scholarly journals Effects of Covid-19 lockdown on parental functioning in vulnerable families

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Sand Helland ◽  
Torkild Hovde Lyngstad ◽  
Tonje Holt ◽  
Linda Larsen ◽  
Espen Røysamb

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major changes to family life followed by a call for knowledge about how these changes have affected parental functioning, particularly in vulnerable families (Prime, Wade & Brooks, 2020). This study uses a natural experiment design to investigate the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on parental mental health, parenting stress and three dimensions of destructive interparental conflict in a heterogeneous sample characterized by pre-existing relationship problems. Results from mixed model regression analyses showed that despite significantly higher levels of parenting stress in the lockdown group (n = 744 families) compared with the control group (n = 427 families), lockdown did not adversely affect parental mental health or levels of destructive conflicts behaviors. In fact, levels of verbal aggression and child involvement in conflict decreased during lockdown among parents living apart. Pre-existing destructive conflict levels, financial problems and age of youngest child did not moderate any of the associations. Thus, findings indicated that pre-existing family vulnerability did not predispose for reduced parental functioning during lockdown, beyond increased parenting stress. Resilient processes and an increased sense of purpose may be potential mechanisms. Caution should be taken when generalizing the findings due to the welfare context of the sample and as long-term lockdown effects were not investigated. Importantly, children in vulnerable families may have been negatively impacted by increased family time, despite relatively stable parental functioning during lockdown.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110678
Author(s):  
Safa Kemal Kaptan ◽  
Filippo Varese ◽  
Betul Yilmaz ◽  
Panoraia Andriopoulou ◽  
Nusrat Husain

Objectives: Conflicts expose families to a range of factors that could have a negative impact upon parental mental health which in turn leads to poor growth and development of children. Early support can improve parental mental health and parenting behaviours but currently, there is a lack of evidence on parenting interventions for forcibly displaced populations. This study aims to deliver an online parenting intervention with a mental health component for refugee and asylum-seeker parents to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability. Methods: This is a single-arm trial without a control group. The trial aims to recruit 14 refugee and asylum-seeker parents into an Online Learning Through Play and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (LTP + EMDR G-TEP). The intervention will be delivered by trained research team members using online platforms. Results: The participants’ sense of parenting competence, symptoms of traumatic stress, anxiety and depression will be measured at baseline and post-intervention. Semi-structured interviews at post-intervention will also be conducted. Discussion: This study will assess the feasibility and inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of LTP + EMDR G-TEP intervention for parent refugees and asylum-seekers with young children.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gry Anette Sælid ◽  
Nikolai Czajkowski ◽  
Leif Edvard Aarø ◽  
John Roger Andersen ◽  
Thormod Idsøe ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe previous decade has shown increased symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. To promote mental health and reduce mental illness, the government of Norway has, as in other countries, pledged that all schools must incorporate life-skills education. We report results from an evaluation of MindPower, a modification of the Coping With Depression (CWD) course, delivered universally in the classroom to secondary high school students, aged 15-16 years, in one county in Norway. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of MindPower on symptoms of depression and anxiety.MethodsWe utilized a two-groups` delayed intervention design where 110 first year high school classes were randomized into one of two intervention groups (IG1 and IG2). IG1 participated in MindPower while IG2 served as a control group for four months until the intervention started also in this group. IG1 and IG2 responded to questionnaires before and after the eight weeks course, at the start of the first and the second booster session, and at the five months follow up. Questionnaires, including online versions of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-8) and the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS-2:SF), were administered to 1673 out of a total of 2384 students. SCL-levels were also compared with those from a large population study (UngData).ResultsAccording to mixed model analyses, SCL-8 and RADS-2:SF showed significant baseline differences between IG1 and IG2. In IG1 and IG2, both SCL-8 and RADS-2:SF showed a small but significant increase in mean scores throughout the study period, with markedly lower mean scores among boys. The SCL-levels were first lower for both girls and boys and then after the completion of MindPower the SCL-levels, equal to the SCL-levels in UngData.ConclusionsNo effects of the intervention were found. This large universal school-based trial suffered from considerable drop-out of participants. Experiences from implementation and evaluation of universal mental health promotion and preventive school interventions are thoroughly discussed, including, preparation, resources, support, time, realistic expectations, teacher selection and training, implementation, and research designs and more. Several empirically based, practical advices are presented. Clinical Trial registration 27/08/2018. Registration number NCT03647826.


2021 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Alka Sabharwal ◽  
Babita Goyal ◽  
Nidhi Arora Dhingra

Introduction: Adolescence is a transformational but vulnerable age.Personality starts taking shape at this age and the traits developed during this phase are likely to remain with a person for the whole life. Afavourable atmosphere at home and surroundings play a pivotal role in development in different dimensions of personality. Lack of a support system may result in some psychiatric disorders among adolescents which might needs to be addressed. Eysenck personality questionnaire is a psychiatric tool to assess various dimensions of personality. Methods: Structural equation models with two and three layers were applied to estimate personality traits as identied by Eysenck personality questionnaire on two groups of adolescents: (i) The 'Control' group whose parents were not reported any psychiatric disorder; and (ii) the 'Case' group whose parent(s) were suffering from some psychiatric disorder as diagnosed by DSM-IV. Results: The conventional three-layer model for 'Control' group estimated 'Psychoticism' directly by 'Lie-scale' and indirectly by 'Extraversion' with p-values < 0.05. The two-layered model yielded no signicant difference between the base and the proposed model for 'Control' and 'Case' group as p-values were more than 0.05. The variability of Neuroticism was estimated up to 63.6% by a linear combination of Psychoticism, Lie-scale and Gender in Layer 1 of the model for the 'Control' group. Conclusion: In this study either through the conventional three-layer model or the proposed two-layer models, we concluded that some information about one dimension can be extracted from the other dimension with EPQ even if the correlation is not signicant. Also, the proposed two-layer model established the effect of gender at 10% level of signicance in case of 'Control' group. Psychoticism and Neuroticism mean scores were higher for the 'Case' groups than those for the 'Control' group thus establishing the effect of parental mental health on adolescents' personality


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Frances ◽  
Frances Shawyer ◽  
Bruno Cayoun ◽  
Joanne Enticott ◽  
Graham Meadows

Abstract Background Effective transdiagnostic treatments for patients presenting with principal or comorbid symptoms of anxiety and depression enable more efficient provision of mental health care and may be particularly suitable for the varied population seen in primary healthcare settings. Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) is a transdiagnostic intervention that integrates aspects of CBT, including exposure skills targeting avoidance, with training in mindfulness meditation skills adopted from the Vipassana or insight tradition taught by the Burmese teachers U Ba Khin and Goenka. MiCBT is distinguished from both cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy by the use of a theoretical framework which proposes that the locus of reinforcement of behavior is the interoceptive experience (body sensations) that co-arises with self-referential thinking. Consequently, MiCBT has a strong focus on body scanning to develop interoceptive awareness and equanimity. Designed for clinical purposes, the four-stage systemic approach of MiCBT, comprising intra-personal (Stage 1) exposure (Stage 2), interpersonal (Stage 3), and empathic (Stage 4) skillsets, is a distinguishing feature among other mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The aim of this study is to investigate whether and how group MiCBT decreases depression and anxiety symptoms for patients with a range of common mental health conditions. Methods Participants (n = 120) recruited via medical practitioner referral will be randomized to MiCBT or a wait-list control. Inclusion criteria are age 18–75; fluent in English and having a Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) score of 20 or more. The MiCBT treatment group receive an 8-week MiCBT intervention delivered in a private psychology practice. Participants complete a suite of online self-report measures and record the amount of meditation practice undertaken each week. The control group receive usual treatment and complete the measures at the same time points. Primary outcome measures are the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and K10. Analysis will use mixed-model repeated measures. Discussion The potential ability of MiCBT to provide a comprehensive therapeutic system that is applicable across diagnostic groups would make it an attractive addition to the available MBIs. Trial registration This trial is registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000061336; Date of registration: 11th January 2017.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Whittemore ◽  
Julia Coleman ◽  
Roberta Delvy ◽  
Rebekah Zincavage ◽  
James A. Ambrosoli ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of the Type 1 Teamwork program for parents of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on the primary outcome of psychosocial stress. Methods The study was a randomized wait-list control trial evaluating an eHealth program to reduce parenting stress around T1DM management during adolescence through interactive sessions on the safe transfer of responsibility, positive communication, and stress management. The primary outcome was psychosocial stress (parenting stress specific to child illness and general stress). Secondary outcomes included depressive and anxiety symptoms, parent support for adolescent autonomy, family conflict, and adolescent metabolic control (A1C). Data were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months online. Mixed-model analyses were conducted, using intent-to-treat procedures. Results Parents (n = 162) had a mean age of 45.6 (±5.3) years, were 98% female, 91% white, 91% married/partnered, 51% of high income, and geographically dispersed around the United States. Parents reported that adolescents had a mean A1C of 7.9% (±1.2%) and T1DM duration of 5.08 (±3.62) years. At 6 months, parents in the Type 1 Teamwork group demonstrated less parenting stress compared with the control group. There were no differences between groups on general stress or secondary outcomes. Attrition at 6 months was 32% in the treatment group and 11% in the control group. Conclusions An eHealth program for parents of adolescents with T1DM improves parenting stress in a sample of parents from across the United States.


2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix Neto

This study investigated mental health problems and their predictors among adolescents from returned immigrant families. The sample consisted of 360 returned adolescents (mean age = 16.8 years; SD = 1.9). The mean duration of a sojourn in Portugal for the sample was 8.2 years (SD = 4.5). A control group of 217 Portuguese youths were also included in the study. Adolescents from immigrant families reported mental health levels similar to those of Portuguese adolescents who have never migrated. Girls showed more mental health problems than boys. Younger adolescents showed fewer mental health problems than older adolescents. Adaptation variables contributed to mental health outcomes even after acculturation variables were accounted for. Implications of the study for counselors are discussed.


Author(s):  
Laetitia Idier ◽  
Aurélie Untas ◽  
Nicole Rascle ◽  
Michèle Koleck ◽  
Maider Aguirrezabal ◽  
...  

Introduction:Psychological impact of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) for dialysis patients is rarely evaluated since the focus of many studies is on medical variables (i.e., adherence).Objectives:The aims of this study were: 1) to estimate the impact of a TPE program on knowledge, depression and anxiety, 2) to examine change in knowledge as a mediator of the effects of a TPE program on mental health.Method:This study was conducted in three hemodialysis units and comprised two groups: an experimental group with education and a control group with routine care. The program was based of 5 educative sessions. Knowledge, depressive and anxious symptoms were assessed with self-reported outcomes measured before and 3 months after the program.Results:The sample comprised 125 patients. Knowledge about vascular access and nutrition (p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms increased in the experimental group (p < 0.01). Analysis of mediation showed that changes in knowledge about vascular access were a significant mediator of the effects of the program on depressive symptoms (F = 4.90;p = 0.01).Discussion:Knowledge acquired during an educational program could lead to an emotional change. Improving knowledge often leads to an awareness of the risks that can modify the psychological state of patients by reminding them of their vulnerability. This study shows that it is required to be attentive to the way of transmitting knowledge. It’s necessary adapting this transmission to the needs of patients and promoting the acquisition of psychosocial competence too.Conclusion:This study shows that knowledge acquired during an educational program can lead to an emotional change in the short term. A long-term follow-up of the population should be interesting to observe these emotional effects.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bonetto ◽  
Sylvain Delouvée ◽  
Yara Mahfud ◽  
Jais Adam-Troian

Social distancing and mass quarantines were implemented worldwide in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research on the effects of social isolation has shown that such measures bear negative consequences for population health and well-being. Conversely, a growing body of evidence suggests that feeling positively identified with a group is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits. This effect is referred to as the social cure and generalizes to various identities. In line with these findings, this study tested whether national identification could promote wellbeing and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, we used survey data conducted among 67 countries (N = 46,450) which included measures of wellbeing, national identification, and subjective physical health. Mixed-model analyses revealed that national identity was indeed associated with wellbeing - despite adjustment on social belonging, COVID-19 perceived risk, exposure, and ideology. This effect did not extend to subjective health. These results suggest that the mere feeling of belonging to a national group may have mental health benefits and could be leveraged by governments. We discuss the implications of our findings within the social cure framework and their relevance for population mental health under COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Miriam Romero-López ◽  
María Carmen Pichardo ◽  
Ana Justicia-Arráez ◽  
Judit Bembibre-Serrano

The objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness of a program on improving inhibitory and emotional control among children. In addition, it is assessed whether the improvement of these skills has an effect on the reduction of aggressive behavior in pre-school children. The participants were 100 children, 50 belonging to the control group and 50 to the experimental group, aged between 5 and 6 years. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of inhibitory and emotional control (BRIEF-P) and aggression (BASC) were taken. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis (GLMM) was performed and found that children in the experimental group scored higher on inhibitory and emotional control compared to their peers in the control group. In addition, these improvements have an effect on the decrease in aggressiveness. In conclusion, preventive research should have among its priorities the design of such program given their implications for psychosocial development.


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