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Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health
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Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Family Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 May 2025 | Viewed by 5807

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jerf W.K. Yeung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: adolescent health and development; family and children; religion and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lili Xia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Interests: family and child welfare; family therapy; child development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The family is the most important socialization institution for child and adolescent health. The methods of parenting, parent–child interactions and communications, and the environments that a family provides in terms of simulations, resources and financial supports are all profoundly influential on the health development of children and adolescents. In addition, a family may interact with other proximal systems, such as school, peer network, community, etc., which collectively constitute a complex relationship with child and adolescent health. In this Special Issue, child and adolescent health is broadly referred to as the cognitive, mental, educational, behavioral and physical aspects of child and adolescent development that bear positive implications for their well-being. It is theoretically and empirically pivotal to scrutinize the ways in which families and specific processes and interactions with other social systems affect the health development of children and adolescents, which is in fact related to the rudimental foundation for the continuity of mankind. This Special Issue welcomes high-quality contributions addressing the health issues of children and adolescents related to the family and their social systems, and potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Family, children and adolescents;
  • Family socialization;
  • Family and related social systems;
  • Childhood and adolescence;
  • Cognitive and mental issues;
  • Educational and behavioral development;
  • Emotional and physical health;
  • Parent–child relationships;
  • Child and adolescent development;
  • Social participation and support;
  • Wellbeing.

Dr. Jerf W.K. Yeung
Dr. Lili Xia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • family, children and adolescents
  • family socialization
  • family and related social systems
  • childhood and adolescence
  • cognitive and mental issues
  • educational and behavioral development
  • emotional and physical health
  • parent–child relationships
  • child and adolescent development
  • social participation and support
  • wellbeing

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 697 KiB  
Article
Development and Validation of Child Observation Checklist for Early Screening of Young Children with Special Needs
by Anna Na Na Hui, Angela Fung Ying Siu, Cynthia Leung and Wally Karnilowicz
Healthcare 2025, 13(2), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020148 - 14 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
Background: Families with young children with developmental disabilities often express concerns about delays in the identification of these and extended waiting times for obtaining assessments, learning support, and rehabilitation services. The identification process must and can be enhanced if preschool teachers have instrumental [...] Read more.
Background: Families with young children with developmental disabilities often express concerns about delays in the identification of these and extended waiting times for obtaining assessments, learning support, and rehabilitation services. The identification process must and can be enhanced if preschool teachers have instrumental measures to detect early-stage developmental disabilities and adjustment difficulties in preschool children and, if necessary, to provide these children with prompt and effective support services. Aims: The aim with this study was to develop and validate a screening checklist for teachers to detect developmental delays and adjustment difficulties in Chinese preschool children in Hong Kong. Methods: The participants included 1085 children aged two to six years (including 365 children who were receiving rehabilitation services at the time of the study) and their preschool teachers. The teachers were requested to complete the screening checklist and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: The results of the Rasch and Confirmatory Factor Analyses supported the unidimensionality of the checklist, with the validated version consisting of fifteen items and five factors. The checklist score was negatively correlated with children’s behavioral problems and effectively differentiated children of different ages and between children receiving and not receiving rehabilitation services. The reliability estimates (internal consistency and test–retest) of this revised checklist were above 0.70. Conclusions: The 15-item checklist is a promising screening instrument for the identification of developmental disabilities and adjustment problems among Chinese preschool children. The use of the checklist has accelerated access to rehabilitation services for children and family caregivers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health)
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13 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Relationship Between Transitional Object Attachment and Emotion Regulation in College Students
by Cheng-Hung Ko, Yong-Ting Liang, Yu-Chi Liao and Hui-Fang Chen
Healthcare 2025, 13(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13010039 - 29 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1185
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Transitional attachment objects, such as blankets, play a critical role in childhood by helping children manage separation anxiety and regulate emotions. Although attachment to these objects often decreases as children grow older, it may persist into adulthood and influence emotion regulation [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Transitional attachment objects, such as blankets, play a critical role in childhood by helping children manage separation anxiety and regulate emotions. Although attachment to these objects often decreases as children grow older, it may persist into adulthood and influence emotion regulation and stress responses. Their influence on emotion regulation in adulthood remains uncertain. This study investigates the relationship between object attachment and emotion regulation, with a focus on responses to stress among college students. The study objectives include examining whether emotional regulation varies based on an individual’s attachment to objects and investigating the role and significance of objects in the emotional regulation of adults with object attachment. Methods: Forty-five participants aged 18–22 were recruited to participate and completed the Object Attachment Security Measure (OASM) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants were categorized into two groups based on their OASM scores: those with attachment objects (the OA group) and those without (the control group). The OA group was randomly assigned into two experimental groups: (1) Carry-but-cannot-touch (CBCT) and (2) Carry-and-touch (CAT). The CBCT group was not allowed to physically interact with their attachment objects during the recovery phase, whereas the CAT group could do so. Psychophysiological data, including Standard Deviation of NN Intervals (SDNN) and respiratory rate, were collected during three phases: baseline, stress, and recovery. Results: There were no differences in the ERQ scores between the OA and control groups, as well as between the CAT and CBCT subgroups. However, physiological indicators revealed that the CAT group exhibited higher SDNN during recovery than the CBCT group, suggesting that physical interaction with the attachment object enhanced stress regulation and promoted relaxation. Conclusions: While object attachment did not impact self-reported emotional regulation, it did influence physiological responses to stress, indicating that attachment objects may facilitate emotional recovery through tactile interaction. These findings highlight the potential of attachment objects as adaptive tools for stress management in young adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health)
20 pages, 776 KiB  
Article
Emotional Health of Immigrant Adolescents by a Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis: Self-Esteem and Depression
by Tiange Sui and Jerf W. K. Yeung
Healthcare 2024, 12(24), 2563; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12242563 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The study investigated the dynamic interrelations of both positive and negative self-esteem with depression among immigrant adolescents. Methods: Longitudinal data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) were analyzed using a Cross-Lagged Panel Network (CLPN) model. Results: The [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The study investigated the dynamic interrelations of both positive and negative self-esteem with depression among immigrant adolescents. Methods: Longitudinal data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) were analyzed using a Cross-Lagged Panel Network (CLPN) model. Results: The results showed strong autoregressive effects; both the positive and negative dimensions of self-esteem and symptoms of depression were fairly stable across the two measurement times. Cross-lagged effects indicated that higher levels of positive self-esteem predicted reduced depressive symptoms; for example, higher self-worth at Time 1 was associated with a lower lack of motivation at Time 2. However, some components, for instance, positive self-attitude, predicted in greater sadness from Time 1 to Time 2. On the other hand, certain dimensions of negative self-esteem, such as feeling useless at Time 1, were related to decreases in depressive symptoms at Time 2, which points to complex and bidirectional effects that challenge traditional hypotheses on how self-esteem may affect mental health. Conclusions: The current study teases apart sub-components of self-esteem and, in doing so, demonstrates how different facets uniquely predict depression over time and inform nuanced mental health trajectories among immigrant youth. The findings indicate that selective self-esteem interventions should be carried out to enhance resilience and mental well-being in adolescents from diverse backgrounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health)
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19 pages, 1102 KiB  
Article
Family Club Denmark: A Quasi-Randomized Study of a Volunteer-Based Intervention to Support Vulnerable Families
by Maiken Pontoppidan, Mette Thorsager, Arendse T. Larsen and Mette Friis-Hansen
Healthcare 2024, 12(11), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12111115 - 29 May 2024
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
Volunteer interventions play a vital role in supporting families by offering accessible and community-based resources outside the formal professional sector. This study examines the impact of the volunteer intervention known as Family Club Denmark (FCD) on the well-being of parents and children. FCD [...] Read more.
Volunteer interventions play a vital role in supporting families by offering accessible and community-based resources outside the formal professional sector. This study examines the impact of the volunteer intervention known as Family Club Denmark (FCD) on the well-being of parents and children. FCD aims to provide families with positive experiences and support relationship building. The intervention, open to families from diverse social backgrounds, comprises volunteer-led family clubs where parents and children aged 2–12 years engage in activities and meals. We allocated 510 families (363 vulnerable families) to FCD or placed them on a waiting list based on a first-come, first-served principle. We conducted baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments through questionnaires, observations, and interviews. On average, families participated in 5.8 sessions, with both families and volunteers reporting high satisfaction. When compared to control families, we find that vulnerable FCD parents feel more confident playing with their children (p = 0.04, [0.01; 0.40], d = 0.25), require less assistance in playing with their children (p = 0.01, [−0.34; −0.05], d = 0.33), and report that their children have a more challenging time forming friendships (p = 0.01, [−0.51; −0.09], d = 0.29). However, we did not find significant effects on mental health, parenting stress, self-efficacy, self-worth, family routines, or child well-being. We observed similar results for the full sample. The discovery that parents feel more confident playing with their children after participating in FCD highlights the vital role of volunteer-based interventions in enhancing parental engagement and fostering positive parent–child interactions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03657888 (registered 29 August 2018). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Influences on Child and Adolescent Health)
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