Mental health profiles of depressive symptoms and personal well-being among active-duty military families.

Although some research has examined the mental health of individual family members in military families, additional research is needed that considers mental health among multiple members of the family system simultaneously and that characterizes subsets of families with distinct patterns. Mental health patterns of depressive symptoms and well-being in and among families were identified using latent profile analysis with a community sample of 236 military families with a service member (SM) parent, civilian partner, and adolescent. Drawing from the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response model, we examined several military-related family demands (e.g., relocations, deployments) and capabilities (e.g., family cohesion, social support outside the family) as correlates of the family profiles. Three profiles emerged: thriving families (62.3% of the sample where all three family members reported relatively low depressive symptoms and high personal well-being), families with a relatively distressed SM (24.2%), and families with a relatively distressed adolescent (13.5%). Overall, there were no differences between the groups of families regarding military-related demands, yet there were differences between the groups regarding their capabilities, namely family cohesion and social support. In general, families in the thriving profile tended to have higher family cohesion and social support as reported by multiple family members compared to the other two profiles. Findings can inform the development of family needs assessments and tailored interventions (and intervention points) based on family profiles and current capabilities.

It's time to stop using "stepchild" as a pejorative term in science.

Despite their ubiquity, stepfamilies generally hold a stigmatized status. The scientific community at large has not been immune to the influence of stepfamily stigmatization. Misusing the term "stepchild" in science is unnecessary on several fronts. "Stepchild" is often intended to denote neglect, oversight, or mistreatment. Scholars should consider using more direct and precise language, especially considering that scientific writing benefits from clarity, parsimony, and precision. In any case, it's time to stop using "stepchild" as a pejorative term. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Patterns and predictors of adolescent engagement in a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program.

INTRODUCTION: Although mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise for promoting positive youth development, little is known about student engagement in MBIs. Initial research presents mixed findings in MBI engagement related to participant characteristics, and there is a lack of research examining the influence of context on engagement, despite the critical role context plays in academic engagement. This study examines the contribution of student demographic characteristics and classroom context to MBI engagement. METHODS: Survey engagement data were collected at three time points from 106 ninth grade students (Mage = 14.17 years, 60.4% female, 44.2% Black, 24.8% Hispanic/Latino) who participated in the Be CALM program during the 2021-2022 school year. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine trajectory of student engagement and assess student and classroom predictors of engagement. RESULTS: There was no overall change in the trajectory of student engagement, although variability was observed across classes. Identifying as Hispanic/Latino was associated with lower engagement (ß = -.25, p = .008), although this did not appear to be related to program experience. Peer connections predicted engagement at the end of the program (ß = .39, p < .001). Post hoc analyses suggested that student engagement may be related to teacher program delivery quality. CONCLUSIONS: Student engagement in MBIs appears related to classroom context more than student characteristics, although further research with larger samples is needed to assess the link between engagement and program outcomes. Findings have implications for designing school-based MBIs and training school staff to deliver them in culturally responsive ways.

Conceptualizing adverse childhood experiences as a latent factor: Tests of measurement invariance across five racial and ethnic groups.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are conventionally measured using a cumulative-risk index without consideration of distinct measurement properties across racial and ethnic groups. Drawing from the 2018-2020 National Survey of Children's Health (N = 93,759; 48% female; average age: 9.52 years), we assess the measurement invariance of a latent-factor ACE model across five groups: Hispanic children (14%) and non-Hispanic White (73%), Black (7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (5%), and American Indian/Alaskan Native (1%) children. Results support configural and full metric invariance across groups. However, several ACE item thresholds differed across groups. Findings highlight the potential utility of a latent factor approach and underscore the need to assess differences across racial and ethnic groups in terms of the optimal conceptualization and measurement of ACEs.

Developing a practice-driven research agenda in implementation science: Perspectives from experienced implementation support practitioners.

Background: Attention is being placed on the "ironic gap" or "secondary" research-to-practice gap in the field of implementation science. Among several challenges posited to exacerbate this research-to-practice gap, we call attention to one challenge in particular-the relative dearth of implementation research that is tethered intimately to the lived experiences of implementation support practitioners (ISPs). The purpose of this study is to feature a qualitative approach to engaging with highly experienced ISPs to inform the development of a practice-driven research agenda in implementation science. In general, we aim to encourage ongoing empirical inquiry that foregrounds practice-driven implementation research questions. Method: Our analytic sample was comprised of 17 professionals in different child and family service systems, each with long-term experience using implementation science frameworks to support change efforts. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Our analysis followed a qualitative content analysis approach. Our focal conceptual category centered on the desired areas of future research highlighted by respondents, with subcategories reflecting subsets of related research question ideas. Results: Interviews yielded varying responses that could help shape a practice-driven research agenda for the field of implementation science. The following subcategories regarding desired areas for future research were identified in respondents' answers: (a) stakeholder engagement and developing trusting relationships, (b) evidence use, (c) workforce development, and (d) cost-effective implementation. Conclusions: There is significant promise in bringing implementation research and implementation practice together more closely and building a practice-informed research agenda to shape implementation science. Our findings point not only to valuable practice-informed gaps in the literature that could be filled by implementation researchers, but also topics for which dissemination and translation efforts may not have yielded optimal reach. We also highlight the value in ISPs bolstering their own capacity for engaging with the implementation science literature to the fullest extent possible.

In the field of implementation science, increasing attention is being placed on the "ironic gap" or "secondary" research-to-practice gap. This gap reflects a general lag or disconnect between implementation research and implementation practice, often stemming from knowledge generated by implementation research not being accessible to or applied by professionals who support implementation efforts in various service-delivery systems. Several explanations for the research-to-practice gap in implementation science have been offered in recent years; the authors highlight one notable challenge that may be exacerbating the research-to-practice gap in this field, namely that implementation research often remains disconnected from the lived experiences of implementation support practitioners. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the promise of developing a practice-drive research agenda in implementation science, with specific research question ideas offered by highly experienced implementation support practitioners. The paper concludes by expressing enthusiasm for future efforts to bring implementation research and implementation practice together more closely, empirically foreground practice-driven implementation research questions, translate and disseminate existing implementation research findings more widely, and build the capacity of implementation support practitioners to fully engage with the implementation science literature.

Associations between dyadic relationship quality and stepfamily functioning: A common fate modeling approach.

Clinical and empirical literatures have highlighted the value of attending to distinct dyads within stepfamilies to ensure the needs of various relationships are being met. From a family systems perspective, the growth and maintenance of positive dynamics within one dyadic relationship can yield gains in other relationships and shape the larger stepfamily environment. Research seeking to link information about dyads and larger stepfamily systems is often marked by single-informant data or measures that represent individual-level constructs. Methods intended to leverage multi-informant data as indicators of dyad- or family-level constructs (i.e., common fate modeling; CFM) offer valuable opportunities to expand our understanding of stepfamily experiences. Using a sample of 291 stepparent-parent dyads, our study uses multi-informant data and CFM to assess three dyad-level constructs (i.e., marital quality, marital confidence, and stepparent-child relationship quality) as correlates of three stepfamily-level constructs (i.e., cohesion, expressiveness, and harmony). Our findings illustrate meaningful linkages among dyadic relationships and broader stepfamily-level dynamics, specifically emphasizing the role of stepparent-child relationship quality and marital confidence in shaping stepfamily cohesion, expressiveness, and harmony. The results also signal the potential for substantive findings to vary with respect to the selected unit of analysis.

The Relationship Between a Lifetime History of Sexual Victimization and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and the well-being of women during the perinatal period has received increasing attention. However, research investigating this relationship has yet to be systematically reviewed or quantitatively synthesized. AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to calculate the pooled effect size estimate of the statistical association between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and perinatal depression (PND). METHOD: Four bibliographic databases were systematically searched, and reference harvesting was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles that empirically examined associations between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and PND. A random effects model was used to ascertain an overall pooled effect size estimate in the form of an odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were also conducted to assess whether particular study features and sample characteristic (e.g., race and ethnicity) influenced the magnitude of effect size estimates. RESULTS: This review included 36 studies, with 45 effect size estimates available for meta-analysis. Women with a lifetime history of sexual victimization had 51% greater odds of experiencing PND relative to women with no history of sexual victimization (OR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.35, 1.67]). Effect size estimates varied considerably according to the PND instrument used in each study and the racial/ethnic composition of each sample. CONCLUSION: Findings provide compelling evidence for an association between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and PND. Future research should focus on screening practices and interventions that identify and support survivors of sexual victimization perinatally.

Differences in internalized stigma of mental illness among college students based on demographic characteristics.

Objective: To assess differences in internalized stigma of mental illness based on demographic characteristics and mental healthcare utilization among college students. Participants: Students with self-reported mental illness (n = 128) were recruited via random sampling. Methods: Participants completed an online survey, including questions related to demographic characteristics and mental healthcare utilization. The survey also included the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Students accessing mental healthcare (pharmacological and/or psychotherapeutic) reported higher ISMI scores than students who did not access services during past year. Students with sexual minority statuses also reported higher ISMI scores than their heterosexual counterparts. Conclusions: Results highlight differences in internalized stigma based on demographics characteristics and mental healthcare utilization among college students. More research is needed to better understand intersectional stigma. Further, universities need tailored and specific interventions to address internalized stigma among students with diverse backgrounds and needs.

Stepparent-Child Relationships and Child Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

An inclusive conceptualization of "family" can enable family-serving systems and professionals to leverage high-quality family relationships, wherever they are found, to support the health and well-being of individuals. Stepfamilies are an especially common family form with distinct needs and experiences, and stepparent-child relationships can take on a variety of functions with implications for family stability and individual well-being. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize empirical associations between stepparent-child relationships and child outcomes. General findings from 56 studies highlighted significant associations between several dimensions of stepparent-child relationships and children's psychological, behavioral, social, academic, and physical well-being. Meta-analytic findings from 68 effect-size estimates further substantiated significant and positive associations between stepparent-child relationship quality and child psychological well-being (mean r = .25) and academic well-being (mean r = .23), as well as significant and negative associations between stepparent-child relationship quality and child psychological problems (mean r = -.23) and behavioral problems (mean r = -.19).

An Intervention Framework for Addressing Stigma on College Campuses: Findings From a 3-Year-Long Intervention Program.

ABSTRACT: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will only exacerbate the rising mental health concerns among college students. However, stigma toward such concerns continues to hinder mental health care utilization among the students, requiring urgent evidence that can help guide college campuses in implementing effective antistigma interventions. We propose and provide evidence for an intervention based on findings from a 3-year-long antistigma intervention that was implemented on a Southeastern college campus in the United States. Unique random samples of college students, totaling N = 1727 across 3 years, were recruited as participants. Each year, participants completed a preintervention and postintervention survey comprising of questions related to demographics, stigma, and mental health care knowledge. Findings indicate that the stakeholder-led intervention decreased personal stigma and increased mental health care knowledge among students who were exposed to the intervention. Further research is needed to assess feasibility and efficacy of the proposed intervention framework on other campuses.

A Systematic Review of Approaches for Continuous Quality Improvement Capacity-Building.

CONTEXT: Continuous quality improvement (CQI) has become prominent in public health settings; yet, little consolidated guidance exists for building CQI capacity of community-based organizations. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize relevant literature to identify guiding principles and core components critical to building the capacity of organizations to adopt and use CQI. DESIGN: We employed a systematic review approach to assess guiding principles and core components for CQI capacity-building as outlined in the literature. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for review: (1) empirical, peer-reviewed journal article, evaluation study, review, or systematic review; (2) published in 2010 or later; and (3) capacity-building activities were described in enough detail to be replicable. Studies not including human subjects, published in a language other than English, or for which full text was not available were excluded. STUDY SELECTION: The initial return of records included 6557 articles, of which 1455 were duplicates. The research team single-screened titles and abstracts of 5102 studies, resulting in the exclusion of 4842 studies. Two hundred sixty-two studies were double-screened during full-text review, yielding a final sample of 61 studies from which data were extracted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures of interest were operationalized descriptions of guiding principles and core components of the CQI capacity-building approach. RESULTS: Results yielded articles from medical education, health care, and public health settings. Findings included guiding principles and core components of CQI capacity-building identified in current practice, as well as infrastructural and contextual elements needed to build CQI capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This consolidation of guiding principles and core components for CQI capacity-building is valuable for public health and related workforces. Despite the uneven distribution of articles from health care, medical education, and public health settings, our findings can be used to guide public health organizations in building CQI capacity in a well-informed, systematic manner.

The Role of Family Health History in Predicting Midlife Chronic Disease Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The generational relevance for determining disease risk for the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for U.S. adults is a source of debate. METHODS: Data on 12,300 adults (Add Health Study Members) participating in Wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (also known as Add Health) were merged with data from respondents' parents (n=2,013) participating in the Add Health Parent Study (2015-2017). Analyses beginning in January 2020 examined the concordance in lifetime occurrence of chronic conditions across 4 generations, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, cancer, and depression and examined the associations between individual disease history and ones' family health history for the same condition. RESULTS: Mean ages were 37.4 years for Add Health Study Members and 62.9 years for Add Health Parent Study mothers. The histories of mothers from the Add Health Parent Study on hyperlipidemia (AOR=1.61, 95% CI=1.04, 2.48), obesity (AOR=1.77, 95% CI=1.27, 2.48), and depression (AOR=1.87, 95% CI=1.19, 2.95) were significantly associated with increased odds of Add Health Study Member report of these conditions. Maternal great grandparent hyperlipidemia history was significantly associated with the Add Health Study Member hyperlipidemia (AOR=2.81, 95% CI=1.51, 5.21). Histories of diabetes in maternal grandfather (AOR=2.41, 95% CI=1.24, 4.69) and maternal great grandparent (AOR=3.05, 95% CI=1.45, 6.43) were significantly associated with Add Health Study Member diabetes. Each additional point in the Add Health Parent Study mothers' cardiometabolic risk factor index was associated with an 11% increase (incidence rate ratio=1.11, 95% CI=1.04, 1.19) in the expected count of cardiometabolic risk conditions for the Add Health Study Members. CONCLUSIONS: Multigenerational health histories have value for quantifying the probability of diabetes, obesity, depression, and hyperlipidemia in early mid-adulthood. Family health history knowledge is relevant for health promotion and disease prevention strategies.

Mindful Parenting, Parenting Cognitions, and Parent-Youth Communication: Bidirectional Linkages and Mediational Processes.

OBJECTIVES: Mindful parenting and parenting cognitions likely have important linkages to each other and to parent-child communication, but these linkages have not been tested. In this article, we test the bidirectional linkages between mindful parenting and parenting cognitions (sense of competence, parent-centered attributions) and the underlying mediational processes that link them to parent-child communication (parental solicitation and youth disclosure). METHODS: Longitudinal, autoregressive cross-lagged models were run within a longitudinal sample of rural and suburban early adolescents and their mothers (n = 421; mean adolescent age = 12.14, 46% male, 73% white). RESULTS: Significant bidirectional linkages were found between mindful parenting and parenting cognitions across Time 1 and Time 2. Greater mindful parenting at Time 1 was associated with more positive parenting cognitions (e.g., greater perceptions of parental competence and fewer negative parent-centered attributions or self-blame) at Time 2. More positive parenting cognitions at Time 1 were also associated with greater levels of mindful parenting at Time 2. Mindful parenting at Time 2 mediated the association between parenting cognitions (both parent-centered attributions and sense of competence) at Time 1 and parental solicitation at Time 3. CONCLUSIONS: Mindful parenting and parenting cognitions influence each other over time. Parenting cognitions can affect parental solicitation via increases in mindful parenting. The discussion focuses on potential underlying processes.

Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Parenting and Children's Externalizing Behaviors: Transactional Processes Over Time.

This study used longitudinal data to examine the transactional associations between mothers' spanking and mother-child relationship quality with children's externalizing behaviors in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Data came from a sample of 1,152 low-income mothers with children age 10-14 years. Results showed that past-year IPV triggered transactional associations by increasing children's externalizing behaviors which, in turn, increased spanking and subsequently more externalizing behaviors. Transactional associations were also found for relationship quality. All outcomes used were mothers-reported except relationship quality. Implications for practice include the importance of the mother-child dyad and their reciprocal processes in assessment and treatment.

Like Parent, Like Child: Intergenerational Patterns of Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Midlife.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the prevalence of four cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking) for parents and their adult children at the same approximate midlife age. We also evaluated associations of parents' cardiovascular risk factors, childhood health exposures, and social contexts (i.e., family, school, and neighborhood) during adolescence with adult children's cardiovascular health at midlife. METHODS: We used data from respondents at Wave V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health who had corresponding parent (mostly mothers) data from Wave I. The final sample included 10,466 adult children with a mean age of 37.8 years. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were estimated, accounting for the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health sampling design. RESULTS: At similar ages (i.e., 35-45 years) to their parents, adult children had higher rates of excessive drinking and obesity than their parents, lower rates of diabetes, and similar rates of smoking. Adult children's health largely converged and correlated with their parents' health at similar ages. Cardiovascular risks for adult children were also significantly associated with their childhood health exposures and social contexts during adolescence. Some associations varied with respect to the health status of parents at Wave I. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular risk of parents at midlife is strongly associated with the cardiovascular risk of their adult children at midlife. The status of parents' health during adolescence can also modify the significance and magnitude of associations between childhood health exposures or adolescent social contexts and adult children's cardiovascular risk factors.

Patterns of Interactions Between Youth and Resident Stepmothers: A Latent Class Analysis.

Stepparent-child relationships are a core pillar of stepfamily functioning and well-being. Stepparents can take on a variety of roles in the lives of their stepchildren, ranging from de facto parents to distant acquaintances. There remain important opportunities to explore specific interactional patterns between youth and stepparents, particularly resident stepmothers. Drawing from a family systems perspective, the purpose of the current study is to explore patterns of youth-stepmother interaction across recreational, personal, academic, and disciplinary domains of family life. Latent class analysis is conducted using a representative sample of 295 youth (mean age: 15.82 years, SD = 1.63; 41% female; 65% non-Hispanic White) residing in father-stepmother households who have living nonresident mothers at Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The optimal latent class solution yielded four interactional patterns, labeled versatile and involved (21%), inactive (12%), casually connected (17%), and academically oriented (50%). The latent classes are also contrasted with respect to stepfamily relationship quality, youth well-being, and socio-demographic characteristics. Foremost, the results illustrate significant variability in the patterns of interactions between youth and their resident stepmothers, which could be attributed to youths' varying autonomy-seeking efforts and other complex family dynamics. Consistent with a family systems perspective, associations between youth-stepmother interactional patterns and family and youth outcomes highlight the importance of the relationship between youth and their resident stepmothers. Importantly, not all interactional patterns differed significantly across outcomes, suggesting that no one pattern is universally optimal in father-stepmother families with adolescent children.

Las relaciones entre padrastros, madrastras e hijastros son un pilar fundamental del funcionamiento y el bienestar de las familias ensambladas. Los padrastros y las madrastras pueden asumir diversos roles en las vidas de sus hijastros, desde padres de hecho a personas con una relación distante. Quedan importantes oportunidades de analizar patrones interactivos específicos entre los jóvenes y los padrastros y madrastras, particularmente las madrastras residentes. Basándonos en una perspectiva de sistemas familiares, el propósito del presente estudio es analizar patrones de interacción entre los jóvenes y las madrastras en ámbitos recreativos, personales, académicos y disciplinarios de la vida familiar. Se realiza un análisis de clases latentes utilizando una muestra representativa de 295 jóvenes (edad promedio: 15.82 años, desviación típica = 1.63; 41 % de sexo femenino; 65 % raza blanca no hispana) que viven en hogares conformados por el padre y la madrastra, y que tienen madres vivas no residentes en la fase I del "Estudio Longitudinal Nacional de Salud de Adolescentes a Adultos" (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health). La solución óptima de clase latente arrojó cuatro patrones interactivos llamados adaptables e interesados (21 %), inactivos (12 %), conectados ocasionalmente (17 %), y orientados académicamente (50 %). Las clases latentes también se contrastan con respecto a la calidad de la relación de la familia ensamblada, el bienestar de los jóvenes y las características sociodemográficas. Principalmente, los resultados ilustran la variabilidad significativa en los patrones de interacciones entre los jóvenes y sus madrastras residentes, que podrían atribuirse a los distintos esfuerzos de búsqueda de autonomía por parte de los jóvenes y a otras dinámicas familiares complejas. De acuerdo con una perspectiva de sistemas familiares, las asociaciones entre los patrones interactivos entre los jóvenes y las madrastras y los resultados de las familias y los jóvenes destacan la importancia de la relación entre los jóvenes y sus madrastras residentes. Cabe señalar que no todos los patrones interactivos difirieron considerablemente entre los resultados, lo cual sugiere que ningún patrón es óptimo a nivel universal en las familias de padres y madrastras con hijos adolescentes.

Hostile interactions in the family: Patterns and links to youth externalizing problems.

In line with family systems theory, we examined patterns of hostile interactions within families and their associations with externalizing problems among early-adolescent children. Using hostility scores based on observational data of six dyadic interactions during a triadic interaction (n = 462) (i.e., child-to-mother, mother-to-child, child-to-father, father-to-child, mother-to-father, father-to-mother)-Latent Profile Analysis supported three distinct profiles of hostility. The Low/Moderate Hostile profile included families with the lowest levels of hostility across dyads; families in the Mutual Parent-Child Hostile profile scored higher on parent-child hostility, but lower on interparental hostility; the Hostile Parent profile showed higher levels of parent-to-child and interparental hostility, but lower child-to-parent hostility. Concerning links to youth outcomes, youth in the Mutual Parent-Child Hostile profile reported the highest level of externalizing problems, both concurrently and longitudinally. These results point to the importance of examining larger family patterns of hostility to fully understand the association between family hostility and youth adjustment.

Stepfamily Processes and Youth Adjustment: The Role of Perceived Neighborhood Collective Efficacy.

Using a representative sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and a recently developed stepfamily-process typology, this study explores three plausible functions of perceived neighborhood collective efficacy with respect to stepfamily life and youth adjustment: an ability to (1) prevent maladaptive patterns of stepfamily processes, (2) promote stepchildren's adjustment beyond the influence of stepfamily processes, and (3) protect stepchildren's adjustment when faced with maladaptive patterns of stepfamily processes. The results indicate that higher levels of perceived neighborhood collective efficacy are associated with more adaptive stepfamily processes and higher levels of youth self-esteem over time, net the influence of stepfamily processes.

Parental Involvement and Adolescents' Academic Achievement: Latent Profiles of Mother and Father Warmth as a Moderating Influence.

Parental involvement in their adolescents' education plays an important role in promoting their children's academic outcomes. Yet, more research is needed to examine the relationship between parenting practices and parental warmth as well as to consider the potential joint contribution of warmth from both fathers and mothers. Thus, the primary purpose of the current study is to examine the extent to which patterns of parental warmth across fathers and mothers moderate the association between parental involvement and adolescents' grade point average (GPA) and school engagement behaviors. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify disparate profiles of fathers' and mothers' warmth within a nationally representative sample of 2,306 youths (51% male; mean age = 15.31 years, SD = 1.50; 77% non-Hispanic White) residing in opposite-sex, two-parent families from Wave I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Latent-class enumeration processes support a five-profile solution characterized by differences in levels of parental warmth and congruency across parents: (a) Congruent High Warmth, (b) Congruent Moderate Warmth, (c) Congruent Low Warmth, (d) Incongruent High Mother/Low Father Warmth, and (e) Incongruent Low Father/Lower Mother Warmth. Subsequent multiple linear regression analyses reveal a moderating effect for Congruent Low Warmth on the relationship between parental involvement and adolescents' GPA. Ultimately, the results show that variation in parental warmth exists across fathers and mothers with differing impact on adolescents' outcomes. Excluding one parent without considering the joint effects of both parents will not produce an accurate and precise understanding of parenting in research or practice.

La participación de los padres en la educación de sus hijos adolescentes desempeña un papel importante en el fomento de los resultados académicos de sus hijos. Sin embargo, se necesitan más investigaciones para analizar la relación entre las prácticas de crianza y la calidez de los padres y para tener en cuenta el posible aporte conjunto de calidez tanto de los padres como de las madres. Por lo tanto, el propósito principal del presente estudio es analizar el grado hasta el cual los patrones de calidez parental de los padres y las madres moderan la asociación entre la participación de los padres y el promedio de calificaciones de los adolescentes y las conductas de participación escolar. Se realizaron análisis de clases latentes para reconocer los diversos perfiles de calidez de los padres y las madres dentro de una muestra representativa a nivel nacional de 2306 jóvenes (51% masculina; edad promedio = 15.31 años, Desviación Típica= 1.50; 77% blanca no hispana) que vivían en familias formadas por dos padres del sexo opuesto de las fases I y II del Estudio Longitudinal Nacional de Salud del Adolescente al Adulto. Los procesos de enumeración de clases latentes respaldan una solución de cinco perfiles caracterizados por diferencias en los niveles de calidez parental y congruencia entre los padres: (a) calidez congruente alta, (b) calidez congruente moderada, (c) calidez congruente baja, (d) calidez incongruente, alta en la madre/baja en el padre, y (e) calidez incongruente, baja en el padre/más baja en la madre. Los análisis posteriores de regresión lineal múltiple revelan un efecto moderador para la calidez congruente baja en la relación entre la participación parental y el promedio de calificaciones de los adolescentes. Finalmente, los resultados demuestran que existe una variación en la calidez parental entre padres y madres con efectos muy distintos en los resultados de los adolescentes. Excluir a un padre sin tener en cuenta los efectos conjuntos de ambos padres no generará una comprensión certera y precisa de la crianza en la investigación o la práctica.

A Typology of Interactional Patterns Between Youth and Their Stepfathers: Associations with Family Relationship Quality and Youth Well-Being.

Stepfamilies are an increasingly common family form, many of which are headed by a resident mother and stepfather. Stepfather-child relationships exert notable influence on stepfamily stability and individual well-being. Although various stepfather roles have been observed, more research is warranted by which stepfather-child interactions are explored holistically and across a variety of life domains (e.g., recreational, personal, academic, and disciplinary). Thus, the primary purpose of the current study is to explore varying interactional patterns between youth and their stepfathers. A latent class analysis is conducted using a representative sample of 1,183 youth (53% female; mean age = 15.64 years, SD = 1.70 years; 62% non-Hispanic White) residing in mother-stepfather families from Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Latent-class enumeration processes support a four-class solution, with latent classes representing inactive, academically oriented, casually connected, and versatile and involved patterns of youth-stepparent interaction. Notable differences and similarities are evident across patterns with respect to family relationship quality, youth well-being, and socio-demographic characteristics. Differences are most stark between the inactive and versatile and involved patterns. Ultimately, the results showcase notable variation in youth-stepparent interactional patterns, and one size does not necessarily fit all stepfamilies. Family practitioners should be mindful of variation in youth-stepparent interactional patterns and assist stepfamilies in seeking out stepparent-child dynamics that are most compatible with the needs and dynamics of the larger family system.

Las familias ensambladas son cada vez más una forma común de familia, muchas de las cuales están encabezadas por una madre y un padrastro residentes. Las relaciones entre el padrastro y los niños ejercen una influencia notable en la estabilidad de la familia ensamblada y en el bienestar individual. Aunque se han observado distintos roles de los padrastros, se necesitan más investigaciones en las que las interacciones entre el padrastro y los niños se analicen íntegramente y en diferentes ámbitos de la vida (p. ej.: recreativo, personal, académico y disciplinario). Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal del presente estudio es analizar patrones interactivos variados entre los jóvenes y sus padrastros. Se realiza un análisis de clases latentes utilizando una muestra representativa de 1183 jóvenes (el 53 % de sexo femenino; edad promedio = 15.64 años, DT = 1.70 años; el 62 % blancos no hispanos) que viven en familias compuestas por una madre y un padrastro de la serie I del "Estudio Longitudinal Nacional de la Salud Adolescente a Adulta" (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health). Los procesos de enumeración de las clases latentes respaldan una solución de cuatro clases, donde las clases latentes representan patrones de interacción inactivos, orientados a lo académico, conectados ocasionalmente y versátiles e interesados entre los jóvenes y los padrastros. Se observan diferencias y similitudes notables entre los patrones con respecto a la calidad de la relación familiar, al bienestar de los jóvenes y a las características sociodemográficas. Las diferencias son más marcadas entre los patrones inactivos y versátiles e interesados. Finalmente, los resultados exhiben una variación notable en los patrones interactivos entre los jóvenes y los padrastros, por lo tanto, no necesariamente existe un criterio único aplicable a todas las familias esambladas. Los médicos familiares deben estar al tanto de la variación en los patrones interactivos entre los jóvenes y los padrastros y ayudar a las familias ensambladas a buscar una dinámica entre los jóvenes y los padrastros que sea más compatible con las necesidades y la dinámica del sistema familiar más amplio.