Techno Teacher Moms: Web 2.0 Connecting Mothers in the Home Education Community

Home education is on the rise in Australia. However, unlike parents who choose mainstream schooling, these parents often lack the support of a wider community to help them on their educational and parenting journey. This support is especially lacking as many people in the wider community find the choice to home education confronting. As such, these parents may feel isolated and alienated in the general population as their choice to home educate is questioned at best, and ridiculed at worst. These parents often find sanctuary online in homeschool groups on Facebook. This chapter explores the ways that Facebook Groups are used by marginalized and disenfranchised families who home educate to meet with others who are likeminded and aligned with their beliefs and philosophies. It is through these groups that parents, in relation to schooling it is especially mothers, are able to ask for advice, to vent, to explore options and find connections that may be lacking in the wider community.

UK guidance on the initial evaluation of an infant or an adolescent with a suspected disorder of sex development

It is paramount that any child or adolescent with a suspected disorder of sex development (DSD) is assessed by an experienced clinician with adequate knowledge about the range of conditions associated with DSD. If there is any doubt, the case should be discussed with the regional team. In most cases, particularly in the case of the newborn, the paediatric endocrinologist within the regional DSD team acts as the first point of contact. The underlying pathophysiology of DSD and the strengths and weaknesses of the tests that can be performed should be discussed with the parents and affected young person and tests undertaken in a timely fashion. This clinician should be part of a multidisciplinary team experienced in management of DSD and should ensure that the affected person and parents are as fully informed as possible and have access to specialist psychological support. Finally, in the field of rare conditions, it is imperative that the clinician shares the experience with others through national and international clinical and research collaboration. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

A maternagem em unidade de abrigamento: a relação entre mães adolescentes e seus filhos

Pesquisa qualitativa que tem por objeto a relação entre mãe adolescente abrigada e seu filho. Objetiva descrever o significado do filho para a mãe adolescente abrigada; compreender os fatores que influenciam no estabelecimento da relação mãe adolescente abrigada e seu filho; e analisar a relação mãe-filho nos espaços do abrigamento partir dos cuidados realizados pela mãe adolescente abrigada. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma instituição de abrigamento no município do Rio de Janeiro, localizada no bairro de Vila Isabel. Os sujeitos foram seis mães adolescentes que se encontravam abrigadas em companhia de seus filhos. As entrevistas foram feitas através de um roteiro contendo questões de identificação das depoentes e perguntas abertas. A análise dos resultados foi realizada com base em Bardin (análise de conteúdo), emergindo duas categorias, a saber: 1) o significado do filho para a mãe adolescente; e 2) vivências maternas no cuidado do filho no interior da unidade de abrigamento. Ademais, evidencia-se que as mães adolescentes percebem seus filhos em sua vida como um aumento da responsabilidade e como fator de amadurecimento. O filho atua como estimulador deste processo, na medida em que ao depender da mãe adolescente para sobreviver, acaba induzindo transformações pessoais e sociais. Este novo ser representa para estas mães afeto, amor, carinho e sua própria família. O sentimento de amor que sente pelo filho e a forma como desempenha a maternagem solidificam a relação deste binômio, impulsionando a busca por uma mudança social em sua vida e o desejo de não mais voltar às ruas. A maternagem desenvolvida pelas jovens mães ocorreu de forma suficientemente boa, conseguindo atender as necessidades básicas de seu filho e estabelecendo a relação afetiva entre este binômio, mesmo mencionando a interferência dos profissionais de abrigo com relação ao cuidado que desenvolvem ao seu filho. É necessário oferecer bases para que essa mãe adolescente sinta-se fortalecida nas atividades maternas e que estas possam também continuar a desenvolver o cuidado do filho de maneira que atendam as necessidades do bebê, mantendo uma boa relação entre este binômio, para que o filho tenha um desenvolvimento emocional sadio e seja um adulto seguro para se lançar no mundo sem medos dos obstáculos e limitações provenientes de uma vida cheia de exclusões.

Fatores associados a transtornos mentais comuns e desejo de engravidar em gestantes adolescentes

De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, o período da adolescência é aquele compreendido entre os 10 e os 19 anos de idade, a população de adolescentes é crescente e um em cada cinco indivíduos encontra-se nessa faixa etária. Anualmente, 60 em cada mil jovens se tornam mães, o que faz da gravidez na adolescência tema de interesse por parte de pesquisadores de todo o mundo. No município do Rio de Janeiro, observou-se o acompanhamento da tendência nacional de aumento de gravidez precoce, com maior variação positiva encontrada na faixa etária de 10 a 14 anos. O objetivo no Artigo I: Determinar a prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) em uma população de adolescentes grávidas e avaliar sua associação com características da gravidez e fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e de rede social de apoio. Artigo II: Determinar a prevalência de desejo de engravidar em uma população de gestantes adolescente, verificar possíveis associações com fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e de rede social de apoio e avaliar o papel da idade como modificador de efeito dessas associações. Foram utilizados nos Artigos I e II o método de estudo seccional de base ambulatorial realizado com 232 adolescentes grávidas, em qualquer trimestre gestacional, regularmente atendidas nos serviços de pré-natal de dois hospitais públicos especializados do município do Rio de Janeiro, de maio a outubro de 2007. Foi utilizado questionário autopreenchível para a avaliação das características da gravidez, rede social de apoio, idade, renda, escolaridade, abandono escolar, situação conjugal, raça/cor e trabalho. As análises dos TMC foram conduzidas através do GHQ-12. Os resultados no Artigo I foram, a prevalência de TMC foi de 45,3%. O modelo final ajustado mostrou associação com TMC para as seguintes variáveis: renda familiar menor que três salários mínimos (RP = 2,32; IC 95% 1,15 - 4,67), não ter apoio familiar (RP = 2,18; IC 95% 1,69-2,81), não ter amigas para conversar (RP = 1,48; IC 95% 1,13-1,92) e não ter religião (RP = 1,72; IC 95% 1,25 - 2,36). No Artigo II, foram a prevalência de desejo de engravidar entre as gestantes adolescentes foi de 46,2%. No modelo final ajustado, as variáveis que apresentaram razões de prevalência (RP) estatisticamente significantes para associação com desejo de engravidar foram: ser casada ou viver em união estável (RP = 1,80; IC 95% 1,27-2,56), não ter amigas ou amigos com quem conversar (RP = 1,48; IC 95% 1,15-1,90). Adolescentes entre 12 e 16 anos e cursando o primeiro grau desejavam menos a gravidez (RP = 0,57; IC 95% 0,38- 0,88). Artigo I: Os resultados encontrados mostram que, frente à forte associação entre TMC e gravidez em adolescentes, temos a necessidade de implementação de políticas públicas que busquem minimizar os danos decorrentes das gestações em adolescentes, através da promoção de programas que incentivem a participação familiar no processo de aceitação da gravidez, bem como propiciando espaços para discussão, onde essas jovens possam ser ouvidas e orientadas. Artigo II: Os resultados deste estudo comprovam que a gravidez na adolescência não é necessariamente indesejada. Assim, fatores como viver em união estável e não ter amigas(os) para conversar aumentam o desejo de engravidar. Por outro lado, ter entre 12 e 16 anos e ainda estar no primeiro grau diminui este desejo. Tais achados podem ajudar os profissionais de saúde que lidam com essa faixa etária a identificar possíveis situações de risco para a gravidez e assim direcionar sua orientação de forma precisa e adequada.

Efeito da exposição ao tabagismo e da mobilidade social sobre o crescimento e ganho de peso do nascimento à adolescência em uma coorte de base populacional de Cuiabá-MT

Esta tese é composta por três artigos que permitiram avaliar o efeito da exposição ao tabagismo durante a gestação e no início da infância sobre o crescimento linear e ganho de peso do nascimento à adolescência, além de verificar o efeito do nível socioeconômico no início da infância e da mobilidade social sobre a adiposidade até a adolescência. Foram utilizados para este fim os dados de uma coorte de crianças nascidas entre 1994 e 1999 na cidade de Cuiabá-MT. Essas crianças fizeram parte de um estudo de base populacional realizado na cidade de Cuiabá, entre 1999 e 2000, com 2405 crianças (0 a 5 anos) e foram selecionadas aleatoriamente em unidades básicas de saúde quando da vacinação. As mães foram entrevistadas após a vacinação, quando foram obtidos dados relativos à exposição ao tabagismo gestacional, tabagismo passivo, nível socioeconômico das famílias e dados antropométricos. Entre 2009 e 2011, após aproximadamente 11 anos, essas crianças foram localizadas por meio do Censo Escolar e então 1716 adolescentes entre 10 e 17 anos de idade (71,4% da população) foram reavaliados nas escolas da rede pública e privada de Cuiabá, de 18 municípios do estado e outras 5 capitais do país. A análise por modelos lineares de efeitos mistos permitiu verificar a mudança de estatura e Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) entre o nascimento e a adolescência. O primeiro e o segundo artigo desta tese avaliaram o efeito da exposição ao tabagismo materno durante a gestação e no início da infância sobre o crescimento linear e o IMC entre o nascimento e a adolescência. Crianças expostas ao tabagismo materno durante a gestação e no início da infância apresentaram menor estatura desde o nascimento até a adolescência quando comparadas às crianças não expostas. Quanto à adiposidade, entre o nascimento e a infância a mudança do IMC foi similar entre as crianças expostas e não expostas ao tabagismo materno, porém, entre a infância e a adolescência, aquelas expostas apenas durante a gestação mostraram maior ganho de IMC. Em conjunto, os dados corroboram o efeito deletério do tabagismo sobre o crescimento, efeito já bastante estudado, mas também indicam que avaliar e comparar exposição gestacional com pós-gestacional é importante, dado que seus efeitos parecem ser diferentes. O terceiro artigo avaliou o efeito do nível socioeconômico no início da infância e da mobilidade social entre a infância e a adolescência sobre o IMC do nascimento à adolescência. Para avaliar o nível socioeconômico, as famílias foram classificadas em nível econômico alto, médio e baixo, a partir do Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil. Foi observada expressiva mobilidade social na população, principalmente entre os de menor nível econômico. Houve maior aumento do IMC entre o nascimento e a adolescência entre aqueles de maior nível econômico na infância e aqueles que permaneceram nas classes mais elevadas, indicando que a posição inicial foi o maior determinante das mudanças observadas no IMC.

Efeitos da desnutrição calórica ou protéica durante a lactação na susceptibilidade à nicotina durante a adolescência de camundongos

A desnutrição durante o desenvolvimento produz alterações permanentes em diferentes sistemas de neurotransmissores, o que pode gerar modificações na respostas a drogas psicoativas. Apesar dos efeitos da desnutrição precoce no sistema colinérgico serem bem conhecidas, não existem evidências que demonstrem efeitos relacionados a susceptibilidade aos efeitos da nicotina. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos da restrição protéica ou calórica durante a lactação de camundongos na susceptibilidade aos efeitos desta droga. Considerando que estudos demonstram que o consumo de tabaco freqüentemente se inicia na adolescência, investigamos neste período, os efeitos da nicotina no teste de campo aberto (CA), teste da preferência condicionada por lugar (CPP) e teste da preferência pela nicotina (PPN). Estudos sugerem que o estresse pode alterar a susceptibilidade ao uso de drogas, por isso foram avaliados os níveis séricos de corticosterona, o conteúdo de catecolaminas da medula adrenal e enzimas desta via. As mães foram randomicamente divididas nos seguintes grupos: 1) Grupo Controle (GC)- dieta padrão (23% de proteína); 2) Grupo Restrição Protéica (RP)- dieta isoenergética (8% de proteína) e 3) Grupo Restrição Calórica (RC)- dieta padrão em quantidade restrita (média de ingestão do grupo RP). A desnutrição abrangeu o período do segundo dia de vida pós-natal (PN2) até o desmame (PN21) e em PN30, foram realizados os testes comportamentais. Após o término dos testes de OP e CPP, os animais foram decapitados e o sangue e a adrenal coletados para análises endócrinas. Os animais do grupo RP e RC apresentaram menor ganho de peso e menor conteúdo de gordura retroperitoneal quando comparados aos animais GC. No teste CA, a administração de nicotina produziu um aumento da atividade locomotora nos animais GC e RP, o que não foi observado nos animais RC A desnutrição levou a uma diminuição do conteúdo de catecolaminas da adrenal em PN30. No teste CPP, apenas o GC e RC apresentaram padrão de condicionamento. Em relação ao teste da PPN, o grupo CG apresentou aumento no padrão de consumo de nicotina, o que não foi visto nos grupos RC e RP. A nicotina não afetou a função adrenal dos grupos programados. Estes resultados sugerem que a desnutrição durante a lactação ameniza os efeitos da nicotina durante a adolescência e que as alterações comportamentais dependem do padrão de desnutrição.

我国城乡背景下教养风格对生育价值观代际传递调节作用的研究

Intergenerational cultural transmission is one process leading to cultural continuity and the transmission of value orientations may be seen as a core issue of cultural transmission. Previous research about value transmission revealed that the effectiveness of intergenerational value transmission was influenced by parenting, and parenting’s impact on culture transmission varies according to the cultural context. Value of children (VOC) refers to the functions children serve or the needs they fulfill for parents. VOC is contained in the value system and thus we would explore whether VOC could be transmitted from generation to generation like other values and how parenting impact intergenerational VOC transmission in China. Since there are dramatic differences between Chinese urban and rural context in many aspects, we would explore the effects of the transmission belt in these two social contexts respectively. A total of 200 samples were collected and each sample contained grandmother， mother and adolescent，and the results were as follows： 1. VOC could be transmitted from generation to generation, and the transmissions from grandmothers to adolescents were less effective than the transmissions from mothers to adolescents. 2. Parenting moderated the path of VOC transmission from mothers to adolescents. Authoritarian parenting could enhance the transmission of economical and social VOC factor between generations. And authoritative parenting could enhance the transmission of emotional VOC factor between generations. 3. Authoritarian parenting had significant positive predictive effect on rural adolescents’ VOC and had no predictive effect on urban adolescents’ VOC. And authoritative parenting had significant positive predictive effect on urban adolescents’ VOC.

教养方式、亲子关系对青少年给予母亲情感支持的影响

Emotional support, as an important form of social supports, has great impact on the life of both caregivers and receivers. Many studies on adult children and old parents indicate that emotional support is closely related to parents’ well-being, and the relation quality between old parents and adult children is one of the factors influencing adult children’s support offering. However, the study on adolescents’ emotional support to their parents is quite rare. What’s more, it has been found that emotional support skills children have learnt at home have life-time influence on children’s response to other’s emotional needs. It is assumed that to some extent the emotional support styles between parents and adolescents are relatively stable, and they are related to the care children give to their parents after they advance to old age. Hence, it is necessary to study the emotional support of adolescent in order to at last improve the well-being of old parents. Totally speaking, the aim of this study is to explore the relation between parenting styles and adolescents’ emotional support offering, as well as the effects of mother-child relationships. In addition, culture is a factor having impact on parenting styles, parent-child relationships and emotional support. So we have designed this cross-cultural study to explore cultural differences. The results are as follows: (1) As to Chinese and Indonesian mothers, their Acceptance of adolescents’ behaviors has significant positive predictive effect on children’s emotional support. Besides, the Intimacy and Approval dimensions of mother-child relationships partially mediate the path from parenting styles to emotional support offering, and those effects have no significant difference in China and Indonesia. (2) Chinese and Indonesian mother’s Rejection to adolescents has significant positive predictive effect on Conflict between mothers and adolescents, but has no direct effect on adolescents’ emotional support offering. (3) Adolescents’ support offering has no significant predictive effect on their willingness to help their parents. (4) Adolescents’ support offering has significant predictive effect on their motivation to provide emotional support to their parents. However, the relation between adolescents’ support offering and the willingness to help their parents is not clear. (5) Adolescents have scored high in Acceptance parenting style dimension and relatively low in Rejection dimension, which indicate that mothers in China and Indonesia adopt positive parenting styles. Both Chinese and Indonesian mother-child relationships are good. However, Indonesian adolescents have perceived more Intimacy and Approval from mothers, and there is no significant difference between Chinese and Indonesian adolescents and mothers in the dimension of Conflict.

Supporting the case for “progressive universalism” in health visiting: Scottish mothers and health visitors’ perspectives on targeting and rationing health visiting services, with a focus on the Lothian Child Concern Model.

Aims. To explore parents and professionals’ experience of family assessment in health visiting (public health nursing), with a focus on the Lothian Child Concern Model (LCCM). Background. Health visitors (HVs) currently assess families as requiring core, additional or intensive support, and offer support at a corresponding level. The majority of families are assessed as core and receive no pro-active support beyond the early days. Previous assessment tools, consisting of checklists, have been criticised as being ineffective in identifying a range of health needs and unacceptable to parents and HVs. The LCCM model was developed and introduced in the study area to promote a partnership approach with parents and assess strengths as well as difficulties in parents’ capacity to care for their child. Methods. Qualitative methods were used. Ten mothers and twelve HVs took part in individual semi-structured interviews. Results. Most mothers were aware of the assessment process but some felt that they were not involved in the decision making process. Explaining the assessment process to parents is problematic and not all HVs do so. The assessment process was stressful for some mothers. HVs find the model useful for structuring and documenting the assessment process. Many believe that most families benefit from some support, using public health approaches. Families are often assessed as core because there are insufficient resources to support all those who meet the criteria of the additional category, and managers assess caseloads in terms of families with child protection concerns. Conclusions. The study findings support the concept of “progressive universalism” which provides a continuum of intensity of support to families, depending on need. Mothers would like better partnership working with HVs. Relevance to clinical practice. The study endorses proposed policy changes to re-establish the public health role of HVs and to lower the threshold for families to qualify for support.

Religion and American adolescent delinquency, risk behaviors and constructive social activities

This report demonstrates that religion among U.S. adolescents is positively related to participation in constructive youth activities. In addition, those who participate in religious activities seem to be less likely to participate in many delinquent and risk behaviors.

Reading Between the Lines: The Potential of Popular Young Adult Fiction in Adolescent Spiritual Formation

Popular culture is a powerful, shaping force in the lives of teenagers between the ages of fourteen through eighteen in the United States today. This dissertation argues the importance of popular fiction for adolescent spiritual formation and it investigates that importance by exploring the significance of narrative for theology and moral formation. The dissertation employs mythic and archetypal criticism as a tool for informing the selection and critique of narratives for use in adolescent spiritual development and it also incorporates insights gained from developmental psychology to lay the groundwork for the development of a curriculum that uses young adult fiction in a program of spiritual formation for teenagers in a local church setting. The dissertation defends the power of narrative in Christian theology and concludes that narrative shapes the imagination in ways that alter perception and are important for the faith life of teenagers in particular. I go on to argue that not all narratives are created equal. In using literary myth criticism in concert with theology, I use the two disciplines’ different aims and methods to fully flesh out the potential of theologies intrinsic to works meant for a largely secular audience. The dissertation compares various works of young adult fiction (M.T. Anderson’s Feed and Terry Pratchett’s Nation in dialogue with a theology of creation; Marcus Zusak’s I am the Messenger and Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl in dialogue with salvation and saviors; and the four novels of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga in dialogue with a theology of hope (eschatology). The dissertation explores how each theme surfaces (even if only implicitly) from both literary and theological standpoints. The dissertation concludes with a sample four-week lesson plan that demonstrates one way the theological and literary critique can be formed into a practical curriculum for use in an adolescent spiritual development setting. Ultimately, this dissertation provides a framework for how practitioners of young adult formation can select, analyze, and develop materials for their teenagers using new works of popular young adult fiction. The dissertation comes to the conclusion that popular fiction contains a wealth of material that can challenge and shape young readers’ own emerging theology.

Caring for the Celtic cubs: Discursive constructions of mothers and mothering in the Irish childcare debate

Drawing on an understanding of the public sphere as a multiplicity of communicative and discursive spaces this paper examines the constructions of mothers, mothering and motherhood which emerged in recent debates about childcare in Ireland. Preliminary analysis of these discursive constructions suggest that they are often based on rhetoric, informed by stereotypical assumptions and rooted in frames of reference which mitigate against the emergence of alternative ways of understanding the issues of mothering and childcare. It will be argued that the reductionist and divisive nature of the childcare debate which ensued prior to the 2005 budget, stymied childcare policy development at a time when its unprecedented prominence on the political agenda and the strength of public finances could have underpinned a shift in policy approach. The paper concludes with an exploration of the ways in which feminist scholarship can challenge the Irish model of childcare policy, which continues to be premised on an understanding of childcare and the reconciliation of work and family life as the privatised responsibility of individual women.

Body image and body satisfaction differ by race in overweight postpartum mothers.

BACKGROUND: Body image (BI) and body satisfaction may be important in understanding weight loss behaviors, particularly during the postpartum period. We assessed these constructs among African American and white overweight postpartum women. METHODS: The sample included 162 women (73 African American and 89 white) in the intervention arm 6 months into the Active Mothers Postpartum (AMP) Study, a nutritional and physical activity weight loss intervention. BIs, self-reported using the Stunkard figure rating scale, were compared assessing mean values by race. Body satisfaction was measured using body discrepancy (BD), calculated as perceived current image minus ideal image (BD<0: desire to be heavier; BD>0: desire to be lighter). BD was assessed by race for: BD(Ideal) (current image minus the ideal image) and BD(Ideal Mother) (current image minus ideal mother image). RESULTS: Compared with white women, African American women were younger and were less likely to report being married, having any college education, or residing in households with annual incomes >$30,000 (all p < 0.01). They also had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04), although perceived current BI did not differ by race (p = 0.21). African Americans had higher mean ideal (p = 0.07) and ideal mother (p = 0.001) BIs compared with whites. African Americans' mean BDs (adjusting for age, BMI, education, income, marital status, and interaction terms) were significantly lower than those of whites, indicating greater body satisfaction among African Americans (BD(Ideal): 1.7 vs. 2.3, p = 0.005; BD(Ideal Mother): 1.1 vs. 1.8, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Racial differences exist in postpartum weight, ideal images, and body satisfaction. Healthcare providers should consider tailored messaging that accounts for these racially different perceptions and factors when designing weight loss programs for overweight mothers.

Early-life soy exposure and age at menarche.

This study examines the timing of menarche in relation to infant-feeding methods, specifically addressing the potential effects of soy isoflavone exposure through soy-based infant feeding. Subjects were participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Mothers were enrolled during pregnancy and their children have been followed prospectively. Early-life feeding regimes, categorised as primarily breast, early formula, early soy and late soy, were defined using infant-feeding questionnaires administered during infancy. For this analysis, age at menarche was assessed using questionnaires administered approximately annually between ages 8 and 14.5. Eligible subjects were limited to term, singleton, White females. We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models to assess age at menarche and risk of menarche over the study period. The present analysis included 2920 girls. Approximately 2% of mothers reported that soy products were introduced into the infant diet at or before 4 months of age (early soy). The median age at menarche [interquartile range (IQR)] in the study sample was 153 months [144-163], approximately 12.8 years. The median age at menarche among early soy-fed girls was 149 months (12.4 years) [IQR, 140-159]. Compared with girls fed non-soy-based infant formula or milk (early formula), early soy-fed girls were at 25% higher risk of menarche throughout the course of follow-up (hazard ratio 1.25 [95% confidence interval 0.92, 1.71]). Our results also suggest that girls fed soy products in early infancy may have an increased risk of menarche specifically in early adolescence. These findings may be the observable manifestation of mild endocrine-disrupting effects of soy isoflavone exposure. However, our study is limited by few soy-exposed subjects and is not designed to assess biological mechanisms. Because soy formula use is common in some populations, this subtle association with menarche warrants more in-depth evaluation in future studies.

Adolescent weight status and self-reported school performance in South Korea.

Using a nationally representative sample of 142 783 middle school (13-15 years old) and high school (16-18 years old) students in South Korea, this study examined whether (1) overweight and obesity are more likely to be associated with lower self-reported school performance; (2) overweight and obese students are more likely to enrol in a vocational high school as opposed to a general high school; (3) the association between obesity and poorer self-reported school performance is mediated through body image stress and health status. We found that excess weight was negatively associated with self-reported school performance among middle and general high school students, and that obese students had a higher probability of being enrolled in a vocational over a general high school. We did not find strong evidence on the mediating role of body image stress and health status.