Psicologia

Do ideal fathers differ from ideal mothers? A study on sensitivity, challenging, and sensitive challenging parenting behavior

Abstract Studies on caregiving often distinguish between sensitive and challenging behavior. Mothers are characterized as more sensitive and fathers as more challenging. From an attachment perspective, the ideal mother is sensitive. Empirically, sensitivity is a better predictor of child-mother compared to child-father attachment security. In contrast, sensitive challenging behavior is a better predictor of child-father attachment. Thus, the ideal father might be sensitive challenging. The study examined differences and/or similarities in representations of ideal mothers and fathers regarding sensitive challenging behavior. We explored raters’ parental status, gender, or attachment as influential factors. 175 participants described their representations of the ideal parents and rated the attachment security to their own parents. Results replicate earlier findings showing that the ideal mother is sensitive. Interestingly, also the ideal father is a sensitive father. In direct comparison, ideal fathers are less sensitive and more challenging compared to ideal mothers. Attachment avoidance influenced parenting ideals.

Are fathers’ rearing histories associated with their involvement in childrearing? A Peruvian study

Abstract This study compares father involvement, relative to the mother, in Peruvian families with preschool age children. We also examined father’s rearing history and sociodemographic characteristics as predictors of involvement in child related activities. Two hundred and six families participated in the study. Results showed that mothers were more involved in direct and indirect care, and fathers tended to be more involved in play. Teaching/discipline and outdoor leisure activities were shared. The models tested for paternal involvement in direct, indirect care, and outdoor leisure were significant. Father´s rearing history was a main predictor of direct care and outdoor leisure. Fathers’ perceptions of their own mothers’ care were negatively associated with their involvement in direct care; and their perceptions of their own fathers’ overprotection/control were negatively associated with fathers’ involvement in outdoor leisure. Results are discussed based on stereotypical gender-based role division in childrearing, and the modeling and compensatory hypotheses.

Fathering in the Chilean context: Wellbeing and father involvement pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract We examined father involvement in two groups of two-parent Chilean families with children aged from 2 to 7 years, one prior to the pandemic (N = 115) and the second during the pandemic (N = 103). We first presented a description of fathering in the Chilean context and then examined potential predictors of fathers’ cognitive and affective involvement. Data showed that during the pandemic fathers reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to before the pandemic. However, levels of cognitive and affective involvement did not vary across studies. Parental stress predicted cognitive and affective involvement in pre-pandemic fathers. Number of children and educational level were related only to cognitive involvement. The implications of these findings for intervention and future research are discussed.

Parenting sensitivity, salivary oxytocin levels and children’s behavioral problems in a Portuguese sample

Abstract The present study focused on the quality of parenting behaviors (sensitivity and intrusiveness), its associations with children's levels of oxytocin (OXT), and with children's behavioral problems in the preschool context. Thirty nuclear families, including both parents and one focal child, and their preschool teachers participated in the study. Salivary OXT was collected (during two separate home visits) from children after a play task with each parent. Sensitivity and intrusiveness were coded based on the videotapes of these dyadic play interactions. Preschool teachers reported children’s behavioral problems using the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form. Salivary OXT was collected by passive drooling, and quantified by radioimmunoassay, after extraction. Results show that only fathers’ sensitivity and intrusiveness were significantly correlated with children’s OXT concentrations. Both mothers’ and fathers’ sensitivity were negatively correlated with children’s internalizing problems. Mothers’ intrusiveness was positively correlated with children’s externalizing problems, and fathers’ intrusiveness with children’s internalizing problems.

A combination of maternal and paternal features discriminates between children with secure and insecure attachment style

Abstract Child-caregiver attachment security has been associated with positive developmental outcomes. However, many aspects related to the parenting environment, besides attachment organization, should be considered in the prediction of offspring’s attachment. We aimed at building an ecological classification model of child attachment based on many variables related to the individual and dyadic features of both parents. Having recruited 150 families, we fed a stepwise logistic regression analysis, aimed at discriminating between secure and insecure child attachment. This contained information regarding parental stress, parental avoidance and anxiety in romantic relationships, quality of the romantic relationship and parental involvement. Paternal responsibility, paternal perception of the quality of the romantic relationship and maternal attachment avoidance were the most discriminative variables in the model (all p<.05). Findings support the importance of not limiting investigations to maternal factors, but rather making the investigation of attachment-related factors broader by assessing maternal, paternal and dyadic features.

Controlling parenting and executive functioning in children born preterm

Abstract This study investigated the relations between mothers’ and fathers’ controlling behaviors and the executive functioning of children born preterm. Sixty-eight preterm children and their parents were assessed when the children were 3 ½ years old. The executive functioning was measured using the Head-to-Toes-Task and controlling parenting behaviors were measured through a standardized observation of a parent-child interaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that both mothers’ and fathers’ controlling behaviors were associated with worse child executive functioning performance, after controlling for the child’s cognitive ability. Findings suggest that both mothers and fathers play an important role in the development of executive functioning of children born prematurely, highlighting the need to consider both parents in the study of and intervention with these children.

Adaptation of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale for a sample of Portuguese population

Abstract The aim of this study is to adapt a Portuguese version of the original 18 items of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), via a translation / back translation process, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a Portuguese sample. The sample comprised 232 respondents from the general population. The modified BFAS acquires a different factor structure from the original, keeping 4 of the main theoretical elements (subscales) and 10 of the 18 original items. The results indicate that the Portuguese version of the original BFAS presents good psychometric qualities. The statistical techniques used in the study allowed assessing the reliability and validity of the modified BFAS. Nevertheless, further uses of this scale with other samples from the Portuguese population are necessary to confirm the obtained results.

Outcomes from a brief group behavior therapy approach for social anxiety disorder in adolescence: An exploratory clinical trial

Abstract Social anxiety disorder (SAD) usually develops in adolescence and is maintained by avoidance and safety seeking behaviors, which are the focus of behavioral therapy (BT). This work explored the outcomes of a brief group BT for SAD in adolescence, combining exposure with skills training. Fourteen adolescents (aged 14-18 years old) diagnosed with SAD received the intervention. BT was compared to a waiting list condition (n = 10) from pre- to post-intervention; how change in avoidance and safety behaviors predicted post-intervention social anxiety was also tested. Significant improvement was limited to anxiety and avoidance when interacting in new social situations, which may be due to skills training having been focused on general interaction. Only change in avoidance predicted post-intervention social anxiety. Though exploratory, current findings suggest BT to be a relevant approach to SAD. As such, it may inform future more robust studies on interventions tailored to specific core social fears.

Can cognitive restructuring serve as a brief stand-alone treatment for social anxiety disorder in adolescence? An exploratory clinical trial

Abstract Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating and chronic condition that usually arises in adolescence. Cost-effective interventions provided early on may alter its usually chronic trajectory. This study evaluated changes following a brief cognitive restructuring intervention with 14 adolescent girls, against a waitlist control group, on social anxiety, fear of negative and positive evaluation and negative automatic thoughts. Predictors of post-intervention social anxiety scores were also investigated. Results show that social anxiety fluctuated similarly for both groups. Distinctive significant change was found only for performing in formal social situations following the intervention. Change in frequency of automatic negative thoughts significantly predicted post-intervention social anxiety for measures relating to anxiety when interacting and being observed by others. Cognitive restructuring may provide significant change by altering the content (and not the frequency) of thoughts and, in its current short form, may be relevant to the specific performance type of SAD.

As associações de doenças raras em Portugal: Uma fonte importante de apoio psicossocial

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar as associações de pessoas com doenças raras, como uma importante fonte de apoio psicossocial. Foram realizadas entrevistas a 38 participantes de 23 associações e delegações de pessoas com doenças raras, vinculadas ao Centro de Genética Preditiva e Preventiva. Das análises emergiram três categorias conceptuais: (1) missão das associações; (2) contexto do trabalho associativo; e (3) estratégias e oportunidades. Os principais obstáculos ao papel das associações como fonte de apoio às pessoas doentes e suas famílias foram: (1) dificuldade em encontrar voluntários; (2) baixo nível de literacia sobre doenças raras; (3) pouco envolvimento dos profissionais de saúde e população; e (4) dificuldade em obter financiamento. Os resultados mostraram que as associações têm um papel fundamental na defesa dos direitos das pessoas com doenças raras, sendo possível potenciar o seu trabalho, maximizando a integração com os serviços de saúde e a sua visibilidade.

Abstract Rare disease associations in Portugal: An important source of psychosocial support: This study aimed at characterizing the rare disease patients’ associations, as a relevant source of psychosocial support. Thirty-eight participants were interviewed, from 23 patients’ associations (or its regional sections), connected to Centro de Genética Preditiva e Preventiva. Three conceptual categories have emerged in their discourses: (1) mission of their associations; (2) current context of associative work; and (3) strategies used and existing opportunities. The most common limitations were (1) the difficulty in finding volunteers; (2) the low literacy about rare diseases; (3) the limited involvement of professionals and of the general population; and (4) difficulties with funding. Our results showed that associations do play a key role in the advocacy for patients with rare diseases; and that it is possible to reinforce their articulation with existing resources, facilitating their integration with healthcare services and, thus, maximizing their visibility.

Benefícios de um novo programa de aprendizagem socioemocional na redução da sintomatologia psicopatológica e na promoção das competências socioemocionais globais, na perspetiva das crianças

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo examinar as perceções das crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 12 anos, que participaram no novo programa de aprendizagem socioemocional “O Mundo dos Intergalácticos” de curta duração, acerca da evolução dos sintomas psicopatológicos (ansiedade, depressão e stresse) e das competências socioemocionais globais, do pré-teste para o pós-teste e follow-up (6 meses), considerando o sexo e a faixa etária (8-9 vs. 10-12 anos). Um total de 95 crianças, com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 12 anos, preencheram Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Stresse para Crianças e a escala. Para mim é fácil, no pré-teste, pós-teste e 6 meses após a participação no programa. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as crianças mais novas (8-9 anos) e mais velhas (10-12 anos), de ambos os sexos, percecionaram uma redução da sintomatologia psicopatológica e uma melhoria das competências socioemocionais globais do pré-teste para o pós-teste e follow-up.

Abstract Benefits of a new socio-emotional learning program in reducing psychopathological symptoms and in promoting global socio-emotional skills, from the perspective of children: This study aimed to examine the perceptions of children aged eight to 12 years old who participated in the new short-term socio-emotional learning program “O Mundo dos Intergalácticos” about the evolution of psychopathological symptoms (anxiety, depression and stress) and overall socioemotional skills from pre-test to post-test and follow-up (six months), considering gender and age group (8-9 vs. 10-12 years). A total of 95 children aged 8 to 12 years completed the Anxiety, Stress and Depression Scales and the scale Para mim é fácil at pre-test, post-test and six months after the participation in the intervention program (follow-up). The results showed that younger (8-9 years) and older (10-12 years) children of both sexes perceived a reduction in psychopathological symptoms and an improvement in overall socioemotional skills from pre-test to post-test and follow-up.