Family Science
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2239
Formerly known as the Department of Family Studies.
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Item ¡Hay que hablar sobre esto! [We need to talk about this]: Exploring the Relationship Between Contraceptive and Consent Knowledge, Sexual Self-efficacy and Psychological Distress Among Latino Adolescents(2023) Kerlow, Marina Angelica; Lewin, Amy; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Latino adolescents are a growing population in the US (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), and they experience disproportionately high rates of unintended teen pregnancy, STIs and HIV (Guilamo-Ramos et al., 2012; Martin et al., 2021). Also, adolescents struggle with high rates of mental health issues (Bitsko et al., 2022; Merikangas et al., 2010). Some studies support that psychological distress plays a role in teens’ sexual behavior and sexual self-efficacy (Lehrer et al., 2006; Seth et al., 2009; Seth et al., 2011). Yet, few studies have looked at the association between aspects of sexual health and psychological distress within Latino teens. This study conducted secondary data analysis using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of El Camino, a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum developed by Child Trends. Participants consisted of 474 Latino adolescents (44.8% male and 53.1% female) and they completed electronic self-report surveys (mean age 16.55 years). 84.2% of the sample was foreign born and 15.8% was US born. Results indicated that there was a significant correlation between sexual self-efficacy and knowledge about contraception and sexual consent (r = .31, p < 0.001). There was a small significant correlation between sexual self-efficacy and psychological distress (r = .12, p < 0.001). Psychological distress did not moderate the relationship between knowledge and sexual self-efficacy. Interestingly, the interaction term between knowledge and gender was statistically significant (β = -0.44, SE = 0.09, p= <.001), indicating that the relationship between knowledge and sexual self-efficacy is stronger for males than for females. The findings support that Latino youth may benefit from interventions that strengthen their knowledge and sexual self-efficacy, despite differences in nativity status and levels of psychological distress. Future studies should consider potentially important cultural, societal, and relational factors that may further explain these results.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 THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PARENTING BEHAVIOR IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PARENTAL AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING(2019) Gheorghiu, Stefania; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The aim of the present study was to broaden the investigation of the intergenerational association of psychological functioning by examining the role of parenting behavior (harsh parenting and parental acceptance) as a mediating factor in the association between maternal and youth psychological functioning (i.e., severity of anxiety and depression symptoms). Measures of psychological distress, harsh parenting, and parental acceptance were administered to a community sample of 309 Latino youth (ages 9-15) and their mothers. Results from a path analysis, controlling for monthly family income, mother’s age at baseline assessment, and the number of children in the household, showed support for the mediating role of parental acceptance but not harsh parenting in the association between parent and youth psychological functioning. However, harsh parenting had an indirect association with child psychological distress, mediated by lower child perceptions of parental acceptance. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.Item Parenting stress and associated pathways to health outcomes in Latino parents: An investigation of longitudinal latent change(2019) Kim, HaeDong; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Prior parenting stress studies have been limited due to a primary focus on how parenting stress is associated with the well-being of children, use of samples consisting of predominately White parents, and reliance on cross-sectional data. Using longitudinal data collected from a randomized control trial of a parenting intervention for Latino parents with early adolescents, the present study investigated how changes in relational variables (parent-child conflict and parenting stress) were associated with changes in the parents’ psychological well-being across four months and ten months. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted on the study measures, and measurement invariance was subsequently tested for all of the study variables across the two time periods. Latent change models were imposed for the time periods of four months and ten months while controlling for treatment group membership (intervention vs. control), income, parent’s enculturation, and number of children in the family. The results from latent change analysis showed that across a period of four months, change in parent-child conflict was positively associated with changes in parenting stress and parent’s psychological distress, whereas across ten months, change in parent-child conflict was only associated with change in psychological distress. Examination of the control variable regarding group membership (intervention vs. control) showed that being assigned to the parenting intervention had protective indirect effects on change in parenting stress through its association with change in parent-child conflict across four months, and on change in psychological distress through change in parent-child conflict across ten months. The present findings showed that changes in parent-child relationships are related to changes in parenting stress and psychological distress of Latino parents with early adolescents. It seems that change in parent-child conflict may affect change in parenting stress in the shorter term but affect the parent’s individual psychological well-being in the longer term, and that community-based parenting interventions have the potential to protect and increase the well-being of Latino parents of early adolescents.Item INFLUENCE OF MILITARY AND FAMILY LIFE STRESSORS ON THE SATISFACTION OF MALE AND FEMALE SERVICE MEMBERS(2018) Street, Towanda; Lewin, Amy; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Retaining qualified men and women is the backbone of total force readiness. Studies have found that family factors, such as the quality of military marriages, have potential implications for service member’s retention and deployment readiness. Most of what we know about deployment stressors, mental health outcomes, and military families comes from studies conducted either exclusively or predominately in samples of male service members. Recognizing that the overall military experience of service women is unlike that of men; and the stressors experienced by service women can affect their satisfaction with the military. Factors influencing the readiness and retention of the increasing number of female service members in the U.S. military are important to understand. The dynamics associated with balancing scheduled and unscheduled military work requirements, as well as supporting family needs, are often made more challenging for female service members. Few studies have examined the effects of military satisfaction specifically among female service members and their male spouses. Service members and their spouses enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study and Millennium Cohort Family Study (Family Study), respectively, were included in this study (N=9,872) to investigate the relationship of military and family stressors on military satisfaction for a large cohort of service members and their spouses, and how the relationships may differ by gender. Guided by the framework of family stress theory (ABC-X), this study extends our understanding of the extent to which military (type of deployment, time away from family, number of deployments, spouse military experience) and family stressors (spouse employment, number of children under 18, work-family conflict, and spouse/service member mental health) are related to service members’ military satisfaction, and the extent to which informal social support moderates the effects of those stressors on military satisfaction. Findings suggest that service members reported higher satisfaction with the military when the service member experienced more deployments and better mental health. Lower satisfaction with the military was associated with service members for whom the non-military spouse reported conflict between the requirements of the military and the requirements of family. Gender differences and moderations from social support were also observed.Item The Spillover Effect:Assessing the Impact of Dyadic Cohesion on the Association Between Anger/Irritability Trauma Symptoms in Fathers and Family Conflict Behavior(2018) Williams, Rolonda Kierra Renee'; Barros, Patricia; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Prior research in the field of family science and family therapy has employed a narrative surrounding mother’s contributions to family dynamics and family functioning. Researchers have also consistently examined the mental health experiences of the mother and their impact on family issues, yet we are left with little understanding of how the mental health experiences of fathers contribute to the development of family issues. This study analyzed the link between fathers' reports of anger/irritability trauma symptoms and family conflict behavior through employing the spillover hypothesis. Father reports of marital dyadic cohesion were examined as a protective factor in this association. The study used data previously collected from a clinical sample of 186 fathers who sought therapy services at the Center for Healthy Families (CHF), an individual, couple and family therapy clinic at the University of Maryland, College Park. In support of the spillover effect, the results indicate a positive association between fathers’ anger/irritability trauma symptoms and family conflict behavior. However, dyadic cohesion did not serve as a protective factor in this association.Item Couples Coping with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: A Mixed-Methods Study of Family Strengths(2018) Young, Jennnifer Louise; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Using mixed methodology involving qualitative and quantitative data, this dissertation fills gaps in knowledge regarding psychosocial implications for families living with the genetically-transmitted Li-Fraumeni cancer susceptibility syndrome, specifically targeting couple dyads. An initial review of the existing literature on couples coping with heritable cancer syndromes identified gaps in knowledge, and pointed to future directions for research in this area. The three papers that comprise this dissertation provide multiple perspectives on the levels of distress, coping styles, and social support patterns of couples in which one partner is at high risk of cancer. The first paper investigates spousal distress and coping styles in relation to cancer worry for individuals with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, using quantitative data from one of the largest existing collections of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome cases. The second paper identifies couples’ coping and communication processes regarding cancer stressors, using semi-structured qualitative interviews of individuals with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and their partners. The third paper utilizes a social network approach to illustrate shared patterns of emotional, tangible, and informational support that couples report accessing. The integrated findings from these three studies indicate that these subjects are low in general distress but high in cancer-specific worry. Couples cope with this worry by balancing multiple roles, exercising flexibility in family dynamics, and utilizing extensive social support networks. This research provides significant information that can aid in development of effective interventions for couples as they face their ongoing threat of cancer. Recommendations for clinical work with this population include an integrated blend of couple therapy, genetic counseling, and oncology practice that is sensitive to the unique needs of individuals with heritable cancer syndromes and their partners.Item SELF-COMPASSION AMONG WOMEN WITH ABUSE EXPERIENCES: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT(2018) LeVine, Naomi; Mittal, Mona; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread issue that affects the physical and mental health of its survivors. Because of the severity of the outcomes, it is important that clinicians understand potential risk and protective factors in regard to providing the best outcomes for their clients. Under the framework of the stress-buffering hypothesis, this study explored the association between IPV and a woman’s self-compassion, as well as the role of social support as a variable moderating that association. It was hypothesized that higher levels of IPV victimization would be associated with lower levels of self-compassion among women with experiences of IPV. In addition, social support was hypothesized to weaken the association between IPV and individuals’ self-compassion. Data collected from a sample of women in abusive relationships (n=61) was analyzed using linear regression and a test for moderation. Results indicated that there was no significant association between IPV victimization and self-compassion. However, the interaction between IPV and social support tended toward significance. Contrary to the second hypothesis, among women with higher levels of social support, greater IPV was associated with lower self-compassion. Implications for clinical practice when working with this population are discussed.Item EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA IN COMMITTED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY(2018) Krenz, Natalie; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Eating disorders (EDs) significantly affect an individual’s quality of life and have the highest mortality rate of all psychological disorders. Therefore, understanding EDs is imperative for researchers and treatment professionals. EDs have a systemic impact; however, previous research largely focused only on impacts with adolescents and their families. The present study fills a gap in research on how Anorexia Nervosa (AN) influences adults within their romantic relationships. Qualitative data analysis was conducted by interviewing 9 adult women who ranged in age from 21 to 32, had been diagnosed with AN, and were in committed relationships for at least 6 months during some point in their recovery. Using grounded theory, their perceptions of how their ED symptoms and recovery interact with the functioning of their relationships were investigated. The results provide insight on the interaction between AN and romantic relationships and can aid in development of more effective couple therapy for individuals with AN.Item THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL AGGRESSION VICTIMIZATION AND WOMEN’S ANXIETY: ALCOHOL USE AS A MODERATOR(2018) Mauss, Jasmine Marie; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Intimate partner aggression is a serious concern, creating problematic issues among individuals and couples in romantic relationships. Psychological aggression, specifically, has shown to have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Victims of such abuse often times find different ways to cope with the negative feelings that accompany being a recipient of partner aggression. The present study examines psychological aggression in relationships and its resulting associations with female partner anxiety symptoms. Further, the study explores alcohol use as a possible coping strategy and the way this tactic moderates the relationship between partner aggression and anxiety. Results from the study show that there was no significant association between partner aggression and anxiety symptoms and that alcohol use did not act as a moderator for this association. However, it was found that for two subtypes of psychological aggression (domination/intimidation and denigration) there were negative associations between aggression victimization and anxiety. Unlike the other subscales of psychological aggression (hostile withdrawal and restrictive engulfment), which showed no significance, higher levels of domination/intimidation, restrictive engulfment, and denigration were associated with lower levels of anxiety. Implications of the findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
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