323: Parenting and Family Processes Within Diverse Families
- Research
- Advancing Family Science
- Families & Health
- Family Therapy
- International
- Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Families
- Religion, Spirituality & Family
- Research & Theory
About the Session
Interactive Poster Sessions have a NEW LIVE INTERACTIVE approach this year to allow for more engagement between presenters and attendees. Posters listed below are included in this session. Each poster presenter will have 3 minutes to present an overview of their poster at the beginning of this session. Following all individual poster overviews, each poster presenter will move to a breakout room where attendees can have live discussions with the presenters (approximately 45 minutes). Attendees can move in and out of the breakout rooms to talk with presenters.
Posters will be available to view online beginning November 1.
Facilitator/Presider: Jerica Berge
Abstract(s)
323-01 AFS: Different Families, Diverse Strengths: Profiles of Early Childhood Family Processes and Adolescent's Well-Being
Summary
This study used latent profile analysis to identify profiles of early family processes in a sample of 495 two-parent families and how that influence the child’s well-being (i.e., engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness) during adolescence. Early family processes were indicated by both parents’ engagement with their child and their affection toward each other at 2 time points during early childhood (i.e. when the child was 1 and 5 years old, respectively). Six profiles were identified: Child-centered (7.3%), Mother-lacking-support (23.4%), Father-lacking-support (12.5%), Cohesive (31.9%), Couple-centered (19%), and Disengaged (5.9%). After controlling for demographic characteristics, adolescents in Child-centered profile (of early family processes) had the highest engagement, adolescents in Cohesive profile had the highest happiness, adolescents in Cohesive and Father-lacking-support profiles had higher connectedness, and adolescents in Disengaged profile had the lowest optimism. Implications for tailoring strength-based family intervention to fit person-specific needs were discussed.
Objectives
- to identify profiles of family processes in early childhood
- to evaluate the implications of early family processes on adolescent well-being
- to inform person-centered strength-based family intervention
Subject Codes: family processes, well-being, family functioning
Population Codes: adolescence, early childhood
Method and Approach Codes: longitudinal research, latent variable modeling, quantitative methodology
323-02 FT: Family Support, Rejection, and Connectedness: Family Context and SGM Youth Mental Health and Substance Use
Summary
Adolescence is an acutely significant period of development and sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) experience unique stressors which contribute to elevated rates of substance use, mood disorders, suicidal ideation and attempts, and other health outcomes when compared with their heterosexual, cisgender peers. Family is often the context in which SGMY are navigating these stressors and managing their health. Family rejection and support have each been linked to several health outcomes among SGMY, including depression and substance use. Family connectedness is beneficial to adolescent’s health but is an understudied construct within SGMY research. Limited research has examined how these family processes converge to influence SGMY health. In an effort to capture nuance in family process and SGMY health, this study examined the relationship between experiences of family rejection, support, and connection among SGMY and their depressive symptoms and substance use. Findings have implications for research and practice with families.
Objectives
- To examine the degree to which LGBTQ-specific family support, LGBTQ-specific family rejection, and family connection vary for SGM youth.
- To test the independent and simultaneous effects of LGBTQ-specific family support, LGBTQ-specific family rejection, and family connection on mental health and substance use among SGM youth.
- To assess these influences while accounting for the relationship between co-occurring substance use and depressive symptoms.
Subject Codes: family processes, mental health, parent-child relationships
Population Codes: queer (used as an umbrella term and/or for those who claim it as an identity), adolescence, all gender inclusive
Method and Approach Codes: lifespan development, Family Science, quantitative methodology
323-03 REDF: Parental Knowledge, Child Problems, and Mental Health Among Dutch Immigrants
Summary
Although studies have suggested reciprocal longitudinal associations between parental knowledge and child behavior problems, little is known about how these associations relate to parents’ mental health. We investigated the relations among parental knowledge, child behavior problems, and parental mental health across two waves using Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis. We examined parents of Dutch origin, Dutch immigrants from Western countries, and Dutch immigrants from non-Western countries. Parental knowledge was associated with subsequent child behavior problems for the Western immigrant sample only, while associations between child behavior problems and subsequent parental mental health were found in the Dutch and non-Western immigrant samples. Poorer mental health was significantly associated with subsequent child behavior problems for the Dutch group only. There were few significant main effects for the variables: non-Western immigrant parents reported lower mental health than the Dutch, and non-Western immigrants reported lower income than the other groups. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Objectives
- To investigate the impact of acculturation on parenting characteristics and child behaviors among immigrant families in the Netherlands
- To examine the bidirectional and longitudinal associations between parental knowledge, child behavior problems, and parental mental health among immigrant families in the Netherlands
- To examine group differences between Dutch and immigrants groups in the Netherlands
Subject Codes: family processes, immigration, mental health
Population Codes: migrant, ,
Method and Approach Codes: path analysis, longitudinal research, quantitative methodology
323-04 FT: What Makes an Individual Feel Loved by Their Parents? Building a Coding System on Perceiving Parental Love
Summary
Using a qualitative coding method, this study aimed to devise a hierarchical coding system on the perception of parental love and further identify core components of parental love from adolescents’ perspectives in a data-driven approach. An open-ended question on three things that makes them feel loved by parents was answered by 404 undergraduate students. Data coding and analysis were guided by grounded theory, where key term(s) were extracted from each of participants’ answers and saved as codes in the first coding cycle. In the second coding cycle, pattern coding was used to group codes into categories based on their similarity in themes, which was done in a hierarchical sequence. Consensus from at least two researchers was obtained in both cycles. Findings suggested four key components of perceiving parental love: Positive synchrony, Sense of security and comfort, Support, and Self-worth enhancing. Implications on family practice and future direction are discussed.
Objectives
- to build up a code system on adolescent perception of parental love.
- to identify core components of adolescents perceiving love from parents
- to compare similarity and difference on parental love from the child’s perspective between early childhood and adolescence
Subject Codes: family relations, well-being
Population Codes: adolescence
Method and Approach Codes: grounded theory
323-05 IN: Parents’ and Older Siblings’ Socialization of Chinese Younger Siblings in the Era of Two-Child Policy
Summary
China adopted a new national fertility policy in 2016 allowing married couples to have two children. Research in western countries have documented important contributions of marital, parenting, coparenting, and sibling dynamics on children’s prosocial development (Tucker et al., 1999; Mark & Pike, 2017). Such investigations with Chinese families, particularly regarding the role of siblings, do not exist given the only recent reemergence of multiple child families in urban settings. Guided by family systems theory and self-determination theory, the current study investigated how family factors influence sibling relationships and secondborn’s empathy in two-children Chinese families (N = 213). We found autonomy supportive parenting and conflictual coparenting were directly related to secondborn’s empathy, whereas marital quality and supportive coparenting were indirectly associated with secondborn’s empathy through positive sibling relationships. Findings provide important implications for researchers and practitioners while working with Chinese family dynamics under the newly instigated two-child policy.
Objectives
- To examine the associations between marital quality, parenting quality, coparenting dynamics, and younger sibling’s levels of empathy.
- To test the association between sibling relationship quality and the younger sibling’s empathy.
- To investigate the mediation effect of sibling relationship quality on the association between family/parent level factors and younger sibling’s empathy.
Subject Codes: family relations
Population Codes: international (non-U.S.)
Method and Approach Codes: path analysis
323-06 REDF: Korean Immigrant Mothers’ Transnational Family Relationships and Cultivation of Capitals For Their Children
Summary
Integrating a transnational perspective and capital theory, the proposed study aims at exploring how Korean American mothers view their transnational activities, particularly their regular visits to home country, South Korea. The analysis of the semi-structured interviews with 11 Korean American mothers preliminary revealed that they enthusiastically sought opportunities to visit South Korea to reunite with their extended family members. Accompanying their child(ren), the trips were costly and intensively planned. However, these visits were viewed as a strategy to compensate the loss of social and cultural capital living in the United States. Implication for supporting Korean American families is discussed.
Objectives
- To increase understanding of capital theory and transnationalism
- To increase understanding of Korean American mothers’ experiences from a transnational lens.
- To increase understanding of Korean American mothers' transnational activities from capital theory
Subject Codes: family relations, immigration
Population Codes: Asian/Pacific Islander, transnational
Method and Approach Codes: qualitative methodology
323-07 RSF: Parent and Sibling Relationships Among SGM Adults From Christian Families
Summary
Grounded in a family systems perspective, this mixed methods study explores the family and faith experiences of SGM adults AND one of their siblings from 17 different Christian families (n=34). This study utilizes surveys, genograms, and qualitative interviews to explore the family environments and family relationships of Christian families that hold (or held) non-affirming beliefs about SGM identity, and how those relationships change over time. The sample includes 6 Black/African participants, 14 Black/African American participants, 14 white participants and represents dozens of different Christian denominations from urban, suburban, and rural communities all across the United States. Results highlight experiences with faith-based non-affirmation, the role of siblings, and the trajectory of family relationships over time.
Objectives
- to explore and describe the religious family environment of non-affirming Christian families as experienced by SGM people and their siblings
- to explore and describe familial warmth and connection for SGM people during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, as well as before, immediately after, and many years after identity disclosure
- to explore and describe the roles and experiences of siblings of SGM people in non-affirming Christian families
Subject Codes: family relations, spirituality, parent-child relationships
Population Codes: queer (used as an umbrella term and/or for those who claim it as an identity), Christian, transgender, trans*
Method and Approach Codes: grounded theory, systems, theory [identify specific theory below]
323-08 FH: Family Household Structure and Children’s Food Behaviors
Summary
Primary caregivers influence children’s food behaviors, but limited research has explored if/how other household members are associated with these behaviors. This study explores how family systems (household composition and caregiver type) are associated with children’s eating behaviors. This study focuses on preliminary cross-sectional online survey data from low-income and racially/ethnically diverse families (n=1307) with a 5-9 year old childwithin the larger Family Mattersstudy. More children in the home is negatively associated with satiety response (B=-0.17, p=0.001) and food fussiness (B=-0.21, p=0.001). Some caregiver types, notably aunts/uncles as kin caregivers, were less likely to have food responsive children compared female primary caregivers (B= -1.93, p<0.05). The type of caregiver was also significantly associated with foods served at family meals (p<0.05). Findings indicate food behaviors may vary based on household makeup, further exploration should aim to understand mechanisms. Nutrition outreach must consider diverse household structures.
Objectives
- Analyze the impact that variation in household members (children and adults) and caregiver type is associated with children’s eating behaviors.
- Examine how household composition and caregiver type are associated with what is served in the home.
- Understand the need for future research to inform family nutrition outreach to diverse family structures.
Subject Codes: family structure, nutrition, health
Population Codes: middle childhood, People of Color, urban
Method and Approach Codes: regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), translational, diversity
323-09 RT: Gender Differences in Teens’ Cohabitation, Marriage, and Childbearing Expectations and Goals
Summary
The uneven recovery of the post-Recession years has affected family formation among young people. For teens, whose family building years are largely still to come, these shifts may have altered their expectations of cohabitation, marriage, or childbearing in the future. Further, given differences in gender socialization, teen girls and boys may think differently about their future family behaviors. In this project, we analyze cohabitation, marriage, and childbearing desires and expectations among teens 15-19 by gender using National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data, collected between 2011-2019. The majority of teens definitely think they will marry and both want and intend to have children, with less certainty around cohabitation. A higher proportion of teen boys expect to cohabit and want and intend to have children compared to teen girls early in the time period, but gender differences disappeared by 2017-2019 due to declines in boys’ expectations over time.
Objectives
- To analyze teens' expectations about cohabitation, marriage, and childbearing in the future.
- To consider gender differences in teens' family expectations.
- To examine how teens' family expectations have changed in the past decade.
Subject Codes: relationships, fertility, gender
Population Codes: adolescence
Method and Approach Codes: regression: logistic (binary, ordinal, or multinomial)
323-10 FH: Comparing Sleep, Physical Activity, and Heart Rate FitBit Measurements to Self-Reports, Lab-Based Measurements, and Obesity in Rural Midwestern Latinx Youth
Summary
Latinx youth, particularly those living in poor and rural communities, face increased risks for health disparities. Interventions and measurements in at-risk populations need tools and measures that are reliable, valid, cost-effective, and non-invasive. FitBits are popular, commercial, non-invasive devices that are cost-effective and can measure physical activity, sleep patterns, and resting heart rate. However, researchers have yet to examine the reliability and validity of FitBit data in comparison to child-report, parent-report, and lab-based measurements in rural Latinx youth. Therefore, to address this gap the current study compared FitBit variables to corresponding measures in a sample of rural Midwestern Latinx pre-adolescents. Researchers found that FitBit variables were associated with child-report and parent-report data for physical activity and sleep variables, and with heart rate measurements collected by trained researchers. FitBit variables also related to child obesity outcomes. Findings suggest that FitBit devices represent reliable options for measurement and interventions in at-risk populations.
Objectives
- Assess the association between FitBit measurements of physical activity and sleep variables with corresponding child and mother report variables to see if FitBit adequately measures these variables in Midwestern Latinx youth. If these findings are significant, then it shows that FitBits can be used as an objective measurement to overcome potential subjective report bias in physical activity and sleep reports.
- Assess the association between FitBit measurements of resting heart rate with objective heart rate measurements taken by trained researchers to see if FitBit adequately measures these variables in Midwestern Latinx youth. If these findings are significant, then it shows that FitBits can be used as an objective measurement that is much less invasive and uncomfortable compared to blood pressure cuffs and EKG sensors, etc.
- Assess how well FitBit measurements of physical activity, sleep, and resting heart rate predict child obesity outcomes (BMI percentile, BMI percentile times the square root of waist circumference, and A Body Scale Index) compared to other common methods of data collection (child report, mother report, lab-based measurements from researchers). If these findings are significant, then it shows that FitBits can be used as an objective measurement in rural and at-risk populations, as well as potentially used in weight-loss interventions.
Subject Codes: physical health, sleep, technology
Population Codes: obesity, Hispanic/Latina/o/x, rural
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology, regression: linear (simple, multiple, hierarchical), evaluation