Love is Not All You Need: A Revolutionary Approach to Parental Abuse

This case story is a composite of similar family situations where the parents were at risk of harm from their teenage children and commonly the father/step‐father has moved out of home leaving the mother to parent the children on her own. Several of these cases involved physical threats to the lives of the parents. These referrals occurred in a Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service and a Family Therapy NGO between 1985 and 2005. This approach is offered as a complement to the widely published ‘non‐violent resistance’ approach of Haim Omer and his colleagues. We hope it goes some way to address what Lavi‐Lavavi et al ( 2013 , Journal of Systemic Therapies, 32(4), 79–93). describe as ‘the mother's plight’:

The plight of the mother continues to present a major challenge… We are also seeking ways to allow the mother more breathing space, help her to disengage from abrasive conflicts, acknowledge her contribution and sacrifice, and provide her with vantage points that may help her recognize and enhance small improvements. Hopefully, these measures will enable women to evolve from unacknowledged victims to pillars of the family’ (p. 92).

     

L'adoption par l'OIT d'une approche fondée sur la durabilité et ses conséquences sur le droit d'expression collective des travailleurs

L'action de l'OIT pour le développement durable s'est d'abord organisée autour des notions de «transition juste» et d'«emplois verts», en lien avec la protection de l'environnement. Aujourd'hui, les objectifs du développement durable devraient permettre à l'Organisation de se saisir pleinement de la dimension sociale du développement durable, grâce à l'ODD 8, qui mentionne le travail décent, et à la cible 16.7 sur la participation à la prise de décisions. L'auteure examine comment l'OIT pourrait promouvoir l'expression collective des travailleurs dans le contexte du débat sur un «avenir du travail durable» et cherche à déterminer qui doit avoir un droit d'expression et comment celui-ci doit s'exercer.     

An analysis of the relationship between parenting self-efficacy,the quality of parenting,and parental and child emotional health

ABSTRACT

The relationship between parenting self-efficacy, the quality of parenting, and parental and child emotional health has been conducted with Caucasian families and young children. The purpose of this study was to examine these relationships in ethnically diverse and impoverished families with children who have behavior problems. We examined the relationships between parenting self-efficacy, parenting practices, child externalizing problems, and caregiver depression. Participants included 213 caregivers of children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), who rated their parenting self-efficacy and completed questionnaires on parenting practices (APQ and FAD); child externalizing behaviors (Iowa Connors Inattention and ODD subscales); and caregiver depression (CESD). Data were examined using Chi-Square tests, a Linear Regression, and a One-Way ANOVA. Results demonstrate parenting self-efficacy was positively associated with positive parenting and inversely associated with inconsistent discipline. Among parents who perceived themselves as being a “better than average parent,” there was a greater percentage of youth who met cutoff for inattention problems as compared to youth who did not meet this cutoff. Lastly, depression scores were lowest for caregivers identifying as below average parents. This study underscores the need for involving parents and enhancing parenting self-efficacy in interventions targeting Disruptive Behavior Disorders.     

Social Work Assessment of Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Abstract

A review of the empirical literature was conducted concerning the use of the Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) in the assessment and treatment of children meeting the DSM-IV criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Even though the information is more limited on the CBCL in regards to ODD, compared to youth with Conduct Disorder, it is evident that this scale is a practical rapid assessment instrument with clinical, administrative, research, and program evaluation uses. Social workers serving children meeting the criteria for ODD, and those engaged in research and evaluation with such children, are encouraged to consider using the CBCL as a part of a comprehensive social work assessment package.     

Psychosocial Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Abstract

Objective:To review and describe empirical outcome studies on the psychosocial treatment of children and adolescents meeting the criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).Method:To locate these treatment outcome studies, an extensive review of the literature using the PsycINFO database was conducted. Results:Psychosocial treatments designed solely for youth meeting the criteria for ODD are rare. Rather, it seems that most of the intervention studies have involved youth with Conduct Disorder as well as ODD, even though these two disorders have distinct differences. Selected psychosocial interventions, including anger control and stress inoculation training, assertiveness training, multisystemic therapy, and rational emotive therapy, have produced favorable outcomes in the studies conducted and published to date. Conclusions:Social workers serving ODD youth should seek training in these provisionally supported evidence-based practices. Given the scarcity of treatments designed solely for ODD with adolescents, there is a need for more outcome studies on this specific population, and for more studies of social work practice involving such youth.