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Item Adaptive Coping in African American Adolescents: The Role of Mother-Adolescent Relationship Quality, Parental Monitoring, and Racial Socialization(2018) Greene, Diamond; Smith-Bynum, Mia A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Adolescence can be a stressful stage of development for adolescents and their families; however, it is particularly stressful for African American adolescents who also have to deal with additional stressors such as racial discrimination, which can be detrimental to one’s mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine how: (a) adolescents’ perception of mother-adolescent relationship quality, (b) adolescents’ perception of parental monitoring from their parents, and (c) adolescents’ perception of racial socialization (e.g., cultural coping with antagonism) messages, predicts adaptive coping strategies. The sample included 111 African American adolescents (55% female), ranging from ages 14 to 17 (mean age = 15.50), residing in the Washington, DC metropolitan area between 2010 and 2011. The median household income for this sample is $60,000-69,999. Results showed that adolescents’ perception of positive mother-adolescent relationship quality and receiving racial socialization messages, specifically cultural coping with antagonism messages, were significant predictors of adaptive coping.Item Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Early Childhood and Their Associations with Middle Childhood Behavior Problems(2017) Schroeder, Allison; Mittal, Mona; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Experiences in early childhood lay the foundation for physical and psychological health and wellbeing throughout the life course. A large body of literature demonstrates a graded relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and health and social outcomes. Children living in poverty are disproportionately likely to experience multiple adversities, placing them at risk for negative health and developmental outcomes and contributing to widening health disparities. Among the outcomes associated with ACEs are internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, which increase children’s risk of later depression and anxiety, substance use, criminality, low socioeconomic status, and chronic physical health problems. In spite of the substantial knowledge base that has developed around childhood adversity and its association with behavior problems, there are gaps in the literature that warrant further research. Firstly, few studies utilizing prospective longitudinal data have examined the role of timing and duration of exposure to adversities in early childhood, and their relationship with later behaviors. Secondly, researchers have only just begun exploring whether certain patterns or constellations of risk factors are common among different groups of children, and whether these patterns place certain groups at greater risk for behavior problems. A third gap relates to the role of father involvement by unmarried fathers and the potential for these fathers to promote more positive outcomes among children exposed to various levels of early adversity. The three studies in this dissertation analyze data from four waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to document associations between ACEs experienced at ages 1, 3, and 5, and behavior problems at age 9. Life course theory provides an overarching framework for the dissertation. The first study examines the associations between the accumulation, timing, and duration of ACEs in the first five years of life and odds of behavior problems at age 9. The second study employs latent class analysis to identify patterns of risk exposure and their potential association with age 9 behaviors. The third study investigates whether early father involvement by fathers who were unmarried at the child’s birth moderates the association between early childhood adversity and age 9 behavior problems.Item African American Couples' Provider Role Attitudes as a Function of Income, Relative Income, Education, and Age(2018) Walton, Tariiq Omari; Epstein, Norman B.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study investigated characteristics that are associated with the provider role attitudes of African Americans being seen for couple therapy at a university-based family therapy clinic in a major metropolitan region, the Center for Healthy Families at the University of Maryland, College Park. It was predicted that income, relative income, education, age, and gender would be associated with the degree of traditional provider role attitudes of members of African American couples being treated at the CHF between 2000 and 2015. Contrary to the predictions, no relationship between education, age, and relative income and the provider role attitudes of the study’s participants was found. However, the results did show a significant relationship between gender and income and provider role attitudes. The implications for future research and clinical applications are discussed.Item AFRICAN AMERICAN HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES COPING WITH RACIAL DISCRIMINATION(2022) Kartashev, Maria; Falconier, Mariana K; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This qualitative study investigated how African American heterosexual couples’ relationship are affected by racial discrimination and how they cope with stress from racial discrimination (including communicating their own and responding to each other’s stress). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and themes were organized based on the areas of inquiry. Themes related to the impact of racial discrimination on the couple relationship included “my partner’s experiences of racial discrimination also affect me,” and “couples feel connected through the similarities in the experience of discrimination.” Themes regarding coping as a couple included “talking about racial discrimination with your partner helps,” “agree to disagree,” “joking together to show solidarity,” and “complementary gender responses to racial discrimination.” Themes were discussed using the systemic-transactional model of dyadic coping (Bodenmann, 1995, 2005). Though further research is needed to understand the impact of racial discrimination on African American couples and their coping, the current study suggests that couples cope with racial discrimination dyadically. This coping is diverse and sometimes gendered. Additionally, creating a safe space of compassion, despite differences in perceptions of racial discrimination, helps couples feel bonded by mutual trust, intimacy, and connectedness. Finally, limitations, clinical and research implications, and issues of reflexivity were discussed.Item Against the Odds: A Structural Equation Analysis of Family Resilience Processes during Paternal Incarceration(MDPI, 2021-11-04) Morgan, Amy A.; Arditti, Joyce A.; Dennison, Susan; Frederiksen, SigneOn any given day, approximately 2.1 million children in Europe have an incarcerated parent. Although research indicates that material hardship is associated with parental incarceration, and particularly paternal incarceration, little is known about family processes that may mitigate the harmful effects of such hardship on children with an incarcerated parent. Guided by a resilience framework, this study examined how family processes mediate the effects of material hardship on youth academic adjustment within the context of paternal incarceration. Using Danish data that assessed key family constructs, structural equation modeling was used to perform a mediational within-group analysis of primary caregivers (n = 727) to children with an incarcerated father. Results indicate that although social support and parenting skills did not yield mediating effects, caregiver mental health strongly mediated the effects of material hardship on youth academic adjustment during paternal incarceration. Findings suggest that economic conditions, as well as caregiver mental health symptoms, are important areas of intervention that may promote family-level resilience for youth of an imprisoned father. We conclude with research and practice recommendations to advance our understanding of resilience among families with an incarcerated parent.Item Against the Odds: A Structural Equation Analysis of Family Resilience Processes during Paternal Incarceration(MDPI, 2021-11-04) Morgan, Amy A.; Arditti, Joyce A.; Dennison, Susan; Frederiksen, SigneOn any given day, approximately 2.1 million children in Europe have an incarcerated parent. Although research indicates that material hardship is associated with parental incarceration, and particularly paternal incarceration, little is known about family processes that may mitigate the harmful effects of such hardship on children with an incarcerated parent. Guided by a resilience framework, this study examined how family processes mediate the effects of material hardship on youth academic adjustment within the context of paternal incarceration. Using Danish data that assessed key family constructs, structural equation modeling was used to perform a mediational within-group analysis of primary caregivers (n = 727) to children with an incarcerated father. Results indicate that although social support and parenting skills did not yield mediating effects, caregiver mental health strongly mediated the effects of material hardship on youth academic adjustment during paternal incarceration. Findings suggest that economic conditions, as well as caregiver mental health symptoms, are important areas of intervention that may promote family-level resilience for youth of an imprisoned father. We conclude with research and practice recommendations to advance our understanding of resilience among families with an incarcerated parent.Item All-Cause Maternal Mortality in the US Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic(JAMA Network, 2022-06-28) Thoma, Marie E.; Declercq, Eugene R.The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported an 18.4% increase in US maternal mortality (ie, death during pregnancy or within 42 days of pregnancy) between 2019 and 2020. The relative increase was 44.4% among Hispanic, 25.7% among non-Hispanic Black, and 6.1% among non-Hispanic White women.1 Given a 16.8% increase in overall US mortality in 2020, largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic,2 we examined the pandemic’s role in 2020 maternal death rates.Item Ambiguous loss, number of foster care placements, child age and child sex as the predictors of the behavior problems and posttraumatic stress symptoms of children in foster care(2006-12-12) Benson, Lisa; Wallen, Jacqueline; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study examined four factors that may predict the behavior problems and posttraumatic stress symptomatology of children in foster care: ambiguous loss, number of foster care placements, child age, and child sex. Participants included 74 predominantly African American 6 to 15 year old children in foster care and their foster caregivers. Foster caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and Parent Report of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and children completed the Psychological Presence Questionnaire. Regression analyses revealed that number of foster placements was a significant predictor of posttraumatic stress, with more placements linked to more stress symptoms. Child age, child sex, and ambiguous loss were not significant predictors of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, or posttraumatic stress symptoms. Implications of the findings for child welfare professionals and policy makers are discussed.Item "And Still We Rise": A Qualitative Study of Strengths, Challenges, and Needs of African American Fathers Parenting Children with Special Needs(2007-04-27) Bridgers, Jr, James Cullen; Randolph, Suzanne M; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)An ecological systems/risk-resiliency framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1986) was used to examine selected issues that have the potential for informing the development of culturally sensitive family interventions that focus on the strengths, challenges, and needs of African American fathers of children with special needs. This study attempted to fill gaps in the literature by examining strengths and resiliency within these fathers, and their involvement with and parenting of young children with special needs. This qualitative study included 30 African American fathers who regularly attended a male caregivers' support group at a pediatric hospital for children with special needs in Washington, DC. Four focus groups and nine face-to-face, follow-up interviews were conducted to validate and refine study themes. Verbatim transcript data were analyzed using qualitative software (N6/NUD*IST) to code and generate recurring themes. Results indicated recurring themes for strengths (redefined by the men as rewards) including: pride in children's accomplishments; increased knowledge about and ways to promote children's development; social fathering (i.e., serving in roles to complement or substitute for biological fathers); and generative fathering (i.e., making sacrifices and giving back to their children to ensure family connections). Fathers' challenges included: relationship difficulties with partners, friends, and community members; unemployment; negotiating health care systems; and dealing with issues that disproportionately affect African Americans (poverty, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS). Finally, fathers reported on concrete needs that (if satisfied) would improve the quality of their own lives and the lives of children with special needs, including the need for male caregivers' support groups; referrals/linkages to services; improved partner relationships; and culturally competent interventions, programs, and services. Several trans-system themes (i.e., themes that cut across ecological levels) were also identified, including personal development, generative fathering, social support, and advocacy. Results have implications for developing model interventions to strengthen family systems and address African American fathers' needs in parenting children with special needs. Findings were used to draw implications for future theory-based research, family policies, and culturally specific interventions to improve services to African American fathers of children with special needs and their families.Item Are We Ready to Serve? Couple and Family Therapists’ Attitudes Toward BDSM and Their Perceived Competence Helping BDSM Practitioners(2020) Berman, Zachary Lane; Fish, Jessica N; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Cultural competence is a core component of delivering effective psychotherapy to clients with diverse sexual lifestyles, including BDSM practitioners, who constitute a substantial minority of the population. Couple and Family Therapists (CFTs) are uniquely prepared to explore relationships and power dynamics, but no research has explored CFTs’ psychotherapeutic relationship with BDSM practitioners. This study measures CFTs’ BDSM attitudes, perceived competence, and the relationship between these and related professional factors. Results indicated that CFTs (n = 132) have positive attitudes and moderate perceived competence; attitudes and perceived competence were negatively correlated. Controlling for various professional factors such as AASECT certification, we found that participants with at least three or more hours of BDSM-specific training had significantly more positive attitudes and significantly higher perceived competence. Including these hours in graduate training or continuing education credits could help CFTs to feel more “kink aware” and competent to deliver ethical care for this population.Item AREA-LEVEL POVERTY AND CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK AMONG UNITED STATES ADOLESCENTS: A HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS OF PATHWAYS TO DISEASE(2017) Williams, Andrew David; Shenassa, Edmond; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Background: In the United States, 26% of deaths are attributable to cardiometabolic diseases. Cardiometabolic risk in adolescence tracks over time and can presage cardiometabolic health during adulthood. Area-level determinants of cardiometabolic risk among adolescents are underexamined. This study contributes evidence regarding the association between area-level poverty and cardiometabolic risk among U.S. adolescents. Methods: 1999-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data was linked via census tract with 2000 Census data and 2005-2009 and 2009-2013 American Community Survey data. The sample included 10,415 adolescents, aged 12-19 years. Area-level poverty was parameterized by percent population living in poverty, grouped into quartiles for analysis. Cardiometabolic risk was parameterized by summing z-scores of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine the relationship between area-level poverty and cardiometabolic risk. Cotinine levels and physical activity were assessed as mediators. Post-hoc analysis explored associations between area-level poverty and family poverty-to-income ratio. Analyses were conducted for the overall sample and by race/ethnicity. Results: For the overall sample, compared to the first quartile of area-level poverty, residence in second (.218, 95% CI: .012, .424), third (.438, 95% CI: .213, .665), and fourth (.451, 95% CI: .204, .698) quartiles of area-level poverty was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Area-level poverty was associated with cardiometabolic risk among non-Hispanic Whites and Mexican Americans, but not among non-Hispanic Blacks. No evidence of mediation was observed. In post-hoc analysis, overall mean family Poverty-income-ratio declined from 3.34 in quartile 1 to 1.42 in quartile 4 (p< .001), however, this differed by race/ethnicity. Discussion: Residence in the highest area-level poverty quartiles was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Race/ethnicity specific analyses are consistent with literature on the Hispanic Paradox, and exposure to adversity among non-Hispanic blacks. Evidence suggests specific biomarker choice results in different cardiometabolic profiles within the same racial/ethnic group. Post-hoc analyses suggest the effect of area-level poverty on family PIR is greatest among non-Hispanic whites. Efforts to improve cardiometabolic health and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in cardiometabolic diseases should include targeted community-level investments aimed to improve the social conditions for all residents.Item Asian cultural expectations and mental health in Asian American adolescents: Effects of family functioning, child nativity, and subgroup ethnicity(2015) Chung, Hyeeun; Bynum, Mia S; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The number of Asian immigrants is growing over the past 50 years and Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial population in the U.S. However, few studies have examined the effects of cultural conflicts between parents and children on family functioning and adolescent mental health, especially with a national sample. Using Hwang’s (2006) Acculturative Family Distancing (AFD) model and symbolic interaction theory (LaRossa & Reitzes, 1993), the purpose of this study was to examine how parental expectations of Asian cultural values influence parent-adolescent relationships, which in turn can lead to adolescent mental health problems including depression and somatic symptoms. To conduct this study, Waves I and II data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) was used. The sample included 486 Asian American adolescents with Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or Filipino backgrounds. Findings from structural equation analyses indicated partial support for AFD and for symbolic interactionism. Results also yielded unexpected gender differences with respect to perceptions of parental academic expectations and adolescents’ perceptions of their relationship with their father and mother. Academic expectations were associated with greater caring from father and closeness with father whereas it had no significant relationship with mother-adolescent relationships. Moreover, only father-adolescent relationships mediated the relationship between expectations of Asian cultural values and adolescent somatic symptoms-only. Depression symptoms did not emerge as a significant outcome in this sample. Given the limited literature examining Asian American adolescents from multiple ethnic backgrounds, this study explored the potential moderating role of subgroup ethnicity in these processes. It was also predicted that the proposed processes would be more pronounced among US-born youth as compared to foreign-born youth. However, this study found no moderating effects of child nativity (foreign-born vs. U.S.-born) and subgroup ethnicity (East Asian vs. Filipino) in the relationship between expectations of Asian cultural values, parent-adolescent relationships, and adolescent mental health. The findings of this present study provide evidence that the AFD model partially works for Asian American adolescents and their families from a non-clinical sample, regardless of child nativity and subgroup ethnicity. In addition, this study demonstrates the importance of parental gender roles in the AFD model. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.Item Assessing the Relationship of Muslim-American Identity with Practices in Mate Selection: Familial Involvement and the Intention to Marry(2018) Al-Mansur, Rafee; Leslie, Leigh A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Muslim Americans may experience conflict between societal norms and the values of their religion with respect to mate selection. Whereas American norms prioritize autonomy and love, Muslim societies prioritize family and chastity. This study assessed the extent to which Muslim and American identities impact (1) desire to involve family in mate selection and (2) willingness to enter romantic relationships without considering marriage. Researchers partnered with a Muslim matrimonial and dating mobile app to survey U.S. users, resulting in 962 responses. Muslim identity and American identity were both found to be significantly correlated to mate selection practices. Results suggest most Muslim Americans are caught between models: they are transitioning away from traditional mate selection practices which rely on parents to find partners, a major shift in the last 30 years. However, they are also not willing to adopt American practices which do not consider marriage, such as casual dating.Item An Assessment of a Home-Visiting Intervention on Rural, Low-Income Children's School Readiness(2006-08-09) Schull, Christine Pegorraro; Anderson, Elaine A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)School readiness is an important educational success indicator for children and communities, and an equally important educational goal after research revealed that nearly half of all children are not ready for kindergarten because they have not acquired the appropriate necessary pre-literacy, and social competencies (Rimm-Kauffman, Pianta, & Cox, 2000). Rural children are at particular risk given that isolation, poverty, and limited parental educational attainment levels are associated with difficulty learning and getting ready for school (Perroncel, 2000). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a home visiting program on school readiness in a population of low-income, rural children in Garrett County, MD. Children (n=164), who entered the Healthy Families Garrett County program in 1999 or 2000 shortly after birth and completed the school readiness assessment upon kindergarten entry in 2004 or 2005, were selected along with their families. Path analyses were used to examine the relationships among frequency, intensity, and duration of the home visiting intervention, and home safety, parental knowledge of infant development, and school readiness. All variables, (1) home visiting frequency, (2) home visiting intensity, (3) home visiting duration, (4) parental knowledge of infant development, and (5) home safety were considered to be paths leading directly to the enhanced outcome of school readiness in this low-income, rural sample. Path analyses revealed that: (1) Duration of home visiting had a positive, direct effect on home safety; (2) Duration of home visiting had a positive, direct effect on parental knowledge of infant development, (3) Home safety had a positive, direct effect on school readiness in the composite and all tested subscales (personal and social, language and literacy, mathematical thinking, physical health and development); and 4) Duration has an indirect effect on school readiness through home safety. Recommendations include maintaining program duration, implementation of new parental knowledge or home environment measures, and continued emphasis on home safety and collaboration with local agencies for impacting school readiness.Item The Association Between Inadequate Gestational Weight Gain and Infant Death Among U.S. Infants Born 2004-2008(2012) Davis, Regina R.; Hofferth, Sandra L.; Shenassa, Edmond; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Infant mortality is of great public health importance and its prevalence is often used as a summary indicator of a population's reproductive health status. Programmatic and policy focus on prematurity and birth weight stems largely from their known relationship to infant mortality and morbidity. A large body of literature exists linking poor gestational weight gain to prematurity and low birth weight, but its association with infant mortality is less well understood. Few nationally representative studies have examined infant death as an important pregnancy outcome of inadequate gestational weight gain and even fewer have explored its psychosocial and demographic correlates.
As a measure of healthy gestational weight gain, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published guidelines which provide a recommended weight gain for each category of pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI). Informed by the Biomedical and Biopsychosocial models, this study examined the association between the IOM measure of inadequate gestational weight gain and risk of infant mortality by conducting secondary analyses of the 2005 Birth Cohort Linked Birth-Infant Death Data File (Cohort Linked File) and Phase 5 of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). An analysis of 160,011 women who participated in PRAMS between 2004 and 2008 was used to replicate the IOM guidelines and examine the link between gestational weight gain and risks of infant mortality within four months of birth. The PRAMS dataset was also used to analyze the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain, and infant death, as well as the influence of maternal stress on gestational weight gain. A separate analysis of 2,046,725 infants in the 2005 cohort linked file was conducted to quantify the risk of infant death associated with inadequate gestational weight gain as well as cause-specific mortality. Results from logistic and proportional hazards regression analyses suggest there is a substantial and significant association between inadequate gestational weight gain and infant death; however weight gain beyond the recommended amount may be protective. Inadequate gestational weight gain was associated with infant death from disorders relating to short gestation, fetal malnutrition, respiratory conditions, and birth defects. Receipt of adequate prenatal care was protective against inadequate gestational weight gain, but a positive association was not found between inadequate gestational weight gain and maternal stress. Implications for public health programs, policy, and future research are presented.Item The Association between Literacy and Work Performance as Mediated by Depression(2015) Foss, Lindsey E.; Epstein, Norman B.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Approximately 90 million Americans are functionally illiterate, meaning that they cannot accomplish basic tasks such as interpreting a bus schedule or filling in an order form (Lincoln et al., 2008). Low levels of literacy have been associated with poor health outcomes, including anxiety and depression, in addition to poor work performance. This study examined the possible mediating role of depression in the association between literacy and work performance, using a nationally representative sample of young adults from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth - 1997. The results indicated that after controlling for race and gender there was a significant association between emotional distress and the degree to which emotional problems limited work performance. The trend toward an association between literacy and the degree to which emotional distress affects work did not hold once race and sex were controlled. Suggestions are provided for future research that can more thoroughly test the effects of literacy on work performance.Item The Association between Psychopathological Symptoms and Relationship Satisfaction: Direct Effect and Mediation through Partner Cognitions(2007-05-08) Cunningham, Janey E; Epstein, Norman B.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Previous research has identified links between psychopathological symptoms and levels of satisfaction within couple relationships. Findings have shown associations between low levels of relationship satisfaction and depressive and neurotic symptoms. However, the process or mechanism through which an individual's psychopathology and the couple's relationship problems are linked has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which psychopathological symptoms are directly related to the level of relationship satisfaction for each partner in the relationship. It also explored the degree to which the relation between psychopathology and relationship distress is mediated by partners' cognitions about each other that are associate with relationship conflict. The study involved secondary analysis of a sample of 83 couples. Findings did not support current literature that psychopathological symptoms directly affect relationship satisfaction. Gender differences were found in the association between psychopathological symptoms and cognitions.Item The Association of Negative Family Processes in Early Adolescence and Health Status and Body Mass Index in Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood(2011) Pollock, Elizabeth Davenport; Shenassa, Edmond; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Extant research suggests that negative family processes during adolescence may be detrimental to health over time. Informed by family systems theory and the biopsychosocial perspective, this study examined the association of negative family processes in early adolescence and health status and body mass index in late adolescence and early adulthood. Data from U.S. males and females in two-parent households from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 were examined over a ten year period from early adolescence to early adulthood. Results from logistic regressions and multiple regressions suggest that negative parent-child processes (NPCP) and negative inter-parental processes (NIPP) are associated with elevated risk for poorer health status but are not associated with body mass index. Logistic regressions estimated the association between NPCP and NIPP and youth's risk of very good, good and poor health status, respectively, as compared to excellent health status. Specifically, there is a step function for the association between NPCP and risk for poorer health status in late adolescence and early adulthood, between NIPP and risk for poorer health status in late adolescence and between NIPP and risk for the poorest health status category in early adulthood. Mental health, unhealthy behaviors (tobacco use, marijuana use and alcohol use), and healthy behaviors (i.e. physical activity) partially mediated the association between NPCP and NIPP, respectively, and health status in late adolescence, and mental health and tobacco use (only for NPCP) partially mediated the association with health status in early adulthood. All analyses are independent of race, gender, maternal education, health status in early adolescence, BMI in early adolescence, parental health status, and parental BMI. Moderation by maternal education and implications for public health, future research, programming, and therapy are discussed.Item The Association of Socio-Economic Resources and Perceived Social Support with the Occurence of Physical and Psychological Aggression in Heterosexual Clinical Couples(2006-07-24) Alexander, Rachel Erin; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study examined the interaction between relative socio-economic resources, such as income and level of education, and level of perceived social support on couples' levels of physical and psychological abuse. It was hypothesized that individuals with fewer resources than their partner would utilize more aggression, individuals with higher perceived social support would exhibit less aggression, and perceived social support would moderate the relationship between personal resource discrepancy and aggressive behavior. The findings of the current study suggest that the impact of partner resource discrepancies and perceived social support depend on the gender of the perpetrator and the type of abuse considered. The findings also have clinical implications for the importance of gathering information about couples' resources and social support. Implications for future research include analyzing the effects of different types of social support on coping in a sample that includes wider ranges of personal resources and severity of abuse.Item THE ASSOCIATION OF VIOLENCE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH IN COLOMBIA(2011) Pinzon-Rondon, Angela Maria; Hofferth, Sandra L; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The association of violence with the physical health of children under five years of age in Colombia is studied through the lens of three major theories: biological stress theory, family stress theory, and ecological theory. The analysis explores the association of harsh parental discipline and intimate partner violence with child health, as well as the association of community violence with child health, parental discipline, intimate partner violence, and the relations among them. Secondary data from the Colombian Demographic and Health Survey 2005 and the Colombian National Census 2005 were analyzed. A total of 10,681 children under five years of age from 230 municipalities were included in the analyses. Analyses were conducted at the family and community levels. In the family level models, parental harsh discipline and intimate partner violence were associated with poor child health. Families who used harsh discipline had children with approximately 8% more symptoms of poor health than those who didn't use such punitive practices and families who experienced intimate partner violence had children with approximately 20% more symptoms than those who did not experience such violence. In the multilevel models, community violence and intimate partner violence predicted poor child health while parental harsh discipline failed to predict it. Children living in violent communities had 16% more symptoms of poor health than those living in nonviolent communities, and children from families that experienced intimate partner violence had on average 18% more symptoms of poor health than those living in families without intimate partner violence. Despite the study limitations, mainly its cross-sectional nature and restraints imposed by secondary data, the results indicate that violence is related to young Colombian children's poor physical health. These findings suggest the need to continue studying the effects of violence on health outcomes in different populations, as well as to provide support for efforts to promote violence prevention programs in Colombia.