The role of parental emotional validation and invalidation on children’s clinical symptoms: A study with children exposed to intimate partner violence

Abstract

Parental emotional validation has been proposed of as a major explanatory mechanism of the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and children’s psychological problems. The present study examined the effect of parental emotional validation and invalidation on the relationship between exposure to IPV, and both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms. Sample was composed of Portuguese children exposed to IPV and an age- and gender-matched control group. Structural equation modeling was conducted. Children who were exposed to IPV presented higher scores on PTSD (p?<?.001, d?=?.99) and depression symptoms (p?<?.01, d?=?.63), and paternal (p?<?.05, d?=?.67) and maternal (p?<?.01, d?=?.81) emotional invalidation. Children who were exposed to IPV presented lower scores on paternal emotional validation (p?<?.001, d?=?1.23). Exposure to IPV directly predicts both PTSD and depression symptoms but the indirect effect was stronger. Paternal emotional validation moderated the impact of exposure to IPV on clinical symptoms; the relationship between exposure to IPV and both PTSD and depression symptoms was mediated by maternal emotional invalidation. Findings suggest the potential usefulness of parental emotional validation and invalidation as treatment goals in clinical intervention with this population. Interventions to improve the therapist-patient alliance recommend that therapists use emotional validation. Training of emotional validation skills in parenting training may prevent the deleterious effects of exposure to IPV.     

Attitudes Towards Gambling,Gambling Problems,and Treatment Among Hispanics in Imperial County,CA

Gambling problems are associated with a wide range of serious negative personal, social, health, and mental health consequences and are an important public health concern. Some data suggest that gambling problems may be more prevalent among Hispanics, but few studies have been conducted in this community. The aim of the current study was to gather community-based, gambling-related data in order to increase understanding of gambling problems and their treatment in the Hispanic community. We conducted a mixed-methods study of gambling behavior and attitudes towards gambling, those with gambling problems, and professional treatment for gambling problems in a publicly funded health center serving a primarily Hispanic clientele. Study participants included clinic staff and clinic patients. All participants completed a brief, self-report survey; however, staff participated in a focus group on gambling issues and patients were interviewed individually about gambling issues. Nearly 80 % of patients had gambled in the past month, as compared to about 36 % of clinic staff. Survey data showed that patients had many risk factors for gambling problems. Focus group and interview information indicated that most viewed gambling problems as a form of addiction, the elderly were seen as being at increased risk for gambling problems, and gambling outings represented one of the few recreational opportunities in the region. The majority of both staff and patients believed that there was a need for gambling-related treatment services in the county; however, a notable minority of patients said that they would first seek help from a trusted relative or family member. Possible avenues to increase awareness of, screening for, and treatment for gambling problems may include collaborations with publicly funded health care centers and the training of promotoras to serve as an interface between health services and the community.     

Avoidance of Heights on the Visual Cliff in Newly Walking Infants

Work with infants on the “visual cliff” links avoidance of drop‐offs to experience with self‐produced locomotion. Adolph's (2002) research on infants' perception of slope and gap traversability suggests that learning to avoid falling down is highly specific to the postural context in which it occurs. Infants, for example, who have learned to avoid crossing risky slopes while crawling must learn anew such avoidance when they start walking. Do newly walking infants avoid crossing the drop‐off of the visual cliff? Twenty prewalking but experienced crawling infants were compared with 20 similarly aged newly walking infants on their reactions to the visual cliff. Newly walking infants avoided moving onto the cliff's deep side even more consistently than did the prewalking crawlers. Thus, in the context of drop‐offs in visual texture, our results show that once avoidance of drop‐offs is established under conditions of crawling, it is developmentally maintained once infants begin walking.     

Nonparametric methods in factorial designs

Summary In this paper, we summarize some recent developments in the analysis of nonparametric models where the classical models of ANOVA are generalized in such a way that not only the assumption of normality is relaxed but also the structure of the designs is introduced in a broader framework and also the concept of treatment effects is redefined. The continuity of the distribution functions is not assumed so that not only data from continuous distributions but also data with ties are included in this general setup. In designs with independent observations as well as in repeated measures designs, the hypotheses are formulated by means of the distribution functions. The main results are given in a unified form. Some applications to special designs are considered, where in simple designs, some well known statistics (such as the Kruskal-Wallis statistic and the χ²-statistic for dichotomous data) come out as special cases. The general framework presented here enables the nonparametric analysis of data with continuous distribution functions as well as arbitrary discrete data such as count data, ordered categorical and dichotomous data. Received: October 13, 1999; revised version: June 26, 2000     

Problem and Pathological Gambling in a Sample of Casino Patrons

Relatively few studies have examined gambling problems among individuals in a casino setting. The current study sought to examine the prevalence of gambling problems among a sample of casino patrons and examine alcohol and tobacco use, health status, and quality of life by gambling problem status. To these ends, 176 casino patrons were recruited by going to a Southern California casino and requesting that they complete an anonymous survey. Results indicated the following lifetime rates for at-risk, problem, and pathological gambling: 29.2, 10.7, and 29.8%. Differences were found with regards to gambling behavior, and results indicated higher rates of smoking among individuals with gambling problems, but not higher rates of alcohol use. Self-rated quality of life was lower among pathological gamblers relative to non-problem gamblers, but did not differ from at-risk or problem gamblers. Although subject to some limitations, our data support the notion of higher frequency of gambling problems among casino patrons and may suggest the need for increased interventions for gambling problems on-site at casinos.     

Behavioral Science for Social Workers. Edited by Edwin J. Thomas. New York: The Free Press, 1967. 492 pp. $7.95 Hardbound

Abstract

The paper reports the results of a national survey completed in 1986 which identified factors affecting recruitment and hiring decisions in graduate and undergraduate schools of social work. A total of 387 responses were received. Implications for job candidates and faculty are discussed.     

Exploring the Relationship between Exposure to Violence,Perceptions of Neighborhood Safety,and Children's Adaptive Functioning: Clinical and Community Implications

This study explored the relationship of exposure to violence and children's perceptions of neighborhood safety and children's adaptive functioning. It used a cross-sectional quadi-experimental design of 300 inner-city children and a bttery of standardized measures, which included the Child Maltreatment Classification Scheme, Exposure to Community Violence Scale, the Domains of Safety Subscale for Neighborhood, and the Child Behavior Checklist-Teacher's Report form. Hierarchal regression analysis revealed that child maltreatment history and perceptions of neighborhood safety were significantly related to children's overall adaptive functioning. Social workers can help by engaging in efforts to increase neighborhood safety and reinforcing positive adaptive psychosocial functioning of children at risk or exposed to violence.