Christine McCauley Ohannessian

Adolescent-parent discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning and early adolescent self-competence

The relationship between discrepancies in adolescents’ and their parents’ perceptions of family functioning and adolescent self-competence was examined in a sample of 74 sixth and seventh grade students and their parents. This relationship was examined by the gender of the adolescent and the gender of the parent. Results indicated that discrepancies in adolescent-mother and adolescent-father perceptions of family functioning were related to lower levels of adolescent self-competence for girls. For boys, discrepancies in adolescent-mother perceptions of family functioning were also related to lower levels of adolescent self-competence, however, discrepancies in adolescent-father perceptions of family functioning were related to higher levels of adolescent self-competence. Explanations for these gender differences are provided. For both girls and boys, discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning predicted lower levels of self-competence and lower levels of self-competence predicted discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning. Consistent with current models of human development, these results emphasise the importance of examining both directions of influence when relationships between characteristics of the individual and the family context are explored.

Effects of Circumcision on Male Sexual Function: Debunking a Myth?

PURPOSE Claims of superior sexual sensitivity and satisfaction for uncircumcised males have never been substantiated in a prospective fashion in the medical literature. We performed such a study to investigate these assertions. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BMSFI) was administered to sexually active males older than 18 years before undergoing circumcision. After a minimum interval of 12 weeks after the operation, the survey was again administered. The 5 domains of the BMSFI (sexual drive, erections, ejaculation, problem assessment overall satisfaction) were each given a summed composite score. These scores before and after circumcision were then analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank testing. RESULTS All 15 men who participated in the study between September 1999 and October 2000 were available for followup. Mean patient age plus or minus standard deviation was 36.9 +/- 12.0 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the BMFSI composite scores of reported sexual drive (p >0.68), erection (p >0.96), ejaculation (p >0.48), problem assessment (p >0.53) or overall satisfaction (p >0.72). CONCLUSIONS Circumcision does not appear to have adverse, clinically important effects on male sexual function in sexually active adults who undergo the procedure.

The Relationship Between Parental Psychopathology and Adolescent Psychopathology: An Examination of Gender Patterns

The primary goal of this study was to examine the relationship between parental psychopathology (specifically, alcohol dependence and depression) and adolescent psychopathology, by the gender of the adolescent and the gender of the parent.The sample included 426 13- to 17-year-old adolescents and their parents. All participants were administered the SemiStructured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism to obtain clinical psychiatric diagnoses. Paternal psychopathology (depression and alcohol dependence) significantly predicted adolescent alcohol dependence, whereas maternal psychopathology did not. Maternal alcohol dependence did not predict any of the adolescent psychiatric diagnoses. In contrast, both paternal depression and maternal depression significantly predicted adolescent conduct disorder and depression. In addition, maternal depression significantly predicted adolescent anxiety.No significant interactions between parental psychopathology and adolescent gender were observed. Nevertheless, results from this study underscore the importance of considering the gender of the parent when examining the relationship between parental psychopathology and psychopathology in the offspring.

Introduction to the Special Issue: Discrepancies in Adolescent–Parent Perceptions of the Family and Adolescent Adjustment

Researchers commonly rely on adolescents’ and parents’ reports to assess family functioning (e.g., conflict, parental monitoring, parenting practices, relationship quality). Recent work indicates that these reports may vary as to whether they converge or diverge in estimates of family functioning. Further, patterns of converging or diverging reports may yield important information about adolescent adjustment and family functioning. This work is part of a larger literature seeking to understand and interpret multi-informant assessments of psychological phenomena, namely mental health. In fact, recent innovations in conceptualizing, measuring, and analyzing multi-informant mental health assessments might meaningfully inform efforts to understand multi-informant assessments of family functioning. Therefore, in this Special Issue we address three aims. First, we provide a guiding framework for using and interpreting multi-informant assessments of family functioning, informed by recent theoretical work focused on using and interpreting multi-informant mental health assessments. Second, we report research on adolescents’ and parents’ reports of family functioning that leverages the latest methods for measuring and analyzing patterns of convergence and divergence between informants’ reports. Third, we report research on measurement invariance and its role in interpreting adolescents’ and parents’ reports of family functioning. Research and theory reported in this Special Issue have important implications for improving our understanding of the links between multi-informant assessments of family functioning and adolescent adjustment.

Discrepancies in Adolescents’ and Their Mothers’ Perceptions of the Family and Adolescent Anxiety Symptomatology

SYNOPSIS Objective . This study examines relations between adolescents’ and their mothers’ perceptions of the family and adolescent anxiety symptomatology. Design . Surveys were administered to 145 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years and their mothers. Results . Adolescents viewed the family more negatively than did their mothers. In addition, adolescent girls’ perceptions of the family (satisfaction and communication) negatively predicted later adolescent anxiety symptomatology. Significant interactions between adolescent and mother reports of family satisfaction and communication also were found for girls, but not for boys. For girls, discrepant family perceptions with their mothers appeared to protect them from anxiety if their mothers had negative perceptions of the family. Conclusion . Understanding the similarities and differences among family members’ perspectives yields useful predictive information that cannot be obtained from studying these perspectives in isolation from one another.

Barriers to eligibility and enrollment among older women in a clinical trial on osteoporosis: effects of ethnicity and SES.

Objectives: The study examined whether ethnicity or socioeconomic status influenced a group’s ability to meet eligibility criteria and willingness to enroll. Method: The eligibility and enrollment status of 904 women aged 65 years and older who responded to recruitment efforts of an estrogen and osteoporosis clinical trial were analyzed. Results: Among women screened, 59% were White, 27% African Americans, and 14% Hispanics; average age was 75 years; 57.6% were eligible, of which 32% enrolled. High-income area residents were more likely to be eligible than lowincome residents. African Americans were less likely to be eligible for medical reasons than non-African Americans. Eligible Hispanics were more likely to be enrolled than non-Hispanics. African Americans were equally willing to enroll as Whites. Minority residents of low-income areas were more likely to enroll than minority residents of high-income areas. Discussion: Recruitment efforts should address barriers to eligibility and barriers to willingness to enroll.

Strategies for enrolling diverse older women in an osteoporosis trial.

Objectives: This study reviewed a consumer-oriented process for recruiting research volunteers age 65 or older for an osteoporosis clinical trial. Methods: Odds ratios were used to estimate the relative importance of methods to enroll research volunteers from three racial or ethnic groups. Results: Nine hundred and four women were screened; 168 African American, White, and Hispanic women enrolled. Mailings and media were effective when the target population was large and knowledgeable about the disease and treatment being investigated. Efficiency of mailings was increased when individuals in the mailing list were familiar with research and the research center. An interpersonal approach was more effective than a media-based approach when the target population was small, unaware of their personal risk of the disease, and unfamiliar with research and research center. Discussion: Information on the characteristics of potential volunteers and their communities will enable readers to evaluate the applicability of recruitment methods used.

Outcomes from a Pediatric Primary Care Weight Management Program: Steps to Growing Up Healthy

OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy of Steps to Growing Up Healthy, an obesity prevention intervention in preschool-age, urban-dwelling minority children. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-two pediatric primary care clinicians used a brief (3- to 5-minute) evidence-based behavior change intervention with low-income mothers of children aged 2-4 years during each regularly scheduled clinic visit over a 12-month period to target 4 specific obesogenic behaviors (milk consumption, juice and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, television/screen time, and physical activity). A written contract, self-monitoring calendar, and telephone follow-up at 5-7 days after the clinic visit reinforced the intervention. Body mass index (BMI) percentile over 12 months and obesogenic behaviors were compared with those of a sex- and age-matched historical control group drawn from the same clinic. RESULTS Between January 2009 and November 2012, 418 mother-child dyads (82% Hispanic and 18% African American; mean child age, 35.8 ± 8.6 months; 21% overweight and 21% obese children) participated (218 in the control group and 200 in the intervention group). At 12 months, BMI percentile decreased by 0.33 percentile in the intervention group, compared with a mean increase of 8.75 percentile in the control group (P < .001). In participants with an initial BMI <85th percentile, BMI percentile did not change over time in the intervention group but increased in the control group (from the 48th ± 21 to 63th ± 29 percentile; P < .01). At 12 months, consumption of juice and milk were decreased in the intervention group (P < .001). CONCLUSION A brief, evidence-based intervention targeting 4 behaviors, coupled with a written contract and telephone follow-up, decreased the rate of increase in BMI percentile in young children, especially in normal weight children.

Paternal Alcoholism and Youth Substance Abuse: The Indirect Effects of Negative Affect, Conduct Problems, and Risk Taking

This longitudinal study followed 200 adolescents into early adulthood to explore the potential mediating roles that hostility, sadness, conduct problems, and risk-taking play in the relationship between paternal alcoholism and substance abuse. Results indicated that paternal alcoholism predicted hostility; in turn, hostility predicted risk taking, which predicted substance abuse.

Developmental Changes in Discrepancies Between Adolescents’ and Their Mothers’ Views of Family Communication

Prior work indicates that adolescents perceive the family more negatively than do their parents. These discrepant views comprise some of the most robust observations in psychological science, and are observed on survey reports collected in vastly different cultures worldwide. Yet, whether developmental changes occur with these discrepant views remains unclear. In a sample of 141 adolescents and their mothers, we examined 1-year developmental changes in discrepancies between parents’ and adolescents’ views of family functioning. We focused on discrepant views about a relatively covert domain of family functioning (i.e., internal views of open communication) and a relatively overt domain of such functioning (i.e., views about observable communication problems). We observed significant developmental changes in discrepant views for open communication, but not for communication problems. These findings have important implications for research examining links between discrepant views of family functioning and whether these discrepancies serve as risk or protective factors for adolescent psychosocial functioning.