Parenting in a post-conflict region: Associations between observed maternal parenting practices and maternal, child, and contextual factors in northern Uganda.

Studies show that war leads to an increase in harsh parenting and a decrease in parental warmth, which in turn has a devastating impact on children's development. However, there is insufficient research on the factors that affect parenting in post-conflict regions. In addition, most previous studies on the role of parenting in the context of war rely on self-reports, which are subject to a number of limitations. To complement existing research, the present cross-sectional study used behavioral observations of 101 mothers and their 6-12 year old children to assess parenting in post-conflict northern Uganda. The aim of the current study was to explore associations between observed maternal warmth and coercion and self-reported socioeconomic status (e.g., mother's educational level) as well as maternal (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder), child (e.g., externalizing problems), and social contextual factors (e.g., family violence). Results show a link between observed parenting, child characteristics, and family violence. Higher levels of children's externalizing problems were associated with more severe maternal coercion. In addition, a negative association was found between family violence and maternal warmth. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and intervention programs and the use of behavioral observations in post-conflict environments.

Preparing the Field for Feasibility Testing of a Parenting Intervention for War-Affected Mothers in Northern Uganda.

In this article, we discuss the successful implementation of an adapted evidence-based parenting intervention for families affected by two decades of war in Northern Uganda. The adaptation and adoption of such interventions to support mental health and family functioning is widely endorsed by prevention scientists and considered a priority in global mental health. The preparation and early adoption phases of engaging with a highly vulnerable community affected by war trauma are documented in this paper along with a discussion of the steps taken to adapt a parenting intervention for cultural and contextual fit. This study is a component of an overall program of research aimed at reducing the long-term negative effects of war on parenting practices and childhood outcomes, which have considerable implications for preventing mental, neurological, and substance-use disorders. The processes described here cover a 4-year period culminating in the implementation of the nine-session Enhancing Family Connection intervention piloted with a group of 14 mothers. The lessons in cultural adaptation have been valuable and the feasibility results promising for further testing the intervention.

Assessing the feasibility of providing a parenting intervention for war-affected families in northern Uganda.

This article reports the results of a feasibility study of an intervention, Enhancing Family Connection (EFC), conducted in Northern Uganda in 2012. Enhancing Family Connection's sessions were an adaption of the Parent Management Training, Oregon model. Three interrelated areas of feasibility were assessed: (a) acceptability, (b) usability, and (c) limited efficacy. This study utilized questionnaires and semi-structured interviews completed by mothers and a focal child pre- and post-intervention. Results indicated that mothers found the intervention acceptable to their families and culture and showed promise for Enhancing Family Connection's efficacy in changing parenting behaviors. This study supports continued development of this intervention.

[Interinstitutional cooperation between youth welfare services, child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry - an empirical study]. / Interinstitutionelle Kooperation der Jugendhilfe, der Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychiatrie und der Erwachsenenpsychiatrie ­ Eine empirische Untersuchung.

Family support in Germany is provided by a conglomerate of different support systems. In order to optimize the networking and cooperation of these inter-institutional support systems, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the existing cooperation structures. Against this background, different qualitative and quantitative aspects were surveyed and analyzed by means of a questionnaire among participants from different help systems. The results point in particular to the currently existing special role of adult psychiatry.

Behavioral Observations in Northern UGANDA: Development of a Coding System to Assess Mother-Child Interactions in a Post-war Society.

There is growing interest in causes and consequences of disruptions in parent-child relationships in post-war environments. Recent studies mainly relied on self-reports to gain information about family dynamics following war exposure. Considering the limitations of self-report measures, we see the need for an in-depth examination of post-conflict parenting based on observational and quantitative data. The aim of the present study was the development of a coding system for a culturally bound description of parent-child interactions in northern Uganda, where virtually the entire population has been severely affected by 20 years of civil war. Interactions of 101 mothers and their 6- to 12-year-old children were observed during a structured interaction task (problem solving discussion). Foundation for the development of the coding system was the Family and Peer Process Code (FPP code). The cultural adaptation of the FPP code was based on in-depth qualitative analyses of the problem solving task, including a combination of inductive and deductive latent content analyses of textual data and videotapes, member checking and consultations of experts in the field of behavioral observations. The final coding system consists of 35 exhaustive and mutually exclusive content codes including codes for verbal, vocal, and compliance behavior as well as 14 affect codes. Findings indicate that the assessment of behavioral observations in post-conflict settings provides unique insights into culture- and context-specific interaction patterns and may be critical for the development and evaluation of parenting interventions.