Effects on later adjustment of living a stepfamily during childhood and adolescence

Article Abstract:

There have been considerable changes to the structure and stability of western families over recent decades. A study of the link between entry into a stepfamily after the age of six years and risks of poor adjustment at age 18 years, has been undertaken. This was to determine the extent to which exposure to a stepfamily was linked with psychosocial adjustment and restricted life opportunities. The results showed elevated risk of a range of psychosocial outcomes at age 18, for children exposed to living in a stepfamily between age six and 16. However much of association is linked to social, contextual and individual factors already present.

author: Fergusson, David M., Horwood, L. John, Nicholson, Jan M.
Child psychology, Stepfamilies

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA

Adolescent resiliency to family adversity

Article Abstract:

High risk teenagers who are resilient to externalizing problems tend to have a higher IQ than their nonresilient peers. In addition, a 16-yr study of teenagers in New Zealand shows that resilient teenagers tend to avoid affiliating with delinquent peers and show lower novelty seeking behaviors than their nonresilient peers. Resilient teenagers are characterized by high exposure to family adversity during childhood without the development of externalizing problems during adolescence such as substance abuse, school problems, and juvenile offences.

author: Fergusson, David M., Lynskey, Michael T.
Psychological aspects, Teenagers, Youth, Child behavior, Adolescent psychology, Problem families, Dysfunctional families, Resilience (Personality trait), Resilience (Personality trait) in children

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA

Maternal depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms in adolescents

Article Abstract:

A study of influence of maternal depressive symptoms on adolescents showed that maternal depression affects depression in adolescence only when the maternal depression is related to disturbances in the social and marital life. An evident correlation between maternal depressive symptoms and associated depressive symptoms in adolescent females was observed. Male adolescents displayed no such psychological influences due to maternal depressive symptoms.

author: Fergusson, David M., Horwood, L. John, Lynskey, Michael T.
Social aspects, Depression, Mental, Depression (Mood disorder), Depression in adolescence, Adolescent depression

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA


subjects list: Research
This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.