He Said,She Said: Gender Differences in Mother – Adolescent Conversations about Sexuality

This study examined gender differences in self‐reported and observed conversations about sexual issues. Fifty mother –adolescent dyads reported on their conversations about sexual issues and participated in videotaped conversations about dating and sexuality in a laboratory setting. Gender differences (more mother – daughter than mother –son) were found in the extent of sexual communication based on adolescents’ reports, but no gender differences were found based on mothers’ reports, or on observations of conversations. Aspects of laboratory interactions, however, did distinguish mother– daughter and mother – son dyads, and related to self‐report measures. Girls’ reported sexuality communication frequency related to behavior in the laboratory setting. During mother – son conversations, one person usually took on the role of questioner, whereas the other did not. In contrast, there was evidence for mutuality of positive emotions for mother – daughter dyads, but not for mother – son dyads.     

Parenting in later life: Adaptive illusion in elderly mothers of one child

This article explores (1) the relationship between elderly mothers of one child and their son or daughter and (2) the impact of that relationship on mothers' current and future well-being. Data from ethnographic interviews of twenty mothers of one, and twenty mothers of four or more children were compared for thematic content. Mothers of only children were found to be child-focused to the exclusion of other life-enriching activities, and singularly dependent on their son or daughter for self-validation. Significant in the interview material of single-childed mothers was the use of illusion as a tool for defusing disappointment in, or fabricating closeness to the child.     

The 122 Family Study: Empirical Data for 75 Marital and Parental Dyads

A sorting test for dyads describing their marital evaluation is outlined; its application to marital dyads where one member is a patient, and to parental dyads where an adolescent son or daughter is the patient is recorded. While the test does not distinguish between many individual and family demographic factors, it does relate to diagnostic groups and, at follow up, to the stability of the marriages. An analysis of the behaviours of different role players in the drama of psychiatric admission shows that there are significant differences between patient and spouse in their test choices. Differences are also noted between the mother and father of an admitted adolescent.     

Deep Roles: Twelve Primordial Roles of Mind and Organization

The thesis in this paper is that there are 12archetypal roles in groups and organizations. Thesedeep roles have their origin in the rolesof the essential family — father, mother, son, anddaughter. In groups and organizations, each of theseimages of family roles will — through the basicdefense mechanisms of splitting and projection —be polarized into a good and bad part: The father as Godor devil, the mother as queen or witch, the son as crownprince or black sheep, and the daughter as princess orwhore. In addition to these eight primary deep roles,there come two secondary ones: the helpers Shaman and Slave whose function are to help the familysurvive spiritually and materially, respectively. Thetwo last deep roles are of a transcendental nature: thehero (winner) and the clown (loser), i.e., the one who has won a good family role, and the onewho has lost it — or never gained it. These 12deep roles are well known from such cultural artifactsas fairy tales and mythology. In groups andorganizations, deep roles are attended with power andinterest. Those who are attributed a deep role in theirorganization will have a similar symbolic power ascharacters in fairy tales and mythology.     

Intergenerational transfer of time and risk preferences

There is a growing interest in individual time and risk preferences. Little is known about how these preferences are formed. It is hypothesised that parents may transmit their preferences to their offspring. This paper examines the correlation in offspring and parental time and risk preferences using data from an annual household survey in Australia (the HILDA survey). Both time and risk preferences are examined and we explored whether the correlation in time and risk preferences varies across the distribution of preferences and across the across the four parent–child dyads (mother/daughter, mother/son, father/daughter, father/son). The results show that there is a significant relationship between parents and their young adult offspring risk and time preference measures. The correlation varies across the distribution of time preferences. The correlation was largest for longer planning horizons. Risk averse parents are more likely to have risk averse children. Except for the father/daughter dyad risk seeking parents are more likely to have risk seeking offspring. Some gender differences were found. The association in parental and offspring time preference was larger for mothers than fathers. Daughters are more likely to be influenced by their mother’s risk preferences, however, sons are equally influenced by both parents. The results of this study suggest that the transmission in preferences is more nuanced than previously thought and parental gender may be important.     

Preface

Being raised by a single mother is one factor that has been suggested as contributing to the plight of African American males. Yet few studies have focused specifically on African American single mothers' experiences with raising sons. This qualitative study explored the following questions: (1) What are the experiences of African American single mothers in the raising of their sons? (2) What coping strategies do African American single mothers use in the raising of their sons? Two rounds of unstructured open-ended interviews were conducted with 11 African American single mothers of at least one son. Implications for family therapy based on the interviews are presented.     

Eliciting children’s recall regarding home life and relationships

Abstract

Child interviews form an important component of custody evaluations. Yet, research on children’s responses to questions about home life and relationships is lacking. In the present study, children (N?=?47) aged 6 to 10?years were interviewed about their daily routines and family relationships. Responses to four categories of questions were compared: open and specific questions about routines, and negative and positive aspects of family relationships. Responses were coded for amount of information, informativeness, topic pertinence, and refusals to answer. Results suggested that questions about everyday routines and relationships elicit relevant and informative responses from children. It is suggested that interviewers begin with open-ended questions regarding daily routines to structure family law interviews with children.     

Strategies for supporting the online publishing activities of adults with learning difficulties

This paper reports on a study that explored the online publishing activities of adults with learning difficulties, the strategies that carers and professionals have used to support these activities and the implications these strategies may have for empowerment and self-advocacy. Content analysis of 15 home pages revealed that despite having a certain degree of information and communication technology literacy, many of the authors were being supported in their online publishing activities. For, the majority, their family provided this support. The supportive strategies that were used involved including the home page as part of a bigger family web site and taking sole or joint responsibility for writing the narrative of the home page. These strategies raise interesting questions about the validity of online publishing activities as vehicles for self-advocacy and the power relationships that such activities expose.     

Narrative analysis of the hospital experience for older parents of people who cannot speak

In this study eight parents aged over 60 years participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences in supporting an adult son or daughter with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs (CCN) in hospital. A narrative analysis of the interviews provided insights into the nature of the parent carer's experiences in hospital. The results are presented as an interpretation of the participants' perceptions of their roles in hospital and the impact of these upon their health and wellbeing in older age. The participants' suggestions of how to improve the hospital care experience for all concerned are included and directions for future research are discussed.     

How Mothers Cope When Their Welfare Grant Is Cut

Abstract

In this qualitative study of welfare mothers' perceptions and responses to receiving an economic sanction, we recruited a convenience sample of mothers of preschool children whose benefits had been cut due to noncompliance with an employment activity. The interviews combined semi-structured and open-ended questions, as well as measures of maternal depression and economic hardship. No pattern of differences in strategies was found between those women who complied with the work mandate and those who did not. Many of the women were confused about the reason for the cut in their benefit. Policy ramifications of findings in regard to the 2002 TANF Reauthorization legislation are discussed.     

Son preference and reproductive behaviour in rural Punjab

This study examines the impact of son preference on desired family size and contraceptive usage among a rural population in Punjab, India. Data are obtained from a sample survey conducted for the Center for Research in Rural and Industrial Development in 1989-90 in 7 rural districts of Punjab. The sample includes 450 currently married women aged 15-44 years. Analysis pertains to mean desired family size, the percentage not desiring additional children, the percentage desiring additional sons and daughters, and current use of contraception by sex, birth order, and number of living children. The estimation of the extent to which contraception would increase and desired family size would decline is based on methods developed by Arnold (1985) that assume no sex preference at any parity. Findings indicate a strong son preference. At every parity, women with sons only desired fewer children and were more likely to use contraception. Among women who desired more children, there was no indication that women with sons only desired a balanced sex composition. None desired a second daughter, and many desired a second son. As the number of living sons increased, so did contraceptive use. Contraception was 20% among couples with no son, 50% among those with one living son, and 81% among those with two living sons. Sterilization acceptors had an average of 2.07 living sons. At parity 2, two times as many couples had boys only compared to girls only. At parity 3, there were 7 times more families with boys only than families with girls only. If sex preferences were completely eliminated in the Punjab, there would be a 9% decline in desired family size from 3.05 children to 2.77 children. Contraceptive use would increase by 14 percentage points from 58% to 72%. The cultural practices of the Jats ethnic group place girls in the position of being an economic liability.     

Father-son incest: A review and analysis of reported incidents

A review of the literature on father-son incest reveals both fewer case reports and much less adequate data as compared to that on father-daughter incest. However, there are suggestions that the psychosocial history and personality of the father who engages his son sexually is a dominant factor, while dysfunctional family interation seems central in molestations of the daughter.     

The experiences of grandparents who have limited or no contact with their grandchildren

Purpose of the studyThe matrilineal advantage theory suggests that paternal grandparents are more at risk of having little or no contact with their grandchildren. However, there is significant family diversity within Australia and we wished to understand the experiences of a wide range of grandparents in order to determine if the matrilineal theory can be effectively used in practice to identify those grandparents most at risk for estrangement.Design and methodsA convenience group of grandparents with little or no contact with grandchildren (n = 38) told their stories in their own words using narratives obtained through interview or writing.Results and implicationsWe found that paternal grandparents, as per the matrilineal advantage theory, were more likely to be estranged from their grandchildren when their son divorced, particularly when he was not the resident parent or when he re-partnered. However, in contrast, we found that maternal grandparents who experienced conflict in their relationship with their daughter were also at risk for estrangement. This occurred even when grandparents had previously been highly involved in the lives of their grandchildren. Some estrangements appeared to result from a cultural bias towards the nuclear family form. We argue that practitioners need not only to expand their understanding of the risk categories for estrangement, they also need to actively support parents and grandparents in creating and maintaining wider family support networks in order to improve family resilience.     

Marriage Form and Son Preference in Rural China: An Investigation in Three Counties*

Abstract Using data from two surveys in three counties among which the prevalence of uxorilocal marriage varies greatly, this paper analyzes effects of marriage form, as well as individual, family, and social factors on son preference in the context of strict birth control in rural China. It is shown that, under the Chinese patrilineal joint family system, son preference can be inferred from the reproductive behavior of couples in virilocal marriage but not from that of couples in uxorilocal marriage. However, the negative effect of uxorilocal marriage on son preference is likely to depend on other factors. For all three counties, women married after the 1990s are less likely to have preference for sons; in regions with low prevalence of uxorilocal marriages, son preference is stronger for virilocally married couples with more sisters or having first birth at older age, and for couples whose marriages were arranged by others; in regions with high prevalence of uxorilocal marriages but under-developed economies, higher educated women in uxorilocal marriages have stronger son preference. Son preference differs greatly among the three counties and increased prevalence of uxorilocal marriage may significantly weaken son preference. These findings relate to changes in rural family and marriage customs during the current demographic and social transition, and suggest new approaches to weakening son preference while maintaining low fertility in rural China.     

Elder abuse and neglect

Elder abuse and neglect is a critical health care issue that must be brought to the attention of health care providers and older adults' family members. Adults older than 65 who live at home or in long-term care facilities may be at risk for abuse. Nurses should be aware of the causes, screening questions, symptoms of abuse, and resources in the community. Armed with information and a better understanding about the issue, nurses can minimize the devastating effects of abuse on older adults and their families.     

Deriving Daily Purpose Through Daily Events and Role Fulfillment Among Asian American Youth

Establishing life purpose is a key developmental task; however, how it is linked to adolescents’ everyday family, school, extracurricular, and leisure experiences remains unclear. Using daily diary data from 180 Asian American ninth and tenth graders (50% ninth; 58% female; 25% first generation), daily purpose was positively related to daily family assistance. Leisure time was negatively associated with purpose, especially for first‐generation adolescents. Social role fulfillment (e.g., feeling like a good son or daughter) also contributed to daily purpose. Implications extended into daily affect, with positive associations with happiness, and negative associations with distress and anxiety. Results suggest that promoting social connectedness and activities that allow adolescents to feel like a valued family member may best foster youth purpose development.     

The Impact of Home Daycare on the Biological Children of Providers: Case Examples of Unintended Consequences

Home daycare is a huge cottage industry in America, but no studies exist that examine the positive or negative impact of daycare on the biological children of providers. This paper presents two case studies that describe the unintended negative impact of home daycare on the social and emotional development of the children of providers. In one case, a home-schooled, psychosomatically ill adolescent scorns her experiences with home daycare. The other case describes an oppositional 10-year-old boy’s positive and negative reactions. These cases serve to illustrate several critical issues that biological children face when parents decide to operate a daycare program from their home. A special focus is on the vulnerable child whose ability to cope with other children may be compromised by temperamental factors or a history of family or personal trauma. Implications are discussed.     

Protesting Against Mothers’ Surveillance: Salvadorian Mothers and Their Daughters Negotiating Adolescence in a Foreign Context

This article examines how Salvadorian immigrant mothers and their daughters negotiate adolescence in a settlement context that differs from their home country. The author interviewed 42 women, all living in a midsized city in Ontario, Canada: 32 in-depth individual interviews were carried out with Salvadorian-born mothers and, separately, with one of their daughters (either adolescent or adult); and five interviews included mothers and their adolescent or adult daughters together (N = 10). A grounded theory approach was employed to explore the mother–daughter negotiation process from each person’s point of view. The analysis revealed various strategies that mothers developed to guide their daughters through the adolescent years, and the diverse ways daughters resisted their mother’s guidance while maintaining values such as respect and family loyalty. The findings highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of immigrant families in navigating the challenges of the transition to adulthood while also meeting the demands of acculturation into a foreign country.     

Young,anchored and free? Examining the dynamics of early housing pathways in Australia

Young people are remaining in the parental home for longer, and returning there more often, before attaining residential independence. In Australia, these patterns have prompted concerns about a ‘boomerang generation’ whose housing aspirations and decisions have either been directly questioned, or viewed as symptomatic of broader affordability issues. Employing a longitudinal perspective, we argue that early residential pathways reflect a mix of stable and dynamic influences involving individuals, their families, and their broader relationships. Using data from a large cohort (n = 2082) of young Australians participating in the ‘Our Lives’ research project, we examine housing pathway formation between the ages of 12/13 and 21/22. Events such as parental union dissolution or partnership formation were found to encourage home leaving, whilst being employed at a younger age and having grown up rurally predicted both leaving and remaining out of home. Close, supportive relationships with family and friends served to ‘anchor’ respondents at home for longer, and parental socioeconomic resources enabled respondents to leave home and return if needed. The findings suggest that early residential independence reflects various factors, not all of which are in young people’s control, and some of which may hinder the longer term sustainability of their living arrangements.     

Implementation and results of the statewide ONHRSS

In response to increased consumer demand, state governments are publishing more detailed information about the quality of nursing homes. In 2002, Ohio legislation mandated the publication of a Long-Term Care Consumer Guide that included information on nursing home resident and family satisfaction surveys. Using the 2002 Ohio Nursing Home Resident Satisfaction Survey as an example, this article addresses two research questions: (1) how can statewide resident face-to-face satisfaction interviews be implemented to maximize participation of residents and facilities and produce reliable and valid results, and (2) how satisfied are residents with their nursing home experiences, overall and by level of cognitive function.