Gerard Stoyles

Parent’s Conception and Experience of Calling in Child Rearing A Qualitative Analysis

The concept of “calling” has evolved from a religiously oriented description of occupation to an integrated, broad, and multidimensional construct that is associated with optimal vocational outcomes, personal fulfillment and meaning, and contribution to the “greater good.” This article investigates the relevance of calling in the parental domain and explores the experience of calling in child rearing. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, 11 qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with mothers and fathers. Different parents were interviewed at three distinct developmental time points in their child(ren)’s lives: while their child was an infant (<2 years), while their children were of primary school age (aged 4-12), and when their children were in their late teens or early 20s and were more or less independent (>17 years). Parents of both genders and across the range of ages showed strong similarity in their definitions and experiences of calling-oriented child rearing. Parents’ definitions and experiences were also consistent with the conception and experience of calling in previous research. Cultural concerns related to free will and religion are discussed. This research demonstrates that the concept of calling is relevant in child rearing and that the sense of calling may also be associated with optimal outcomes in this domain. Recommendations for future research include the need to develop a measure of calling in child rearing and the usefulness of targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the sense of calling in parents.

Parents’ subjective sense of calling in childrearing: Measurement, development and initial findings

The construct of calling has received substantial recent attention in vocational research. This article reports on the development of a scale designed to measure parents’ subjective sense of calling in the childrearing role. Using exploratory, parallel, and confirmatory factor analysis, two studies revealed a three-factor, eleven item scale that measured calling in childrearing. Reliability findings are reported, as are convergent and discriminant validity. Parental subjective sense of calling in childrearing was positively associated with authoritative parenting style, importance of parenting, pleasure of parenting, parenting satisfaction, presence of meaning in life, satisfaction with life, savouring, and positive affect. The construct was negatively related to age, income, and the sense that parenting is a burden. Calling in childrearing is similar to calling in vocation, and appears related to optimal outcomes for those who possess it.

Relationship between religion and obsessive phenomena

Abstract The study examined the relationship between religion and symptoms of psychopathology, particularly obsessive–compulsive (OC) and scrupulosity symptoms. Religious affiliation, religiosity variables (strength of faith, religious application, the beliefs about Gods nature), and cognitive factors (e.g., obsessive beliefs) were studied as predictors of OC and scrupulosity symptoms in 179 non-clinical participants. The main groups (Catholic, Protestant, and no religion) were not different with regard to measures of wellbeing or symptoms of general psychopathology (depression, anxiety, and stress), but were different with regard to OC symptoms. Consistent with cognitive theory, OC beliefs strongly predicted both OC and scrupulosity symptoms, even when general levels of psychopathology were controlled. Religion bore a less major but significant association with OC phenomena. Religious affiliation (being Catholic) was associated with higher levels of OC symptoms, and higher levels of personal religiosity...

Families Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder Roles and Responsibilities of Adolescent Sisters

There is currently a limited understanding of adolescent sibling relationships where Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is present. This research gap remains despite preliminary findings suggesting that neurotypically developing (NTD) siblings undertake extra caregiving responsibilities and experience differential treatment from family members. Using a Family Systems approach, this qualitative study investigated NTD adolescent sisters’ roles and responsibilities for their younger adolescent brother with ASD from the perspectives of 11 family members (including NTD sisters, brothers with ASD, mothers, and fathers). Findings indicate the sisters undertook various caregiving roles and responsibilities, particularly at school, which had both positive and negative influences on the family system. Additionally, sisters perceived they undertook unfair household responsibilities, received reduced parental attention, and desired both distance from and engagement with their families. These perceptions varied amongst other family members. Implications of these findings and strategies for best supporting adolescent NTD siblings are discussed.

A measure of spiritual sensitivity for children

Spirituality is an essential influence in a child’s development. However, an age-appropriate measure of child’s spiritual sensitivity is not currently available in the literature. This paper describes the development of a measure of children’s spiritual sensitivity, the Spiritual Sensitivity Scale for Children (SSSC). Statistical analyses identified two semantically meaningful and psychometrically reliable clusters, titled Outward Focus and Inward Reflective Focus. Significant relationships were also found between spiritual sensitivity, self-esteem and hopefulness. These findings suggested that the SSSC provides a robust indication of the strength of a child’s spirituality as well as a useful companion measure alongside other measures of mental and emotional well-being.

Purpose in Life and Well-Being: The Relationship Between Purpose in Life, Hope, Coping, and Inward Sensitivity Among First-Year University Students

The present study investigated the relationship between purpose in life, hope, coping, and spiritual sensitivity among a sample of 166 first year psychology students. Family support and hopefulness predicted strong purpose in life. Inward sensitivity, together with agency thinking as part of hopefulness, notably increased the predictive variance of strong purpose in life. Positive correlations were also found between all variables, as well as low indications of suicidal ideation. These findings, particularly that for inward sensitivity, are able to contribute to programs that personally support first-year university students, especially in the early months of this experience.

Postseparation parenting education in a family relationship centre: a pilot study exploring the impact on perceived parent-child relationship and acrimony

Abstract This research investigated whether 31 parents who attended the Sydney City Family Relationship Centre experienced improvement in parent–child relationship and a decrease in parental acrimony following a brief postseparation parenting education program. It was hypothesized that the results would indicate an improvement in parents’ perceived parent–child relationship six to ten weeks after the postseparation parenting education program and this was found to be the case. It was also hypothesized that parents would experience a decrease in parental acrimony six to ten weeks after the postseparation parenting education program. However the results did not support this hypothesis. The results indicated an inverse relationship between the constructs of interest; as acrimony decreased, parent–child relationship improved. Findings from this pilot study endorse the continuation of a brief postseparation parenting education component in the FRC model. Implications for future research are discussed.