Search Results (96)

The Syrian conflict has created one of the largest displacement crises of the twenty-first century, disproportionately affecting adolescent girls. Syrian girls have been primarily portrayed as victims of war or “the lost generation”, neglecting the plurality of their experiences. Building on Bandura’s social cognitive theory, Giddens’ structuration theory, Kabeer’s empowerment framework, and Mahmood’s modalities of agency, this study examines how Syrian refugee adolescent girls in Lebanon enact agency within contexts of forced displacement and how structural factors shape these processes. We conducted a secondary analysis of 293 first-person narratives from Syrian girls and mothers collected in 2016 using Cognitive Edge’s SenseMaker^®. Thematic analysis revealed seven structural barriers—restricted access to education, economic insecurity, inadequate infrastructure/living conditions, limited healthcare, gender and social norms, xenophobia, and lack of legal status—as well as key enablers including community services, parental support, and peer networks. Girls expressed agency through seven interconnected processes: awareness/acknowledgement of barriers, emotional navigation, resource identification, decision-making, future planning, reflection, and action execution. These processes were adaptive and recursive, highlighting that agency during displacement is dynamic, relational, and conditioned by structural forces. These findings inform approaches that both reduce structural barriers and enable refugee girls’ agency. Full article

Background: Adolescent sleep problems are a public health concern, as roughly 60–70% of U.S. teens obtain less sleep than is recommended. Negative affect is a risk factor for adolescent sleep problems. However, factors explaining this association, to our knowledge, have not been explored in Hispanic/Latino(a) (H/L) adolescents. Acculturation gap conflict and low self-control may act as mediators linking negative affect to sleep problems. Methods: A sample of 223 H/L adolescents was assessed at three time points. We hypothesized that acculturation gap conflict and low self-control assessed at Wave 2 would mediate the association between negative affect at Wave 1 and sleep problems at Wave 3. Results: Negative affect predicted higher acculturation gap conflict, which in turn was associated with less self-control, and less self-control then predicted more sleep problems. Conclusions: These findings highlight acculturation gap conflict and low self-control as processes through which negative affect can impact later sleep problems in H/L adolescents. Elucidating modifiable factors impacting sleep health among H/L youth may inform intervention strategies. Targeting affect regulation, as well as improving parent-adolescent relationship quality within the context of acculturative differences, may help reduce sleep problems among this demographic group. Full article

This study investigated the validity of a new observational procedure for assessing mother–father–adolescent conflict interactions. Addressing key gaps in the field, this procedure moves beyond mother–adolescent dyads and self-report questionnaires by offering a standardized, observational family-level approach. The procedure combines the Lausanne Trilogue Play—Conflict Discussion Task (LTP–CDT) with a coding system, the Family Conflict and Alliance Assessment Scales with Adolescents (FCAAS). In a sample of 82 two-parent families with adolescents aged 10 to 13, the FCAAS demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability and good validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a theoretically grounded two-factor structure. Criterion and construct validity were confirmed via self-reports of marital satisfaction and coparenting, respectively. Ecological validity was supported by family members’ self-reports. This tool offers promising research and clinical applications and may be extended to diverse populations to assess known-group validity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Depression and anxiety in children pose a significant public health concern, with long-term implications for well-being. Over 10% of children and adolescents are affected by emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety. African American youth face disproportionate exposure to mental health risk factors, including poverty, adverse childhood events, community violence, and racial discrimination, which elevate their vulnerability to these disorders. A particularly at-risk subgroup includes African American children in kinship care arrangements (e.g., grandparents raising grandchildren), who may face additional factors such as family disruption and separation from birth parents. Methods: This mixed-methods sequential study examined how caregiver stress and birth mother–child relationship quality relate to depression and anxiety symptoms in African American children in kinship care. Phase I included survey data from 58 caregivers of children aged 5 to 12; Phase II involved interviews with 16 of these caregivers. Results: Results indicated that lower caregiver stress was associated with reduced child depression and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, findings suggest that a high quality of the birth mother–child relationship serves as a promotive factor, particularly for depressive symptoms. Qualitative findings highlighted two themes: (1) the weight of kinship care, marked by factors such as ongoing grief and financial strain; and (2) birth parent relationships, defined by a mix of connection, conflict, and loss that affects children’s mental health. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for greater understanding of the strengths and resources within kinship families that support positive mental health outcomes and highlight the importance of targeted interventions to reduce caregiver stress and foster supportive parent–child relationships. Full article

Purpose: To review parental pre-pregnancy and pregnancy exposures in relation to pediatric cancer (diagnosis before age 20). Methods: We conducted literature searches using Ovid Medline and Scopus to find primary research studies, review articles, and meta-analyses published from 2014 to 17 March 2021. Results: Strong evidence links increased risk of childhood cancer with maternal diabetes, age, and alcohol and coffee consumption during pregnancy. Both paternal and maternal cigarette smoking before and during pregnancy are associated with childhood cancers. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in utero has long been known to be causally associated with increased risk of vaginal/cervical cancers in adolescent girls. More recent evidence implicates in utero DES exposure to testicular cancer in young men and possible intergenerational effects on ovarian cancer in the granddaughters of women exposed to DES during pregnancy. There is strong evidence that childhood cancer risk is also associated with both high and very low birth weight and with gestational age. Evidence is also strong for the protective effects of maternal vitamin consumption and a healthy diet during pregnancy. Unlike early studies, those reviewed here show no association between in utero exposure to medical ionizing radiation, which may be explained by reductions over time in radiation doses, avoidance of radiation during pregnancy, and/or by inadequate statistical power to detect small increases in risk, rather than a lack of causal association. Evidence is mixed or conflicting for an association between childhood cancer and maternal obesity, birth order, cesarean/instrumental delivery, and prenatal exposure to diagnostic medical radiation. Evidence is weak or absent for associations between childhood cancer and multiple gestations or assisted reproductive therapies, as well as prenatal exposure to hormones other than DES, and medications. Full article

The literature has been scarce in addressing parental interference/family abduction and its relationship with depressive symptoms. Due to this, the objective of this study was to examine the association between family abduction/parental interference and depressive symptoms in a national sample of 11,568 children and adolescents aged 12 to 18 from Chile. Robust linear regression models were conducted to assess how these experiences are related to depressive symptoms while controlling for age. Our results show that children and adolescents who reported these experiences in their lives presented higher levels of depressive symptoms. Additionally, although all forms of caregiver victimization were associated with depressive symptoms, parental interference/family abduction also showed a significant association, even when controlling for sociodemographic variables. These findings highlight the need for attention to the phenomenon of family abduction/parental interference, especially concerning its potential associations with mental health outcomes such as depression. Theoretically, the study contributes to the limited body of research on this form of caregiver victimization, and practically, it provides evidence that may inform future prevention strategies and mental health policies targeting children and adolescents exposed to high-conflict family dynamics in the Chilean context. Full article

Based on attachment theory and the McMaster family functioning model, this study explores the protective role and mechanisms of a caring parenting style in protecting adolescents from bullying, from the perspective of the family environment. Study 1, conducted in Southwest China with middle school students (n = 4582), investigates the relationship between a caring parenting style and adolescent bullying victimization through a large-scale cross-sectional survey. The results show that both parents’ caring parenting styles are significantly negatively correlated with adolescent bullying victimization. Study 2, a two-wave study (n = 302), explores the protective mechanisms of a caring parenting style in adolescent bullying victimization. We not only observed again that a caring parenting style significantly negatively predicts bullying victimization but also found that family functioning and constructive conflict resolution play a chain-mediating role in this relationship. This finding not only supports the core hypothesis of attachment theory regarding the role of a secure base but also expands the theoretical model of bullying protection from a family ecological perspective by revealing a three-level transmission mechanism of parenting style–family system–individual capability, providing a theoretical anchor for the construction of a “family–school” collaborative intervention framework. Full article

Based on ecological systems theory, adolescents’ school climates can influence family interactions. In this study, it was tested whether associations between adolescents’ and parents’ perceptions of school climate in 7th grade (Wave 1) and adolescents’ later psychological functioning in 11th grade (Wave 4) were partially mediated by parental self-efficacy and parenting practices when the adolescents were in 8th grade (Wave 3). Path analyses were conducted in MPlus v. 7.4. Among 660 Black American families from the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study, adolescents’ positive perceptions of school climate were directly related to fewer internalizing and externalizing symptoms, higher resourcefulness, and higher self-esteem. Adolescents’ perceptions of school climate were also indirectly related to their externalizing symptoms through parent–adolescent communication and conflict. Adolescents who reported more positive school climates reported higher parent–adolescent communication and lower parent–adolescent conflict. Adolescents’ reports of school climate were also indirectly associated with self-esteem. Parents’ perceptions of school climate were not directly related to adolescents’ psychological functioning but were directly related to parental self-efficacy and parent–adolescent communication. They were also indirectly related to adolescents’ externalizing symptoms through parental self-efficacy. Parental self-efficacy was positively related to parent–adolescent communication and parents’ home-based school involvement. Overall, the findings highlight the role of school context in adolescents’ psychological functioning and family processes. Full article

Amidst the health and socioeconomic burdens COVID-19 placed on families, communities of color also grappled with heightened xenophobia and racism. Yet, adolescents also found silver linings in the form of spending time with family and engaging in activities promoting relaxation and leisure. The present study examined parent-adolescent relationship quality (RQ) as a moderator of the relations of Latinx youth’s environment (i.e., racial-ethnic discrimination, COVID-19 stress, and COVID-19 silver linings) on their anxiety and depressive symptoms, both concurrently and six months later. Participants included 135 Latinx adolescents (M_age = 16.00, SD = 1.27; 59.3% female; 85.2% U.S.-born). Path analytic models revealed that youth discrimination experiences were positively associated with youth symptomatology, whereas COVID-19 silver linings and positive RQ were negatively associated with youth symptomatology. We also found that at mean and higher levels of negative RQ, discrimination experiences were positively associated with concurrent anxiety symptoms, suggesting that negative relationship features (e.g., conflict, pressure) exacerbated the effects of discrimination on youth anxiety. Therefore, stressors may predict youth symptomatology concurrently, but cultivating a positive parent-adolescent relationship and encouraging finding silver linings may bolster resilience in Latinx youth across time amidst adversity. Full article

Background: Social isolation, national turmoil, and an adolescent mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a significant uptick in inpatient admissions and re-admissions for high-risk patients. This trend persists even as the pandemic wanes. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) serve as a critical steppingstone between the community and inpatient mental health services, providing comprehensive psychiatric care for at-risk youth. Significant research has identified family engagement as a key element of successful collaborative care in adolescents. Objectives: This article provides models of family-centered care in the adolescent IOP through a case study detailing the six-week course of care of an adolescent struggling with increased emotionality and distress intolerance in the context of family conflicts. Methods: This case highlights five family engagement components, including (1) family-centered psychiatric medication management, (2) individualized case management, parental education, and peer support, (3) Measurement Based Care (MBC) family assessment and feedback sessions, (4) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) multi-family skill groups, and (5) Compassionate Home Action Together (CHATogether) family intervention to address teen–parent relational health and communication. Results: This case showed improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms, family conflict behaviors, self-reported suicide risk, and help-seeking attitudes towards parents/adults. The case family, along with others (n = 26), endorsed the parent peer support groups’ acceptability and feasibility implemented in the adolescent IOP. Conclusions: This article emphasizes the importance of family engagement during clinical care and provides a practical guide to implement collaborative family-centered therapeutic interventions in intensive outpatient services. Full article

Background/Objectives: This qualitative study was conducted to understand the experiences of parents of adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) regarding experiences of child-to-parent violence (CPV), including the contexts of parent–child conflict in which CPV occurred, types of CPV, victimized parents’ feelings and responses to CPV, and parents’ strategies for better handling of CPV based on past experiences. Methods: Data from open and in-depth interviews with 18 parents who have experienced CPV perpetrated by their children with ADHD were subject to reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The results revealed various contexts in which parent–child conflicts (CPV) occurred. Parents reported the experiences of psychological aggression, physical aggression, and restrictions on movement. In addition to experiencing feelings of distress, fear, and frustration, parents adopted various strategies for coping with adolescents’ CPV, such as leaving the scene, pushing back, rational communication, controlling their own emotions, encouraging their children to express their feelings, and seeking help. Parents suggested that practicing communicating with their children using real-life examples and learning parenting skills is essential to the prevention of CPV and the mitigation of serious consequences. Conclusions: Our findings can provide healthcare professionals with key insights into the contexts of CPV and the management strategies used by parents of adolescents with ADHD. Full article

Background: This study explores parental dysregulation when associated with adolescents’ involvement in street fights with peers. Parental dysregulation, characterized by emotional volatility, impulsivity, and inconsistent discipline, significantly affects adolescent development, influencing their social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Street fights, which involve physical violence among adolescents in public settings, pose risks to both individuals and the community. This research aims to identify risk factors and underlying mechanisms associated with adolescent street fights, providing insights for targeted interventions and prevention strategies. Aim: The study employs social learning theory to explain how adolescents may model aggressive behaviors observed in dysregulated parents and family systems theory to highlight the role of dysfunctional family dynamics in being associated with aggression. A sample of 292 male adolescents and their parents was assessed using self-report measures. Results: Statistical analyses revealed higher levels of emotional dysregulation, depression, and hostility among parents of adolescents frequently involved in street fights. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for interventions focusing on improving parental emotional regulation, reducing hostile behaviors, and enhancing family communication to mitigate adolescent aggression. Further research should explore diverse populations and longitudinal data to strengthen these conclusions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Interparental conflict, with its multiple dimensions, represents a risk factor for youth mental health, triggering a series of cascading processes. Despite recent evidence highlighting that psychological inflexibility is a risk factor for adolescents’ psychopathology after stressful events, a limited number of studies have investigated its role in family conflicts. This study aims to investigate whether psychological inflexibility mediates the impact of conflict characteristics (intensity, frequency, and resolution) and threat appraisal of interparental conflict on the psychological difficulties of adolescent offspring. Methods: A sample of 195 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years old completed the Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth on Google Forms. Results: The findings revealed that adolescents living in a family environment characterized by high levels of perceived interparental conflicts exhibit a wide spectrum of psychological difficulties, either emotional or behavioral, partially mediated by their psychological inflexibility. However, when conflict between parents is interpreted as threatening, adolescents’ inflexibility appears to mediate the relationship between conflict and psychological difficulties. Conclusions: While future studies are needed to better understand this association, psychological flexibility might represent a relevant treatment target in adolescents exposed to interparental conflict. Full article

The present study examined the contribution of mother–child and father–child synchrony to early adolescents’ prosocial and aggressive behavior with peers and friendship quality. Data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study from 185 early adolescents (M age = 12.48, SD = 1.03) and their parents. Separate father–adolescent and mother–adolescent interaction sessions were used to assess three dimensions of synchrony: (a) dyadic synchrony, (b) shared positive affect, and (c) conversational equality. Parents rated adolescents’ prosocial and aggressive behavior toward peers. Adolescents reported the quality of their relationships with their best friends. Regression analyses revealed that both mother–adolescent and father–adolescent shared positive affect were associated with higher parent-rated prosocial behavior, lower parent-rated peer aggression, and higher adolescent self-reported friendship intimacy. Likewise, mother–adolescent and father–adolescent conversational equality were each associated with higher parent-rated prosocial behavior. Only father–adolescent conversational equality was associated with adolescent-reported friendship intimacy. No measure of parent–adolescent dyadic synchrony was associated with adolescent-reported friendship conflict. Full article

Introduction: Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is influenced by factors such as sex, age, dating violence, psychopathy traits, and antisocial and law-violating behaviors. This study explores how these variables relate to aggression towards parents, identifying key explanatory factors. Methods: This research engaged 136 Spanish adolescents aged 15–18 (mean age = 16.47; 51% female). Assessments included the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) for dating violence, the Psychopathy Content Scale (P-16) for psychopathy, the Antisocial and Criminal Behavior Scale in Adolescents (ECADA) for antisocial and law-violating behaviors, and the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) for CPV. Analyses of associations included linear regression and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Results: Females exhibited higher levels of verbal violence, less delinquency, and more frequent CPV towards mothers. Psychopathy, antisocial and law-violating behaviors, and exposure to verbal violence were correlated with filial aggression. Violence towards mothers was associated with older age, female sex, verbal violence exposure, and psychopathy (47% variance explained), while violence towards fathers was linked to younger age and psychopathy (28% variance explained). QCA results indicated that specific combinations of having experienced violence and psychopathic traits contribute to CPV towards both parents. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological and sociodemographic risk factors for CPV. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing exposure to violence, identifying at-risk adolescents, and implementing targeted interventions to promote family well-being. Full article