Claire Chamberland

Are Ecological and Social Models Influencing Prevention Practices? An Overview of the State of Affairs in Quebec for Child, Youth and Family Intervention

This paper presents the findings of a study designed to increase empirical knowledge of prevention and promotion practices targeted directly or indirectly at children, youth, and their families in the province of Quebec. A profile of these practices emerged from our analysis of the problems and concerns addressed by projects and programs in Quebec, targets for action, activities, strategies, links between organizations, and types of funding. These prevention and promotion practices are discussed in light of recent analyses and critiques in this field. It is hoped that this examination will encourage a healthy criticism of preventive efforts in Quebec, broaden of the scope of our interventions, and stimulate the creation of links between the actors involved in the welfare of children, youth, and families.

Parental cognition, emotions, and behaviors associated with the risk of psychological maltreatment of preschoolers.

ABSTRACT The main objective of the present study was to explore cognitions, emotions, and parental behaviors that could potentially be associated with an increased risk of psychological maltreatment towards preschoolers by means of a semi-structured interview. During the inter view, 45 young mothers and 13 fathers were asked to think of a typical episode with their child that they find difficult to cope with. Parents were then asked to discuss causes, emotions, self- and childs reactions, strategies used to calm themselves, self-evaluation of their reactions during the episode, as well as other related aspects. Content analysis was performed and subsequent categories were submitted to a multiple correspondence analysis procedure. Results show that a cluster of 15 variables for mothers and 5 variables for fathers is associated with the risk of child psychological maltreatment. Globally, these results indicated that some specific cognition, emotions, and parental behaviors could be identified in mother-child and father-child disciplinary interactions that may serve as guidelines for the assessment of psychological maltreatment.