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Families with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Society Response

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“ … of Psychology & Sociology, March 2023. ADVISORS: Dr. Jennifer Weil Malatras, Psychology, and Dr. Ilene Kaplan, Sociology. It is … ”
In Honors Theses

Abstract

It is estimated that 1 in 10 children, almost 240 million children, live with disabilities around the world (UNICEF Division of Global Communication and Advocacy, 2022). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between disability stigma, parental stress, and anxiety levels of the neurotypical siblings of children with disabilities and the community response to these issues. Participants in this study included parents of families characterized by at least one child with a neurodevelopmental disability and one neurotypical child. Parents completed the Parental Stress Scale (Berry & Jones, 1995), the Spence Children?s Anxiety Scale (Spence, 1997) regarding their neurotypical child, and the PROMIS Pediatric Stigma - Short Form 8a (The National Institutes of Health, 2022) regarding their child with a neurodevelopmental disability. In addition, information on policies dealing with families with disabilities as well as available federal and community programs were collected and an interview was conducted with a director of community support. Results suggest a positive correlation between parental stress and neurotypical child anxiety, whereby greater parental stress was associated with increased anxiety in the neurotypical siblings of children with a disability. In addition, findings also suggest that programs not only benefit the individual with a disability but are beneficial to the whole family. Addressing parental stress and its impacts on all family members may be a key factor to consider in designing and funding interventions.

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The relationship between helicopter parenting and risky sexual behavior in emerging adults

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In Honors Theses

Abstract

Prior research on helicopter parenting suggests a hovering style of parenting may lead to engagement in risky behaviors including problematic drinking and drug use and risky sexual behavior. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between helicopter parenting during childhood and adolescence and later sexual behavior in emerging adults. Participants included 380 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 26 who anonymously completed a survey where they were asked to report retrospectively about their parents' parenting behavior during the time they were growing up and their sexual health histories during the past six months, utilizing the Helicopter Parenting Scale (HPS) and Sexual Risk Survey (SRS), respectively. Findings did not support a significant relationship between the experience of helicopter parenting and risky sexual behavior and were inconsistent with prior research. However, results show that there were some trends in the data with those who self-identified as part of the gender minority, Black or African American, and upper income groups exhibiting all positive correlation values and those who self-identified as part of the Hispanic or Latino and low income groups exhibiting all negative correlation values. These findings suggest a need for further research that seeks to better understand how demographic differences may influence the relationship between helicopter parenting and risky behaviors.

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

An Examination of the Effects of Family Stability on Intimate Relationships

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“ … greater number of … ://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.78.1.173 Malatras, J. W. (2012). The Influence of Molecular Family … College of Arts & Sciences Department of Psychology. Malatras, J., Luft, I., Sokolowski, K., & Israel, A. (2012). … Malatras & Israel … ://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2012.22022 Malatras, J. W., & Israel, A. C. (2012). The influence of … ”
In Honors Theses

Abstract

A large focus of research on the influences of the family on child adjustment has been on the relationship between the stability of the home environment while growing up and the psychological and emotional outcomes of children, adolescents, and adults. Overall, this research suggests that homes high in stability are more beneficial for children. The purpose of the present study is to expand on this body of research by examining the relationships between aspects of family stability while growing up and relationship satisfaction and intimacy in emerging adulthood. To accomplish this, 152 participants, aged 18 to 25 years, who endorsed being in intimate relationships at the time of the study were recruited through Prolific, an online survey platform. Participants were asked to anonymously complete a survey measuring two related but distinct constructs of family stability, namely the regularity of daily family activities and routines (termed molecular family stability) and major family life changes (termed global family stability), and to report on their current relationship satisfaction and perceived emotional intimacy. Findings supported an association between molecular family stability and global family stability, whereby greater regularity of daily activities and routines (greater molecular family stability) was associated with fewer major family life changes (greater global family stability). Moreover, relationship satisfaction and perceived emotional intimacy were positively correlated with each other, with greater relationship satisfaction associated with greater emotional intimacy. Contrary to expectations, neither aspect of family stability during childhood was significantly correlated with relationship satisfaction or perceived emotional intimacy. Moreover, although hypothesized that molecular family stability may play a protective role in the relationships between global family stability and relationship satisfaction and intimacy, the present study did not support those models. These findings can help provide direction for future research.

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted