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Goodwin J, Savage E, O’Brien N, O’Donovan Á. "We're not educated on that enough, and we really should be": adolescents' views of mental health service education. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2023; 18:2249287. [PMID: 37639463 PMCID: PMC10464535 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2249287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the susceptibility to the experience of mental distress during adolescence, this population often demonstrate poor help-seeking behaviours. Efforts have been made by schools to address adolescents' knowledge around mental health; less focus has been given to addressing their knowledge of mental health services and avenues for help-seeking. This study aimed to explore adolescents' views of mental health services education. METHODS An interpretive descriptive design was adopted. Thirty adolescents from Ireland participated in individual interviews. Data were analysed using content analysis. TWO THEMES WERE IDENTIFIED Recognizing Gaps in Knowledge about Mental Health Service Education, and Enhancing Mental Health Service Education for Young People. Participants reported gaps in their knowledge about mental health services and were uncertain how to access help. Current strategies (e.g., print media) were considered tokenistic and ineffective; instead, multimedia (film/TV) approaches were recommended. RESULTS Two themes were identified: Recognizing Gaps in Knowledge about Mental HealthService Education, and Enhancing Mental Health Service Education for YoungPeople. Participants reported gaps in their knowledge about mental healthservices and were uncertain how to access help. Current strategies (e.g., print media) were considered tokenistic and ineffective; instead, multimedia (film/TV) approaches were recommended. CONCLUSIONS Current mental health education programmes need to expand their focus beyond social/emotional well-being, providing adolescents with the knowledge they need to access appropriate supports. Considering traditional print media was viewed as ineffective, while film/TV had an influence on perceptions of mental health services, a multimedia approach to education may be an effective way of engaging this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Goodwin
- Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eileen Savage
- Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Niamh O’Brien
- Department of Education, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Áine O’Donovan
- Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Bos HMW, Carone N, Rothblum ED, Koh AS, Gartrell NK. Long-Term Effects of Family Resilience on the Subjective Well-Being of Offspring in the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5149. [PMID: 36982058 PMCID: PMC10048869 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The current study used a family resilience approach to investigate why some offspring of sexual minority parents thrive despite homophobic stigmatization while others do not. Specifically, the study explored the role of two specific family functioning mechanisms (i.e., during adolescence, disclosure of offspring's personal life to their parents, and family compatibility) in the association between experienced homophobic stigmatization at age 17 and subjective well-being at age 25, among 71 offspring (37 females and 34 males, all cisgender) of the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS). The results showed that, overall, the offspring reported healthy subjective well-being as emerging adults. However, among NLLFS offspring with less family compatibility as adolescents, homophobic stigmatization was related to higher scores on negative affect when they were emerging adults. Psychological counseling that supports adolescent-parent communication may help prevent the negative effect of homophobic stigmatization on the subjective well-being of offspring with sexual minority parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henny M. W. Bos
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Esther D. Rothblum
- Williams Institute, Los Angeles School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Women’s Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Audrey S. Koh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
| | - Nanette K. Gartrell
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Williams Institute, Los Angeles School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Ledesma GCM, Reyes MES, Delariarte CF. Meaning in Life, Death Anxiety, and Spirituality in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community: A Scoping Review. SEXUALITY & CULTURE 2022; 27:636-658. [PMID: 36405399 PMCID: PMC9645752 DOI: 10.1007/s12119-022-10032-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The changes in people's way of life through the years raise questions on how they address existential needs and concerns, particularly those related to life and death and spiritual connections. Through a scoping review, we surveyed studies on meaning in life, death anxiety, and spirituality within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. We determined the extent to which these variables have been studied among LGB participants. A total of 28 eligible articles were reviewed. Six studies were found about meaning in life, five studies about death anxiety, and 16 studies about spirituality. Results suggest that meaning in life was derived from experiences related to parenthood, couplehood, and work satisfaction. Studies on death anxiety among LGB participants, which date back to the 1980 and 1990s, indicated the need to conduct present studies in this area. The review showed that LGB members distinguished between spirituality and religion, giving them more positive recognition of the former than the latter. The forms of spiritual expression were anchored to religious practices, for some, and other expressions of belief and faith outside the confines of formally established religions. Spiritual expressions generally accorded the LGB members direction and satisfaction in life. Not all segments of the LGB community were represented in the studies. The available studies, dominantly quantitative, centered only on the LGB experience. Target age groups varied across the studies. The review indicates that future studies can work on exploring these existential factors considering the emerging contexts and paradigms. Future research can focus on determining what factors contribute to meaning in life, given the changes in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Carlo M. Ledesma
- The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, 1008 Manila, Philippines
- Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Arts and Letters, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Marc Eric S. Reyes
- The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, 1008 Manila, Philippines
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Clarissa F. Delariarte
- The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, 1008 Manila, Philippines
- Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines
- De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
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Carone N, Innocenzi E, Lingiardi V. Peer Microaggressions and Social Skills among School-Age Children of Sexual Minority Parents through Assisted Reproduction: Moderation via the Child-Teacher Relationship. J Youth Adolesc 2022; 51:1210-1229. [PMID: 35275310 PMCID: PMC9090859 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-022-01588-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The impact of peer microaggressions and the child-teacher relationship on the social skills of children with sexual minority parents has received little attention. The current study used a mixed-method, multi-informant, two-wave longitudinal design to address this research gap. Thirty-seven children of lesbian mothers through donor insemination and 33 children of gay fathers though surrogacy (wave 1: Mage = 8.3 years, SD = 1.6; 51.4% female; wave 2: Mage = 9.9 years, SD = 1.7), all school-aged and residing in Italy, participated together with their 140 parents and 55 teachers. Approximately two-thirds of the children reported at least one peer microaggression and, on average, microaggressions were of a low intensity. Child-teacher relationships were of high quality (i.e., characterized by high safe haven-seeking and secure base use, and low conflict). Both parents and teachers reported high levels of child social skills. However, more intense W1 microaggressions predicted lower W2 social skills among children reporting a lower W1 child-teacher relationship quality, and greater W2 social skills among those reporting a higher W1 child-teacher relationship quality. These results support the child-teacher relationship as a potentially secure context in which children can "mentalize" negative experiences such as microaggressions and improve their social skills. In this vein, considering microaggression, attachment, and developmental intergroup theories, teachers must attune to the school experiences of children with sexual minority parents and cultivate caring classroom environments that are sensitive to family diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 11, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Innocenzi
- Department of History, Culture and Society, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Via Columbia 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Lingiardi
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Mazrekaj D, Fischer MM, Bos HMW. Behavioral Outcomes of Children with Same-Sex Parents in The Netherlands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105922. [PMID: 35627459 PMCID: PMC9141065 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Same-sex parents face substantial stressors due to their sexual orientation, such as experiences of prejudice and prohibitive legal environments. This added stress is likely to lead to reduced physical and mental health in same-sex parents that, in turn, may translate into problematic behavioral outcomes in their children. To date, there are only a few nationally representative studies that investigate the well-being of children with same-sex parents. The current study takes a closer look at children’s behavioral outcomes, reported by a parent, using an adapted version of the emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, pro-social, and peer problems subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We take advantage of unique data from the Netherlands based on a probability sample from population registers, whereby findings can be inferred to same-sex and different-sex parent households with parents between the ages of 30 and 65, and with children between the ages of 6 and 16 years (62 children with same-sex, and 72 children with different-sex parents). The findings obtained by coarsened exact matching suggest no significant disadvantages for children with same-sex parents compared to different-sex parents. We contextualize these findings in their wider cultural context, and recommend a renewed focus in future research away from deficit-driven comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deni Mazrekaj
- Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, New Road, Oxford OX1 1NF, UK
- Leuven Economics of Education Research (LEER), KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-6-4416-0276
| | - Mirjam M. Fischer
- Institute of Sociology und Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, D-50923 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Henny M. W. Bos
- Research Institute Child Development and Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1001 NG Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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Carone N, Bos HMW, Shenkman G, Tasker F. Editorial: LGBTQ Parents and Their Children During the Family Life Cycle. Front Psychol 2021; 12:643647. [PMID: 33679568 PMCID: PMC7930207 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Henny M. W. Bos
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Geva Shenkman
- Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC), Hertzlya, Israel
| | - Fiona Tasker
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Science, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
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