Canadian Research in Brief: 25th Edition (February 2011)
The articles listed below can be accessed through the corresponding journal website or accessed at a local library or university.
Canadian Research in Brief: 25th Edition (February 2011)
Hodgins, D.C., & Schopflocher, D.P. (2010). .
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors,
24(3), 548 – 554.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between
childhood maltreatment and gambling disorders, using data from an
ongoing longitudinal study of gambling (the Leisure Lifecycle and
Lifestyle Project). The study used random digit dialing to recruit
participants from the province of Alberta, Canada. The authors
examined the responses of 1,145 adult participants who completed
the childhood maltreatment measure at baseline and at the 18 month
follow up. Although this is a cross-sectional study, the two time
points were examined in order to establish test re-test reliability
of the maltreatment variable. Data were weighted, making the
results estimates of the provincial population. After reviewing the
literature, the authors examined a variety of co-variates,
including symptoms of alcohol/other drug use disorder or antisocial
disorder, characteristics of the family environment, and indicators
of psychological stress. The results indicate that childhood
maltreatment is associated with higher frequency of gambling and
greater likelihood of gambling problems, even after accounting for
the individual and social co-variates. Participants who were male,
with more antisocial features, alcohol dependence, stress, and
poorer family environments were more likely to have severe gambling
problems. This study was limited by its use of retrospective
reports of maltreatment to estimate absolute prevalence of child
abuse and neglect.
Ivanova, V., & Brown, J. (2010). .
Children and Youth Services Review,
32(12), 1796 – 1802.
The authors identify that Aboriginal children are overrepresented
in the Canadian child welfare system, and that there is an
insufficient number of Aboriginal foster parents to meet the demand
for placement. This study used the concept mapping process to learn
about the needs of Aboriginal foster parents. This method involves
(a) posing questions to participants (b) gathering responses and
printing them on separate cards (c) asking participants to sort
cards into groups (d) analyzing sorted responses using
multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. A randomized list of
telephone numbers for all licensed foster parents in a central
Canadian province was utilized to contact 83 Aboriginal foster
parents, ranging in age from 28 to 72. Twenty-four percent of these
parents were providing a kinship placement. Based on the concept
mapping process, Aboriginal foster parents reported that they
require support from the foster care system, including worker
support, respite opportunities, and funds. It was believed by
participants that these supports would facilitate rapport building
between foster parents and children, and would also allow siblings
to remain within one foster household. The participants identified
the need for specialist support, housing support, as well as
assistance in obtaining recreational resources for family outings
and activities. Finally, the Aboriginal foster parents wanted more
opportunities for education through sharing, for instance skill-
and knowledge-building opportunities, education on foster parent
rights, support and knowledge sharing among foster families, and
more public awareness of fostering. The authors conclude that more
research is necessary in order to develop culturally responsive
child welfare policies and practices.
Roustit, C., Campoy, E., Chaix, B., & Chauvin, P.
(2010). . European Journal of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(7), 597 –
604.
This study sought to examine the association between parental
psychological distress and adolescent maladjustment, examining
adolescent internalizing and externalizing disorders, substance
use, and alcohol consumption. The authors then controlled for
socioeconomic factors and tested the relevance of adolescent
self-esteem, parental emotional support, and extra-familial support
as mediators in the relationship between parental psychological
distress and adolescent psychosocial maladjustment. Data from the
Social and Health Survey of Quebec Children and Adolescents were
used. This survey was based on a two-stage cluster random sample of
2,346 individuals aged 13 and 16 enrolled in school, and their
1,983 parents. Binary and multinomial logistic regression models
were estimated, structural equation modeling was used to test for
mediation, and path analysis was conducted. The results suggest
that adolescents living with a highly psychologically distressed
parent are more likely to exhibit internalizing and externalizing
disorders, as well as lower self-esteem and social support. The
standardized total effect of parental distress on internalizing
disorders is significantly mediated by self-esteem, parental
emotional support, and social support. The authors conclude that
the results confirm the need for public health policies aimed at
preventing negative mental health outcomes in adolescents by
preventing and addressing parental distress.
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