disabled children-parent caregivers dyads. In future, studies should explore dyadic interdependence among children with disabilities and their parent caregivers. REPORTING METHOD: STROBE guidelines were followed for this study. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No public or patient contribution was required for this study.

Factors that influence happiness of nursing students according to COVID-19 infection status.

BACKGROUND: Happiness is a cognitive and emotional evaluation of one's life, and the upward approach affects satisfaction and happiness throughout life. Because nursing students must experience medical settings closely related to COVID-19 infection through clinical practice, they are vulnerable to exposure to infection and academic stress, and are also sensitive to personal life satisfaction and happiness. In this study, Korean nursing students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic during the COVID-19 endemic era were divided into nursing students infected with COVID-19 and non-infected nursing students. By identifying the effects of college life adaptation, leisure satisfaction from club activities, and family health on happiness, which are individual sub-factors of happiness, we intend to provide basic data for the development of intervention programs for promoting their happiness. METHODS: Data were collected from October 4, 2023 to November 15, 2023. The subjects were 343 students enrolled in five nursing schools in four major cities (D, G, K, and Y) in Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: For COVID+ students, happiness was significantly affected by adaptation to campus life and family strengths. This model had r2 = 0.401; i.e., it explained 40.1% of the variability in happiness. For COVID0 students, happiness was significantly affected by adaptation to campus life and subjective health status, with r2 = 0.346. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the necessity of developing a happiness-promotion program for nursing students.

Meta-Analyses of the Relationships between Family Systems Practices, Parents' Psychological Health, and Parenting Quality.

(1) Background: Family systems theories include assertations that both personal and environmental factors are determinants of parents' psychological health, well-being, and parenting quality. Applied family systems theories focus on determinants that can be operationalized as intervention practices. The analyses described in this paper focused on the direct and indirect effects of four family systems practices (family needs, resources, supports, and strengths), parents' psychological health (depression, well-being, etc.), and parenting quality (parenting beliefs, involvement, and practices) in families of children with identified disabilities, medical conditions, or at-risk conditions for poor outcomes; (2) Methods: Data from previously completed meta-analyses of the relationships between family systems practices and parents' psychological health outcomes and parenting quality outcomes were reanalyzed. Next, a meta-analysis of the relationships between parents' psychological health and parenting quality was completed to identify which predictors were related to which parenting quality outcomes. Both main effects and mediated effects were examined; (3) Results: The four family systems practices were each related to six different psychological health measures and three parenting quality measures. The six different parental psychological health measures were also related to the three parenting quality measures. The relationships between family systems practices and parenting quality were partially mediated by parents' psychological health; (4) Conclusions: The effects of family systems practices and parents' psychological health on parenting quality were primarily direct and independent. The relationships between family systems practices and parenting quality were partially mediated by parents' psychological health. Future research should focus on the identification of other mediator variables found to be important for explaining the indirect effects of family systems practices measures on parenting beliefs, behavior, and practices.

[Advanced Practice Nursing Experience of a Female Adolescent With Leigh Syndrome and Her Family: A Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversations Approach].

This article applied a family strengths-oriented therapeutic conversations approach to explore the advanced practice nursing experience of a female adolescent with Leigh Syndrome and her family. During the nursing care period from September 20 to November 19, 2022, the author collected data through direct care, observation, interview, telecare, home visits, and medical record reviews and confirmed the nursing problems to be the inadequate coping capability of the family. The author leveraged her advanced nurse practitioner role and used family strength-oriented therapeutic conversations to enable the parents of the patient to reflect on their experiences with this disease and to improve their quality of life and satisfaction with healthcare services. Three modes of care, including accessibility, coordination, and comprehensiveness, were offered to the female adolescent patient and her family to achieve the goal of family-centered, community-based, and medical-system-centered care. It is suggested that before making healthcare decisions, patients and their families should be given the opportunity to participate in the healthcare process and reach consensus on healthcare decisions based on existing evidence and their values and preferences. The medical decisions made by patients and their families after carefully considering their current situation and needs should be supported and assisted.

Time at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Focus Groups with Hispanic Parents.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended family life, forcing many families to reorganize their daily routines. Hispanic families have been especially affected by the pandemic, experiencing cumulative stressors and increased risks of contracting the virus, hospitalization, and morbidity. To date, there is limited research examining home life within Hispanic families during the pandemic. Given the extended amount of time for which families have been isolated at home together, identifying factors that may enhance or detract from well-being within the home is important in advancing efforts to support at-risk families. In this qualitative study, 29 Hispanic parents (primarily mothers) living in California participated in one of eight focus groups conducted in Spanish. Parents described activities and behaviors during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following six themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis: (1) parents focused on family time; (2) children adapted to the changes of the pandemic; (3) parents and children engaged in physical activity; (4) children mainly entertained themselves with screens; (5) COVID-19 media coverage was accessible in the home; and (6) parents worried about the virus, and its effects on the future. While findings include anxiety around the virus and its attendant effects, family strengths were also present throughout the discussions. Public policy should consider ways to leverage family strengths to preserve family relationships and routines during future public health crises.

"It brought my family more together": Mixed-methods study of low-income U.S. mothers during the pandemic.

Objective: We sought to understand challenges and positive experiences of low-income families during the pandemic. Background: Strength-based perspectives of economically disadvantaged mothers are missing from literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is imperative to recognize disparities that were highlighted by the pandemic, strengths-based approaches and a resilience framework can help professionals build upon and learn from ways families manage during those times. Method: We used a mixed-method approach to gain understanding of the unique experiences of 15 low-income mothers at the height of the pandemic. We administered a brief COVID-19 stress screener, the Five-Minute Speech Sample measure, and an open-ended question about potential positive experiences during the pandemic. Results: We learned that strength and resilience supersede the liabilities brought on by COVID-19 that are so often focused on. We found highly divergent experiences across mothers in terms of stress; even mothers with high levels of stress readily identified positive aspects of life during the pandemic. Mothers' responses were indicative of greater feelings of warmth and tenderness than negativity about their children. Conclusion and Implications: We discuss findings in terms of strengths-based practices and policies for mothers receiving public assistance and provide suggestions for continued research on resilience of mothers during the pandemic.

Effectiveness of a brief family strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation intervention for patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a brief family strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention on symptom severity of patients with schizophrenia and family coping and caregiver burden for family caregivers. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental research design with repeated measures. METHODS: A convenience sample of 72 dyads of patient-family caregivers was recruited from randomized inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation units in a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan. Sixty-one patient-family caregiver dyads that comprised the intervention group (n = 29) and control group (n = 32) completed questionnaires at four time points (baseline, immediate, one- and three-months post-intervention). Demographic questionnaires and clinical information, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Family Crisis-Orientation Personal Evaluation Scales, and Zarit Burden Interview were used to collect data. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the differences in symptom severity, family coping, and caregiver burden between the two groups. FINDINGS: As compared to the control group, the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements over three months in symptom severity as well as family coping, especially acquiring social support, reframing, and mobilizing social support for family caregivers. Caregiver burden in the intervention group was ameliorated immediately and one month after the intervention rather than a three-month post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A brief FAM-SOTC intervention proved to be favorable for alleviating psychiatric symptoms of patients coupled with an improvement in family coping and burden in family caregivers encountering schizophrenia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Integration of a brief family therapeutic conversation intervention into the routine psychiatric rehabilitation services delivery is recommended to help patients and their family caregivers effectively manage schizophrenia.

Validación de la Escala de Fortalezas Familiares en población adulta chilena / Validation of the Family Strengths Scale in Chilean adult population

Resumen El enfoque de las fortalezas familiares sugiere que las familias son capaces de surgir y salir exitosas de los desafíos de la vida cotidiana. Teniendo esto en cuenta, el objetivo de este estudio fue validar la Escala de Fortalezas Familiares, adaptada de un estudio en España, en una población chilena. Para esto, la muestra estuvo formada por 324 adultos chilenos que debían completar el instrumento de 12 ítems. El modelo de dos factores de la escala fue validado mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio (X2/gl = 2.86; RMSR = 0.041; RMRSEA = 0.076; OFI = 0.950; TLI = 0.937), y se encontró que los dos factores se relacionan con aspectos de la autoeficacia familiar y la percepción de adaptación en las familias; en ambos casos se estimaron valores de confiabilidad de escala adecuados (alfa de Cronbach de .91 y .72, respectivamente). Estos resultados permiten avalar la utilización de la escala en la población chilena, lo que podrá contribuir en el avance del conocimiento respecto al funcionamiento familiar, así como guiar intervenciones de prevención y promoción con familias dirigidas a potenciar fortalezas y recursos protectores garantes de una parentalidad respetuosa y afectiva, y al mejoramiento de la calidad de vida familiar.

Abstract The family strength approach suggests that families can overcome daily life challenges. The aim of this research was to validate the Family Strengths Scale, adapted from a study in Spain, to a Chilean population. For this purpose, the sample consisted of 324 Chilean adults who completed a 12-item questionnaire. The two-factor model of the scale was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (x2/g.l.= 2.86; RMSR = 0.041; RMRSEA = 0.076; CFI = 0.950; TLI = 0.937), and it was found that the two factors are related to aspects of family self-efficacy and the perception of family adaptation. In both cases, adequate scale reliability values were estimated (Cronbanch's alpha of 0.91 and 0.72, respectively). These results support the use of the scale in the Chilean population, which may contribute to the advancement of knowledge regarding family functioning, as well as to guide prevention and promotion interventions with families, aimed at enhancing strengths and protective resources that guarantee a respectful and affectionate parenting, and at improving the quality of family life.

Children with cerebral palsy: Family and parent demographic characteristics and family strengths in Greece and Italy.

The study focuses on families raising a child with cerebral palsy to investigate family strengths and their association with family and parent demographic characteristics in Greece and Italy. Participants were 120 parents raising a biological child with cerebral palsy. Data collection used a self-report questionnaire and the Family Strengths Inventory. According to the findings, families share a high sense of family strengths, which is mainly represented in the high sense of 'pride' and 'accord'. In addition, demographic characteristics seem to be important predictors of well-being and strengthen parents and families raising a child with cerebral palsy.

Family functioning and strengths in families raising a child with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a serious disorder that has serious consequences on the functioning of children and their families. This study explores family functioning (adaptation, cohesion and family type) and strengths (pride, accord and whole) in Greek and Italian families raising a child with CP and their interaction. Participants were 120 parents of a biological child with CP. Data collection used a self-report questionnaire, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III) and the Family Strengths Inventory. According to the findings, parents (in both countries) estimate and wish their family to be in the balanced range which represents healthy family functioning according to the revised edition of the Olson Circumplex Model. Finally, they share a high sense of family strengths, which is mainly displayed in the high sense of pride and accord.

How Do Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversations (FAM-SOTC) Advance Psychiatric Nursing Practice?

PURPOSE: Family nursing interventions, focusing on therapeutic conversations, have been found to benefit primary caregivers dealing with chronic and acute illnesses. Less is known, however, about the benefit of these interventions for partner caregivers. The aims of this study were to develop and test the Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention for partner caregivers of young individuals with eating disorders (EDs). METHODS: Eighteen partner caregivers of adolescents and young adults with ED participated in this quasi-experimental study. The FAM-SOTC intervention was offered over 4 months, during which time the focus was on establishing the therapeutic relationship and identification of the family relationships. The five key elements of the FAM-SOTC intervention are (a) drawing forward illness stories; (b) asking therapeutic questions; (c) identifying strength, resiliency, and resources; (d) offering evidence-based information and recommendations; and (e) strengthening helpful beliefs and challenging hindering beliefs. These elements provided the foundation for the study. FINDINGS: Significantly higher family support and illness beliefs were reported after five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and again after 3 follow-up booster sessions. The FAM-SOTC intervention demonstrated a positive benefit for participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The FAM-SOTC intervention was found to benefit families, both in the short and long term, in psychiatry settings. After having participated in five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and 3 booster sessions, partner caregivers of young individuals with ED experienced higher family support and reported better knowledge, more confidence, and more positive illness beliefs regarding the disorder.

The past is prologue? The long arc of childhood trauma in a multigenerational study of teen mothering.

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to describe intergenerational patterns in adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and protective childhood experiences among teen mothers, their parents and children, and to include social disadvantage as a source of ACE. At the seventh wave of a study that has followed teen mothers and families beginning in 1988 for 28 years, 42 family members were reinterviewed in 2016. Adult participants also completed two tools that identify ACE and childhood family strengths. After narrative data were coded inductively, Interpretive Family Profiles were created to facilitate case and cross-case analysis. Of the 9 participating teen mothers at Time 7, 4 reported few ACE and many family strengths; their parents and children reported similar scores. Of the 5 mothers reporting high ACE, children's scores improved with one exception. Findings suggest that mothers' aspirations to shield their children from trauma was a fragile endeavor for mothers who faced ongoing trauma and economic hardships. Clinicians may facilitate intergenerational repair by capitalizing on mothers' aspirations with trauma-informed care and referrals to community resources. Trauma assessment should also include poverty-related ACE and experiences related to stigma and discrimination.

Strengths and resources used by Australian and Danish adult patients and their family caregivers during treatment for cancer.

PURPOSE: Family plays an essential role in supporting the patient with cancer, however, relatively little attention has been given to understanding the strengths and resources of the family unit across different settings and countries. This study aims to investigate the strengths and resources of patients and family members in Australia and Denmark. METHODS: Using a descriptive, cross-sectional design, 232 patient and family participants from inpatient and outpatient oncology services in Australia and Denmark completed paper based surveys that included the Family Hardiness Index (FHI) and Family Crisis Orientated Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), together with demographic and health information. RESULTS: The family's appraisal of the cancer and ways the family worked together predicted the level of external resources used to manage their circumstances. CONCLUSION: After a cancer diagnosis patients and family respond in different ways related to their family functioning. There is a need for nurses to work closely with the family to understand their strengths and resources, and tailor support and information for family to promote optimal patient outcomes.

Psychometric properties and validation of the Italian version of the Family Assessment Measure Third Edition - Short Version - in a nonclinical sample.

BACKGROUND: Family functioning plays an important role in developing and maintaining dysfunctional behaviors, especially during adolescence. The lack of indicators of family functioning, as determinants of personal and interpersonal problems, represents an obstacle to the activities aimed at developing preventive and intervention strategies. The Process Model of Family Functioning provides a conceptual framework organizing and integrating various concepts into a comprehensive family assessment; this model underlines that through the process of task accomplishment, each family meets objectives central to its life as a group. The Family Assessment Measure Third Edition (FAM III), based on the Process Model of Family Functioning, is among the most frequently used self-report instruments to measure family functioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Family Assessment Measure Third Edition - Short Version (Brief FAM-III). It consists of three modules: General Scale, which evaluates the family as a system; Dyadic Relationships Scale, which examines how each family member perceives his/her relationship with another member; and Self-Rating Scale, which indicates how each family member is perceived within the nucleus. The developed Brief FAM-III together with the Family Assessment Device were administered to 484 subjects, members of 162 Italian families, formed of 162 fathers aged between 35 and 73 years; 162 mothers aged between 34 and 69 years; and 160 children aged between 12 and 35 years. Correlation, paired-sample t-test, and reliability analyses were carried out. RESULTS: General item analysis shows good indices of reliability with Cronbach's α coefficients equal to 0.96. The Brief FAM-III has satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's α equal to 0.90 for General Scale, 0.94 for Dyadic Relationships Scale, and 0.88 for the Self-Rating Scale. CONCLUSION: The Brief FAM-III can be a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for the assessment of family strengths and weaknesses within Italian contexts. The instrument can be used to obtain an overall idea of family functioning, for the purposes of preliminary screening, and for monitoring family functioning over time or during treatment.

Spiritual Well-Being and Dyadic Adjustment: Mediator Effects for Family Strengths.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to test a structural model of hypothesized relationships between spiritual well-being, intervening variables of personal worth of self and others, commitment to relationship stability, commitment to relationship growth, positive interaction/appreciation, communication/conflict resolution, time spent together, and, the dependent variable, dyadic adjustment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and sixty eight (171 females and 97 males) married parent subjects were selected by convenience sampling from three universities in Mazandaran, Iran, to take part in this study. They were all volunteers and were not paid and their age range was 23 to 47 (31.07 ± 4.37 years). All participants were asked to complete the spiritual well-being scale (SWBS), family strengths scale (FSS) and revised dyadic adjustment scale (RDAS). RESULTS: The results from structural equation modeling confirmed a hierarchy for the development of family strengths, and indicated that spiritual well-being and strength in most characteristics affected dyadic adjustment, positively (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Couples' level of dyadic adjustment is increased when they have higher spiritual well-being, value each other, have commitment to each other, communicate well, enjoy being with each other, and spend time together.

Leveraging paraprofessionals and family strengths to improve coverage and penetration of nutrition and early child development services.

Children need to be protected in intergenerational networks, with parents who have positive mood, resources to feed their children, and skills to promote early childhood development (ECD). Globally, more than 200 million children are raised annually without these resources. This article reviews the potential contributions of increasing coverage and penetration of services for these children, challenges to achieving penetration of services in high-risk families, opportunities created by bundling multiple services within one provider, potential leveraging of paraprofessionals to deliver care, and mobilizing communities to support children in households at high risk for negative outcomes. We end with a number of suggestions for how to ensure the equitable scale-up of integrated ECD and nutrition services that take into account current global priorities, as well as coverage and penetration of services.