Parental Attachment and Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents Exposed to Marital Conflict.

(1) Background: Interparental conflict is a phenomenon that poses a serious threat not only to the quality of life of the couple but also to the father-child relationship, mother-child relationship, and well-being of adolescents. This study examined the difference in parental attachment and adjustment in adolescents exposed to marital conflict versus those not exposed to parental conflicts in low-income areas. (2) Methods: 67 adolescents involved in Child Welfare Services (CWS) in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in southern Spain were examined. The sample was split into two groups according to the exposure to marital conflict. Subsequently, differences between groups were analysed on father attachment, mother attachment, aggression, antisocial behaviour, and emotional intelligence. (3) Results: Primarily, the data showed significantly worse attachment with the father among conflict-exposed versus non-conflict-exposed adolescents. These results were not found for the attachment with the mother. Additionally, greater anger and worse stress management were found in conflict-exposed adolescents. (4) Conclusions: The results partially confirmed the spillover and compensatory hypothesis. Practical implications point out that developing preventive interventions that protect the father-adolescent attachment in situations of family conflict is recommended.

Whole-Exome Sequencing of 21 Families: Candidate Genes for Early-Onset High Myopia.

High myopia is the most severe and pathological form of myopia. It occurs when the spherical refractive error exceeds -6.00 spherical diopters (SDs) or the axial length (AL) of the eye is greater than 26 mm. This article focuses on early-onset high myopia, an increasingly common condition that affects children under 10 years of age and can lead to other serious ocular pathologies. Through the genetic analysis of 21 families with early-onset high myopia, this study seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the role of genetics in this disease and to propose candidate genes. Whole-exome sequencing studies with a panel of genes known to be involved in the pathology were performed in families with inconclusive results: 3% of the variants found were classified as pathogenic, 6% were likely pathogenic and the remaining 91% were variants of uncertain significance. Most of the families in this study were found to have alterations in several of the proposed genes. This suggests a polygenic inheritance of the pathology due to the cumulative effect of the alterations. Further studies are needed to validate and confirm the role of these alterations in the development of early-onset high myopia and its polygenic inheritance.

Psychometric Properties of the Inventory of Parents-Peer Attachment (IPPA) in Adolescents with Behavioural Problems / Propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Apego a Padres-Iguales (IPPA) en adolescentes con problemas de comportamiento

Background: The Inventory of Parental-Peer Attachment (IPPA) is an internationally recognized measure to assess the attachment of adolescents to their parents and peers. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the IPPA in a sample of Spanish adolescents with behavioural problems. Method: The sample was composed of 294 Spanish adolescents (53% girls) with behavioural problems. The IPPA mother, father, and peer versions, along with other related measures, were administered. Results: The 25-item scale, distributed into three factors, was confirmed for both the mother and father versions but not for the peer version. The IPPA showed adequate values of reliability ranging from .79 to .86. Validity was demonstrated through correlations with emotional intelligence, antisocial behaviour, and aggressiveness. Conclusion: The three-factor version of the IPPA is a useful, reliable, and valid scale to assess the attachment of adolescents with problematic behaviours and their parents. (AU)

Antecedentes: El Inventario de Apego a Padres e Iguales (IPPA) es un instrumento reconocido internacionalmente para evaluar el apego de adolescentes hacia padres e iguales. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido examinar las propiedades psicométricas del IPPA en una muestra de adolescentes españoles con problemas de conducta. Método: La muestra estaba compuesta por 294 adolescentes españoles (53% chicas) con problemas de conducta. Se administraron las versiones de IPPA madre, IPPA padre e IPPA iguales, junto con otras medidas relacionadas. Resultados: Se ha confirmado la escala de 25 ítems, distribuida en tres factores, para la versión IPPA madre e IPPA padre, pero no para la versión de iguales. El IPPA ha mostrado valores adecuados de fiabilidad que oscilaban entre .79 y .86. La validez se demostró mediante las correlaciones significativas con las variables inteligencia emocional, conducta antisocial y agresividad. Conclusiones: La versión de tres factores del IPPA es una escala útil, fiable y válida para evaluar el vínculo de adolescentes que muestran conductas problemáticas con sus padres. (AU)

An Integrated Analysis of the Impact of Spanish Family Support Programmes with Informed Evidence / Un análisis integrado del impacto de los programas españoles de apoyo familiar basados en la evidencia

A description is made of the quality of Spanish family support programmes, based on their impact, dissemination, scaling up in communities, and sustainability; 57 implemented programmes with informed evidence were selected by EurofamNet. Most of the programmes were shown to make a positive impact, using quantitative methodologies, and they were manualized, while about half of them defined the core contents and included professional training. From a cluster analysis of programmes with scaling up, those with a high and moderate level of systematization were identified, based on the existence of defined core contents, implementation conditions, institutional support, professional training, and reports of findings. The highly systematized programmes were characterized by a greater use of mixed methodologies, their scientific dissemination through different means, and their inclusion in services. A programme quality analysis is proposed, taking an integrated approach that relates the programme’s impact with its design, implementation, and evaluation of sustainability.(AU)

En este trabajo se presenta una descripción de la calidad de los programas españoles de apoyo a las familias, basándose en su impacto, difusión, diseminación institucional y sostenibilidad. En el marco de EurofamNet se seleccionaron 57 programas implementados con evidencia fundamentada. La mayoría de los programas mostraron un impacto positivo utilizando metodologías cuantitativas y estaban manualizados, mientras que cerca de la mitad de ellos definían los contenidos clave e incluían la formación de los profesionales. A partir de un análisis de conglomerados se identificaron los que tenían un nivel de sistematización alto y moderado, definidos los contenidos clave y las condiciones de implementación, apoyo institucional, formación profesional e informes de resultados. Los programas con alto nivel de sistematización se caracterizaron por un mayor uso de metodologías mixtas, su difusión científica a través de diferentes medios y su inclusión en las instituciones. Se propone un análisis de la calidad de los programas, con un enfoque integrado que relacione el impacto del programa con su diseño, implementación y la evaluación de la sostenibilidad.(AU)

Sistematización del programa preventivo para menores en situación de conflictividad en el ámbito familiar en la comunidad de Andalucía: Programa NAYFA / Systematization of the preventive program for minors in conflict situations in the family environment in the community of Andalusia: NAYFA Program

En este artículo se describe el proceso de investigación-acción llevado a cabo para la redefinición y el diseño de un programa destinado a niños, niñas y adolescentes con dificultades y/o situaciones conflictivas en el ámbito familiar. El diseño del nuevo programa NAYFA se ha realizado siguiendo los estándares de calidad de los programas basados en la evidencia y mediante un proceso colaborativo entre responsables políticos, profesionales e investigadores. Se utilizó la técnica DAFO para identificar las principales fortalezas y debilidades de las actuaciones previas desarrolladas en diferentes provincias andaluzas. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto una importante falta de sistematización que se ha tratado de solventar definiendo, mediante un proceso colaborativo y de acuerdo con los criterios de calidad más consensuados, los componentes clave del nuevo programa: fundamentación teórica y metodológica, destinatarios, objetivos, contenidos, condiciones de implementación y diseño de la evaluación. El alto grado de acuerdo de profesionales y responsables con las características propuestas puede contribuir a que la implementación del programa se lleve a cabo con fidelidad al diseño original y, con ello, favorecer su efectividad (AU)

This article describes the action-research process carried out to redefine and design a program for children and adolescents with difficulties and/or conflictive situations in the family. The design of the NAYFA program has been carried out following the quality standards of evidence-based programs and through a collaborative process between policymakers, professionals and researchers. The SWOT technique was used to identify the main strengths and weak-nesses of the previous actions carried out in different Andalucía provinces. The results revealed an important lack of systematization that an attempt has been made to solve by defining, through a collaborative process and in accordance with the most agreed quality criteria, the key components of the new program: theoretical and methodological founda-tions, recipients, objectives, contents, implementation conditions and evaluation design. The high degree of agreement of professionals and managers with the proposed characteristics can contribute to the implementation of the program being carried out with fidelity to the original design and, thus, favor its effectiveness. (AU)

Teaching-Learning Processes: Application of Educational Psychodrama in the University Setting.

The use of effective teaching strategies should be developed from teachers' reflections on educational needs. This study has a twofold objective: to identify needs in teaching-learning processes in the university setting as well as to present and examine the effectiveness of four psychodramatic techniques: psychodramatic images, soliloquy, role-playing and roda viva. A qualitative design using thematic analysis was followed. All 128 teachers participating in the Training in Teaching Skills: Educational Psychodrama (nine courses) were evaluated. Teachers (62.5% women) were from different disciplines. Two semi-structured group interviews were conducted using the focus group procedure. Focus groups were held at the beginning and end of each course (18 in total). The phases of thematic analysis were used as discourse analysis strategies. Teachers reported the need to develop active teaching practices with large groups, strategies to motivate students and skills for conflict resolution with students. Concerning psychodramatic techniques, emphasis was placed on the psychodramatic images to promote active learning and group construction of contents, exploring previous ideas and as an evaluation resource. In addition, the structured use of role-playing was positively assessed. These results identify specific teaching needs and support the use of psychodramatic techniques as a valuable educational resource in higher education.

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy With Troubled Adolescents and Parents: A Pilot Study.

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) is an innovative treatment used with troubled adolescents and their parents to improve family relationships and reduce adolescents' problematic behavior. It integrates the principles of family therapy, psychodrama, and multiple-family group methodology. This research is a pilot study to obtain empirical evidence on the SB-PFT therapeutic process by gauging the perception of change of troubled adolescents and their parents, and assess the perceived helpfulness of its methodology and techniques. Ten multiple-family intervention groups were drawn up, with 110 participants (63 adolescents and 47 parents), and we adopted a qualitative methodology with focus groups, using an inductive analysis of 290 active constructions of participant narratives. Concerning perception of change, the adolescents reported mainly gaining in social support, prosocial attitudes, keys to problem solving, and expression of emotions due to the treatment. The parents perceived improvement in social support, keys for educational practices, emotional well-being, and expression of emotions due to the treatment. Regarding the perceived helpfulness of methodology and techniques, both adolescents and parents highlighted the usefulness of the group methodology for gaining social support, relativizing the problem, and expressing emotions. Additionally, participants referred to role-playing and mirror techniques as the most useful techniques. In conclusion, this first study on SB-PFT presents and describes its treatment for troubled adolescents and their parents. The participants' positive perception of their personal and relational change after treatment should serve to promote further studies with quantitative methodology in order to verify the effectiveness of SB-PFT treatment.

La terapia familiar psicodramática basada en escenas (SB-PFT, por sus siglas en inglés) es un tratamiento innovador usado con adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres para mejorar las relaciones familiares y disminuir el comportamiento problemático de los adolescentes. Integra los principios de la terapia familiar, del psicodrama y de la metodología grupal multifamiliar. Esta investigación es un estudio piloto para obtener conocimiento empírico sobre el proceso terapéutico de la SB-PFT mediante la medición de la percepción de cambio de los adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres, y para evaluar la utilidad percibida de esta metodología y técnica. Se formaron diez grupos multifamiliares de intervención con 110 participantes (63 adolescentes y 47 padres), y adoptamos una metodología cualitativa con grupos focales utilizando un análisis inductivo de 290 construcciones activas de historias de los participantes. Con respecto a la percepción de cambio, los adolescentes informaron un aumento pricipalmente del apoyo social, de las actitudes prosociales, de las claves para resolver problemas y de la expresión de emociones debido al tratamiento. Los padres percibieron una mejora del apoyo social, de las claves para las prácticas educativas, del bienestar emocional y de la expresión de emociones debido al tratamiento. Con respecto a la utilidad percibida de la metodología y las técnicas, tanto los adolescentes como los padres destacaron la utilidad de la metodología de grupo para obtener apoyo social, relativizar el problema y expresar emociones. Además, los participantes se refirieron al juego de roles y a las técnicas del espejo como las más útiles. En resumen, este primer estudio sobre la SB-PFT presenta y describe su tratamiento para adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres. La percepción positiva de los participantes de su cambio personal y relacional después del tratamiento debería servir para promover más estudios con una metodología cuantitativa a fin de verificar la eficacia del tratamiento con la SB-PFT.

Effectiveness of Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) in adolescents with behavioural problems.

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) is a multiple-family intervention for adolescents with behavioural problems implemented by Child Welfare Services in Spain. This intervention is aimed at promoting adolescent well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SB-PFT in 17 trials, measuring its impact on the emotional intelligence, parental attachment, peer attachment and antisocial behaviour of 216 adolescents (109 participating in the intervention and 107 in the control group). Repeated measures ANOVAs for pretest/posttest differences and long-term growth models were estimated. In the short term, the intervention had a positive impact on emotional intelligence and had a stabilising effect on parental attachment, whereas the long-term results showed significant logarithmic growth in emotional intelligence and exponential growth in parental attachment and a decrease in antisocial behaviour. However, no changes in peer attachment were shown. This study demonstrates SB-PFT to be a potentially effective intervention for adolescents with behavioural problems and emphasises the importance of fostering emotional intelligence.

The Role of Psychosocial Stress on a Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents with Problematic Behaviors.

The stressful life events experienced by adolescents with problematic behaviors, should be considered for implementing effective interventions. This study aimed to examine the adjustment of adolescents with problematic behaviors, and to assess the effectiveness of a family-based treatment, namely Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT), according to different stress profiles. Ten SB-PFT sessions, over 17 trials were implemented. Stressful life events and adolescent adjustment were evaluated at pretest and posttest, for the SB-PFT participants (n = 104 adolescents) and a control group (n = 106). The adolescents were categorized into three profiles depending on the nature of the stressors: family stress profile, individual and family stress profile, and low stress profile. The individual and family stress group showed worse adjustment. Effectiveness analyses revealed improvements in SB-PFT participants' emotional intelligence, but not in anger and hostility. Furthermore, adolescents with low and family-related stress profiles showed enhancements in parent attachment. In conclusion, interventions involving adolescents with problematic behaviors must be tailored to the stressful life events experienced. Specific treatments should be used alongside SB-PFT, when adolescents are met with individual-related stress. Nevertheless, SB-PFT seemed to promote emotional intelligence and parent attachment, particularly in adolescents with problematic behaviors that experienced only family stressors.

Evaluación de la implementación del Programa de Formación y Apoyo Familiar con familias peruanas / No disponible

El Programa de Formación y Apoyo Familiar (Hidalgo et al., 2011) es un programa de promoción de parentalidad positiva que tiene como finalidad la mejora de competencias y habilidades parentales a través de una metodología participativa y experiencial. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la eficacia de la implementación de dicho programa en la provincia de San Martín, Perú. Para ello, se evaluó a los 59 participantes mediante un diseño pretest-postest de un solo grupo. Las dimensiones evaluadas fueron percepción de competencia parental, actitudes educativas de los progenitores y calidad de vida infantil. Se obtuvieron cambios significativos en el sentido esperado en todas las dimensiones evaluadas. Por otra parte, no se halló la presencia de ninguna variable moderadora que determinase claramente un perfil de participante que obtuviese un mayor beneficio de la intervención, debido probablemente al importante impacto que el programa tuvo en todos los padres y madres

The Family Education and Support Program (Hidalgo et al., 2011) consists on the promotion of positive parental role, having the improvement of parental competences and skills through a participatory and experiential methodology as a main purpose. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the said program in the province of San Martín, Peru. For this purpose, 59 participants were evaluated through a pretest-postest design from just a group. The evaluated dimensions were perceived parental competence, educational attitudes and quality of child life. We obtained meaningful changes, in the expected sense, in all the evaluated dimensions. On the other hand, we did not find the presence of any moderating variable that clearly determined a participant profile obtaining greater benefits from the intervention, due likely to the important impact the program had in all parents

Botulinum toxin treatment in patients up to 3 years of age who have esotropic Duane retraction syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report the results of botulinum toxin (BOTOX®, Allergan) type A (BTA) bilateral injection in the treatment of Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) type 1 in patients aged up to 3 years. METHODS: We studied the results of BTA bilateral injection in eight consecutive patients with DRS type 1 and esotropia in primary gaze. Average follow-up was 74 ± 71 months. The main variables analyzed were horizontal and vertical deviation and face turn. Patients were anesthetized with nitrous oxide (N2O). A mean dosage of 5.6 ± 1.8 IU (range 2.5-7.5 IU) of botulinum toxin diluted in 0.9% saline solution was injected under electromyography control in each medial rectus muscle. RESULTS: Seven patients had one affected eye and one patient had bilateral involvement. The mean preoperative esotropia was 32 ± 10 prism diopters (PD). Three patients (37.5%) had also a vertical deviation. All patients had face turn ranging between 15° and 45° before BTA injection. In the last follow-up, 4 patients were orthotropic (50%), 1 (12.5%) had 3 PD exotropia and 3 (37.5%) had esotropia averaging 25 PD mean. The 3 esotropic patients needed surgical correction. Vertical strabismus improved in 3 patients achieving complete resolution in one of these patients. Two patients, without vertical strabismus before the BTA injection, developed a 5-PD vertical deviation, one of them required surgery. Face turn improved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin injection is an alternative treatment for patients with DRS type 1 presents esotropia and face turn in children up to 3 years of age.