116-01: Child Loss, Perceptions of Environmental Risk, and Maternal Involvement With Young Children in Rural Southern Ethiopia

A large body of research has supported models of parenting and child development that recognize environmental risk as a major influence on parenting. This research has predominantly focused on extrinsic risk factors, such as population-level child mortality rates. What is missing is an understanding of how perceptions of environmental risk and parents’ experiences with child loss affect involvement with children, especially among families in the Global South. This study used a mixed-method approach to examine how mothers’ experiences and perceptions of loss in conjunction with resources (socio-economic and social) predict involvement with toddlers among the Gamo people in Southern Ethiopia. Preliminary findings show individual experiences of loss, perceptions of the environment, and resources together predicted mothers’ behavior and exemplify the value of a multi-method approach.

Objectives

- Identify Gamo mothers’ individual experiences of child loss.
- Identify Gamo mothers’ perceptions of their community and environmental risk.
- Analyze how mothers’ individual experiences and perceptions of risk and loss in conjunction with resources (socio-economic circumstances and family social support) predict involvement with infants and toddlers among the Gamo people in Southern Ethiopia. 

Keywords: parents / parenting, child(ren), international

116-02: Chinese Mothers’ Autonomy Support of Their Young Children: Variations Across Caregiving Contexts

This study aims to explore whether, and to what extent Chinese mothers would support or restrict their young children’s autonomy, and whether the levels of support or restriction of autonomy vary by different caregiving contexts. Guided by self-determination theory, the authors interviewed Chinese mothers (N = 20) with young children (ages 3-7) to elicit mothers’ perspectives and reasoning on their parenting decision making in terms of autonomy support or restriction. We found that mothers of young children make conscious parenting decisions that are situation specific (play setting, versus book readings and mealtime situations), with the considerations of short-term children’s academic and health outcomes. Conscious parenting decisions that are based on theories and research-based evidence could be fostered and cultivated through parent education programs.

Objectives

- To identify autonomy supportive strategies across four caregiving contexts
- To identify autonomy restrictive behaviors across four caregiving contexts
- To compare and contract levels of autonomy granting versus restrictions across four caregiving contexts

Keywords: early childhood, parents / parenting, Asian/Pacific Islander

116-03: Psychosocial Determinants of Medication Adherence Among Persons Living With HIV and AIDS in Mexico City

The purpose of this study was to explore the impacts of psychosocial factors on medication adherence behaviors among individuals living with HIV and AIDS in Mexico City and explore what implications exist for counselors and mental health workers. Specific psychosocial factors which were explored included disclosure of HIV status to family members, social supports, experiences of violence and abuse, and impulsivity. The researcher hypothesized that exposure to violence, lack of social support, higher levels of impulsivity, and rejection from family members regarding HIV status would contribute to greater likelihood of nonadherence.  

Objectives

- To discuss the importance of medication adherence among persons living HIV and AIDS and to explain relevant terms. 
- To demonstrate the impact of certain psychosocial variables on medication adherence through discussion of previous studies and analyses. 
- To examine the results of the current study and implications for human services practitioners, counselors, and other clinicians working with this population. 

Keywords: chronic illness, Hispanic/Latino/a/Latinx, LGBTQ+

116-04: The Effects of Family Structure Transitions on Child Development in Four Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Ethiopia, India, Peru, Vietnam)

Family transitions can be detrimental to children’s psychological, physical, and educational development. However, the majority of research on this topic focuses almost exclusively on high-income countries. It is likely that the societal and cultural context (i.e. norms surrounding family life) may influence how they affect children. This research will use data from the Young Lives study (N=12000 children and 12000 caregivers) to examine the impact of family transitions on children’s physical health. Multilevel modelling will be used to assess within- and between-person change in physical health over time, in response to family transitions. This will allow us to identify how children in LMICs respond to family transitions at different developmental stages, whilst also allowing us to compare how outcomes vary across different contexts.

Objectives

- To examine how the physical health of children living in four low-and middle-income countries (Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam) is impacted by changes in family structure. 
- To evaluate how the impact of family transitions on child and adolescent physical health differs between Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.
- To explore – using a large, longitudinal dataset – how the impact of family transitions on child physical health differs at different developmental stages (age one to 15).

Keywords: family structure, international, transitions

116-05: Relationship Satisfaction and Quality Among Turkish Young Adults: Correlates With Autonomy and Relatedness

Utilizing Kağıtçıbaşı’s (2007) Family Change Theory, the current study investigated the cultural concepts of autonomous and related self-construals and their association with Turkish emerging adults’ relationship quality and satisfaction. The sample included 621 university students from Istanbul (74.4% female, 83.7% undergraduates, mean age = 21.58) who were currently in an exclusive, heterosexual romantic relationship. The participants were recruited via convenience sampling and the eligible candidates were directed to an online survey in Qualtrics. The results indicated that high levels of autonomy and relatedness were associated with high relationship quality among Turkish young adults, but not relationship satisfaction. Commitment was also positively associated with both romantic relationship outcomes. Implications for further research on dating in non-Western populations are discussed.

Objectives

- To investigate how culture-based self-construals have an impact on Turkish young adults' satisfaction with their non-marital romantic relationships
- To investigate how culture-based self-construals have an impact on the quality of Turkish young adults' non-marital romantic relationships.
- To Identify the demographic and relationship-based covariates of relationship satisfaction and quality in Turkish young adults.

Keywords: dating, emerging adulthood, nationality