Attitudes of special foster parents and residential staff towards children

This paper compares the attitudes of special foster parents and residential staff towards children in their care. The exercise was carried out as part of a comparative study of care practice in ‘special’ foster homes (accommodating children traditionally considered too old or difficult for fostering) and ordinary community or children's homes. Overall, care practice in the foster homes was significantly more child oriented than in the children's homes. This finding cannot, however, be explained in terms of attitudinal differences between foster parents and staff. Staff attitudes generally appeared more conducive to the provision of child oriented care than those of the foster parents.     

Attitudes towards and perception of gambling among secondary school students in a developing country

ABSTRACT

Gambling is common in Nigeria and over the years has gained wide acceptability among the populace. Improved technology and legalization of gambling have led to increased gambling opportunities among young people. The aim of this study is to determine the attitude towards and perception of gambling among a sample of secondary school students in South East Nigeria. A total of 507 male students from three male-only urban Secondary Schools in Owerri, Imo State participated in the study. Multistage sampling technique was used in sample selection. Data was collected using a self-administered socio-demographic questionnaire and the 9 Item Attitude Towards Gambling Scale. Results showed an overall negative perception of gambling. Majority of the respondents (82.8%) perceived gambling as a risky activity while few (27.3%) perceived it as a good way of earning an income quickly. More than half of the respondents (52.7%) believed that gambling yields a high return. There was a significant association between parental gambling and positive attitude towards gambling (X = 6.27, p = 0.04). Thus, preventive strategies targeted towards changing gambling attitudes in parents may serve a dual role of changing attitudes and perception of gambling in their offspring.     

Building collaboration between school and parents: issues for school social workers and parents whose young children exhibit violent behaviour at school

This research explores the perceptions of 60 parents whose children, aged from three to nine, had been involved in bullying, as defined under the Safe Schools Act and the Code of Conduct. Some of these children had been suspended from school, while others were potential candidates for suspension. These parents were recruited from Ottawa's two French-language school boards to participate in qualitative interviews between June 2000 and June 2002. The aim of this research was to cast new light on the perceptions of parents and schools with regard to their relationships, and on the role of school social workers in maintaining and enhancing collaborative partnerships.

The desire of some parents to be involved in the decisions concerning remedial action taken to address their child's aggressive behaviour touched a raw nerve in some schools. Nonetheless, when schools and parents ultimately recognize the daily challenges that both parties face, and a shared plan of action develops therein, the path to effective collaboration becomes clear. Early intervention on the part of school social workers gives them an edge in their efforts as mediators. They seize every opportunity to initiate different collaborative approaches between schools and parents, so that the issue of bullying can be handled in a more respectful way for everyone.     

Attitudes of high school students and teachers towards Muslims and Islam in a southeastern Australian community

This study investigated attitudes of Australian high school students and teachers towards Muslims and Islam in two suburban high schools in the Logan/Brisbane area of southeastern Australia. Subjects (N = 156) responded to a questionnaire consisting of 24 survey items. Frequency, percentage distribution, and content analysis were performed. It was found that, generally, more respondents disagree with the negative stereotypes of Muslims as the media tend to present them. A majority of the respondents demonstrated positive attitudes towards Muslims and Islam, and strongly support the idea of multicultural coexistence in Australia. Recommendations are given in light of the research findings.     

Techniques of child discipline and abuse by parents

Cet article examine l'étiologie de l'agression parentale envers les enfants, basée sur un échantillonnage aléatoire de families Torontoises. Plusieurs questions qui demeuraient sans réponses dans l'étude de l'abus des enfants sont clarifiées par l'analyse d'un échantillonnage aléatoire et par une perspective plus large des déterminants de la discipline des enfants. Ces questions sont tirées de trois théories sociologiques principales souvent citées dans la litérature sur l'abus des enfants - l'argument sur le cycle de la violence, la théorie sociale-situationnelle, et le modèle culturel. Les analyses factorielles et de régressions multiples démontrent qu'il existe des styles distincts de discipline; que différents groupes de variables causatives opèrent dans chaque style de discipline; et que différents facteurs influencent le style de discipline des mères et des pères. Les facteurs ayant rapport à la socialisation infantile des parents sont des causes déterminates particulièrement importantes à leurs choix de méthodes proactives d'instruction de discipline des enfants, tandis que les facteurs ayant rapport à la distribution des pouvoirs dans la famille, et dans la societe en generate, sont les causes les plus importantes de la selection de methodes de discipline reactives et violentes. This paper examines the etiology of parents' aggression towards their children in a random sample of Toronto families. Several outstanding issues in the study of child abuse are clarified by analysing a random sample and by viewing the problem in the larger context of the determinants of child discipline. These issues are derived from three main sociological theories of child abuse frequently cited in the literature - the cycle of violence argument, social situational theory and the cultural model. Factor and multiple regression analyses demonstrate that distinct styles of discipline exist; different subsets of causal variables operate for each discipline style; and mothers' and fathers' discipline styles are affected by different factors. Factors related to parents' childhood socialization are particularly important determinants of whether they adopt a proactive, teaching style of child discipline, while factors related to the distribution of power in the family and in society at large are the most important causes of whether parents adopt a reactive, violent discipline style.     

Attitudes of low-income parents toward seeking help with parenting: implications for practice

Fifty-two low-income parents were surveyed to determine attitudes toward parenting and help seeking. Although a majority agreed that most parents, even "good" parents, need help or advice about parenting and thought they would seek help with parenting, low-income parents were less likely to believe in or seek out help than those with higher incomes. The most frequently selected sources of help were family, books and videos, telephone help-lines, and friends. The least likely sources of help were child protective services, school personnel, clergy, and social service/counseling agencies. Parent support and education groups were likely sources of support for only one in four low-income parents.     

Where are the children in home–school relations? Notes towards a research agenda

In this article we unpack the assumptions behind the dominant British research, policy and practice home-school relations consensus that holds parents' involvement and participation in their children's education to be unquestionably necessary and beneficial. It presupposes a one-way relationship between parents and children in which children are implicitly placed as dependent and inert recipients of the decisions and activities of parents and teachers. It does not take account of the impacts of the gender of children and their parents, ethnicity, age or family form. We draw on evidence from a diverse range of sources to show that children do have individual and collective interests and priorities in the process of home-school relations, and that gender is particularly important in this. We argue for research on home-school relations that takes an essentially child-centred approach, treating children as competent informants on diverse aspects of parental involvement in their education.     

Re‐inventing the Gendered Organization: Staff Attitudes towards Women and Gender Mainstreaming in NGOs in Malawi

Gender inequality within non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) is constructed on a daily basis through the gendered norms, attitudes and practices of individuals within them. The continual re‐invention of a gendered organization ensures the maintenance of the status quo and therefore the privileging of male/masculine interests over female/feminine interests. Gender mainstreaming is an approach designed to alter the status quo and facilitate women's empowerment. In Malawi, many NGOs have adopted gender mainstreaming as a strategy to address gender inequality both within their organizations and with the communities where they work. Gender mainstreaming initiatives involve a variety of activities including hiring more women staff members, designing policies within the organization to promote gender equality and educating staff members about gender issues through training workshops. While these strategies represent important steps forward for gender equality, it is not clear to what extent these policies and initiatives are translating into meaningful change within the organization.     

Attitudes of elderly persons towards receiving financial support from adult children

Although many studies of attitudes regarding filial obligations have found consensual agreement that adult children should provide the necessary help to their elderly parents, in most studies, filial obligations have been examined through the eyes of the younger generation, while attitudes and beliefs from the perspective of the elderly themselves have rarely been examined. The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes of Israeli Jewish elderly persons towards financial assistance received from adult children, in general, and to investigate the variables that may impact these attitudes. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 153 respondents aged 60 and over, residing in the southern region of the country. The results revealed that the majority believed that adult children should provide financial support for their elderly parents, in particular when their parents have insufficient income for their needs and whenever their children can afford it. Regression analyses showed that attitudes supporting the provision of financial support to adult children, gender, ethnic decent, and number of daughters have been found significant predictors of attitudes toward filial obligations to provide financial support for elderly parents. The policy implications of these findings are discussed and further avenues of research are suggested.     

Substance misuse amongst young people in non‐school settings: challenges to practitioners and policy makers

Over the past two decades the levels of substance misuse amongst children and young people have increased at a global level generally and within the UK in particular. Some school aged young people are considered to be at an increased risk to substance misuse, particularly those outside mainstream school. However, the literature on substance use by these young people remains comparatively limited. This paper explores this issue through an investigation of cannabis use trends amongst the High Risk Booster Sample of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of adolescent substance use. It focuses upon the cannabis use patterns of young people excluded from school and those attending Emotional and Behavioural Difficulty units from the age of 11–16 years, groups who are historically categorised as vulnerable to substance misuse. The experience of these young people provides evidence to highlight the contemporary challenges facing policy makers and practitioners when addressing substance use and misuse use amongst these young people. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attitudes and policies towards residential development in the Scottish countryside

This paper reports the results of a two-year study of attitudes towards residential development in the Scottish countryside, and how these impinge upon processes of policy formulation for land release. The research focused on two casestudy districts while also exploring processes of policy formulation at national and local levels.At a national (Scottish) level, the most potent influence on policy was found to be the professional ideologies of the civil service elite, with professional planners' opposition to housebuilding in the countryside increasingly challenged by the emergence of a housing professional community. At the local level, policies were the outcome of a struggle between individual councillors acting ‘parochially’ on behalf of their constituents (notably high-status, home-owners, landowners and farmers) and planning officials acting in accordance with dominant professional planning ideologies to oppose rural residential development.     

Attitudes and perceptions of public relations professionals towards graduating students’ skills

The study asks whether universities should educate public relations students with a focus more on traditional skills or new technical skills. Results of a survey of 113 public relations professionals show that, while new technical skills are seen as increasingly important, professionals still value traditional skills more. Within the new technical skills, professionals emphasized the latest trends.     

Memoir/manuals of South Korean pre‐college study abroad: defending mothers and humanizing children

In this article, we analyse the memoir/manuals of three ‘goose’ families. These are South Koreans whose children participate in pre‐college study abroad (PSA). One parent (typically the mother) accompanies the child while the other (usually the father) remains at home to support the venture. Although many South Koreans aspire to study abroad, both the mothers and children of goose families have attracted wide criticism – the mothers for being narrowly instrumental and too family centred, worried only about social reproduction and mobility and the children for forsaking their nation, foregoing their filial duties and, perhaps, failing abroad. These memoir/manuals defend the goose mother and protect the PSA child against such charges. As memoirs, they depict remarkable people worthy of documentation. As manuals, they offer (at least some) guidance for mothers and families contemplating this particular family strategy. The memoir/manuals open a window to the challenges and anxieties of PSA in South Korea today.     

Compassionate,safe and rigorous child protection practice with biological parents of adopted children

There is a worldwide trend towards re‐energizing the use of adoption as a tool of child protection, primarily designed to ensure that children do not languish in care. This paper poses the question: does this trend obscure the rights of relinquishing parents? By inquiring into a specific case, and reflecting on the themes surrounding this practice, the authors suggest that rigorous practice, which attends to the permanency needs of the child, is possible while simultaneously being responsive to the human rights of the biological parents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Research on the Attitudes of Pupils and Teachers towards the Shoa in Germany

In this paper, I examine the state of Holocaust education in Germany. I also look carefully at the knowledge and attitudes of German students, from both the western and eastern part of the country. Through the presentation of results from various empirical studies, I compare German students with other students in Europe. I conclude that, though the overall picture is quite positive in German schools, there is some cause for concern due to the fact that certain taboos surrounding National Socialism seem to be disappearing among the younger generations.     

Investigating the factor structure and validity of the family empowerment scale for parents of children with emotional disturbance in middle school

Parent empowerment involves the ability of caregivers to meet the needs of their family while maintaining feelings of control and is particularly important for families of children at-risk. It is necessary to establish reliable and valid tools to measure parent empowerment. The purpose of this study was to examine the internal factor structure, score reliability, and convergent validity of the FES scores with caregivers of middle school youth who had an Individualized Education Plan for Emotional Disturbance (ED) or Other Health Impairment (OHI) due to emotional or behavioral needs. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the internal structure the FES. Score reliability was examined by computing coefficient alpha (Cronbach, 1951) for each subscale score and computing Coefficient omega and coefficient omega hierarchical for good-fitting factor models and bifactor models. Convergent validity was examined by generating composite scores for each subscale, followed by computing Pearson correlations between FES subscale scores and scores from the PAM, CGSQ and the SDQ. Results indicated that the hypothesized three-factor model fit the data adequately. FES scores were reliable based on coefficient alpha and omega, and evidence of convergent validity with measures of parent activation, caregiver strain, and child behavior were moderate to strong. The results support the use of the FES with parents of middle school youth who have ED and further validate the three factor structure identified in the initial measure development. Practical and clinical implications of these findings include support for the use of the FES with this particular group of parents.     

Transnational parenting and the well‐being of Angolan migrant parents in Europe

Studies on the transnational family highlight the emotional difficulties of migrant parents separated from their children through international migration. This article consists of a large‐scale quantitative investigation into the insights of transnational family literature by examining the well‐being of transnational parents compared with that of parents who live with their children in the destination country. Furthermore, through a survey of Angolan migrant parents in both the Netherlands and Portugal, we compare the contexts of two receiving country. Our study shows transnational parents are worse off than their non‐transnational counterparts in terms of four measures of well‐being – health, life satisfaction, happiness, and emotional well‐being. Although studies on migrant well‐being tend to focus exclusively on the characteristics of the receiving countries, our findings suggest that, to understand migrant parents' well‐being, a transnational perspective should also consider the existence of children in the migrant sending country. Finally, comparing the same population in two countries revealed that the receiving country effects the way in which transnational parenting is associated with migrant well‐being.     

What happens during and after school: Conditions faced by working parents living in poverty and their school-aged children

Past research has not looked directly at how parental working conditions are affecting the lives of school-age children living in or near poverty. This study examines the effects that the working conditions faced by low-income parents have on the care their school-age children receive and on parental involvement in their children's education and development. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 74 families with school-age children, including 44 families living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level and 30 families living above 150% of poverty. Teachers at every public afterschool program in the city were interviewed. One out of two low-income working parents faced barriers to becoming involved in their children's education. Two out of five faced barriers to participating in school meetings, school trips, or school events. Many parents had difficulty finding any time to spend with their children, let alone time to assist them with their schoolwork. The difficulties they faced are described in detail. Implications for educational and labor policy are discussed.