Parenting for foster parents

A parenting course for foster parents was described with a follow-up evaluation utilized to determine its effectiveness. The content of this broad-based course included learning theory, principles and techniques, communication skills, methods of conflict resolution, developmental considerations, and information about community services. Results of the evaluation suggested that most of the participants had found the course helpful and were using the knowledge acquired.     

The effects of a health newsletter for foster parents on their perceptions of the behavior and development of foster children

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of endothelin-1 (ET-1; 100 ng. i.c.v.) produced an initial pressor (24%) (peak at 3 min following ET-1 administration) and a delayed depressor (-40%) (30 and 60 min following ET-1 administration) effects in urethane anesthetized rats. The pressor effect of ET-1 was due to an increase (21%) in cardiac output, while the depressor effect of ET-1 was associated with a marked decrease (-46%) in cardiac output. Stroke volume significantly decreased at 30 and 60 min after the administration of ET-1. No change in total peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate was observed following central administration of ET-1. The effects of ET-1 on Blood pressure, cardiac output and stroke volume were not observed in BQ123 (10 micrograms, i.c.v.) treated rats. Blood flow to the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, midbrain and brain stem was not affected at 3 min, but a significant decrease in blood flow to all the regions of the brain was observed at 30 and 60 min following central administration of ET-1. BQ123 pretreatment completely blocked the central ET-1 induced decrease in blood flow to the brain regions. It is concluded that the pressor effect of centrally administered ET-1 is not accompanied by a severe decrease in brain blood flow, however, a subsequent decrease in blood pressure is associated with a decrease in blood flow to the brain. The cardiovascular effects of ET-1 including decrease in brain blood flow are mediated through central ET receptors.     

Effectiveness of a child-care training program for parents at-risk for child neglect.

Evaluated a home-based parent training program aimed at teaching crucial childcare skills (e.g., diapering, bathing, feeding, safety) to 22 low-IQ mothers of children (aged 1–23 mo) considered at-risk for child neglect. Ss were randomly assigned to a training or control group. Posttests showed that the mean percent correct score (88%) of the training group was then similar to that of 12 nonhandicapped comparison mothers, with both significantly greater than the mean (61%) of the control group. The training group maintained improvements up to 76 wks following training, and the control group, when subsequently trained, had a mean score of 92%. Finally, where it could be observed, the health of children improved concomitant with the parents learning proper childcare. Parent training in childcare may help reduce the likelihood of child neglect due to parental incompetency. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using demographic data in a primary prevention substance abuse program for teenagers and parents.

Collected demographic data by 2 questionnaire surveys from 402 high school students (aged 16–19 yrs) and 266 parents to plan a low-cost, community-based adolescent substance abuse program. Information about teens' drug use, attitudes, alternative activities, and preferred helping resources was compared to parents' knowledge of and attitudes toward their children's drug use. Two programs were planned. The teen program emphasized peer support, drug education before age 16 yrs, the school's drug milieu, sex differences in drug attitudes and use, and the role of religious institutions in prevention. Since parents were almost totally unaware of their children's drug use, the parent program focused on drug information and development of communication skills with teens. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of a social-problem-solving training program for suburban and inner-city third-grade children.

Assessed the effects of a 52-lesson, class-taught, social-problem-solving (SPS) training program, with 3 questions in mind: (a) Does training improve interpersonal problem-solving abilities? (b) Does it enhance behavioral adjustment? (c) Are problem solving and adjustive gains related? 243 suburban and inner-city program 3rd graders and controls were evaluated on a variety of problem-solving and behavioral-adjustment measures. Program Ss improved more than controls on several cognitive skills, including problem identification, alternative-solution thinking, and consequential thinking as well as on behavioral problem-solving performance. The intervention positively affected the adjustment of suburban but not urban Ss. However, relationships between problem-solving skill improvements and adjustive gains were not found. Variables such as program curriculum and the age and sociodemographic attributes of its targets must be better understood in exploring the potential of SPS training to promote behavioral adjustment. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Education of parents of infants and very young children with asthma: a developmental evaluation of the Wee Wheezers program

A randomized control trial of the Wee Wheezers asthma education program was conducted with 76 children < 7 years of age, 31% of whom were on a medication regimen consistent with mild, 51% with moderate, and 18% with moderately severe/severe asthma. Treatment children showed improved morbidity at 3-month follow-up relative to the changes in the controls: increased symptom-free days in the preceding 2 weeks (mean change of +2.2 vs. -2.6 in the controls; p = .004) and month (+2.0 vs. -3.8; p < .02), fewer nights of parental sleep interruption in a typical week (+0.7 vs. +1.8; p < or = .05), and a trend toward fewer asthma sick days (-0.2 vs +0.7; p = ns). These improvements were accompanied by significantly better parental asthma management compared with controls (more consistent use of preventive medications, p < or = .01; early symptom intervention, [corrected] p < or = .05) and trends toward more restrictions on smoking in the home (p < .07) and decreased parental confusion about asthma treatment (p < .11). This study provides evidence that a multisession program of asthma education for parents can improve parental asthma management and clinical outcomes in very young children and provides information on the validity and sensitivity of various asthma outcome measures in this age group.     

Evaluation of a worksite injury and illness prevention program: Do the effects of the REACH OUT training program reach the employees?

In this article the authors report the findings of a 2-year study evaluating the effectiveness of REACH OUT, a train-the-trainer program developed to assist small businesses comply with California legislation, Senate Bill 198 (1989), requiring employers to implement a worksite Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Data from a case study sample of 8 companies, drawn from 151 Southern California small businesses participating in the larger study, are reported. Diagnostic walk-throughs were performed, and employee surveys collected at the case study companies approximately 2 months before the treatment group received the intervention and again I year later. Results indicate that greater corporate compliance led to employees' perceptions of increased health and safety meetings and training sessions, which led to greater employee health and safety knowledge and improved employee health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beliefs of foster parents regarding the children in their care and their natural parents

The propagation of pluripotential mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is sustained by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or related cytokines that act through a common receptor complex comprising the LIF receptor subunit (LIF-R) and the signal transducer gp130. However, the findings that embryos lacking LIF-R or gp130 can develop beyond gastrulation argue for the existence of an alternative pathway(s) governing the maintenance of pluripotency in vivo. In order to define those factors that contribute to self-renewal in ES cell cultures, we have generated ES cells in which both copies of the lif gene are deleted. These cells showed a significantly reduced capacity for regeneration of stem cell colonies when induced to differentiate, confirming that LIF is the major endogenous regulatory cytokine in ES cell cultures. However, self-renewal was not abolished and undifferentiated ES cell colonies were still obtained in the complete absence of LIF. A differentiated, LIF-deficient, parietal endoderm-like cell line was derived and shown to support ES cell propagation via production of a soluble, macromolecular, trypsin-sensitive activity. This activity, which we name ES cell renewal factor (ESRF), is distinct from members of the IL-6/LIF family because (i) it is effective on ES cells lacking LIF-R; (ii) it is not blocked by anti-gp130 neutralizing antibodies; and (iii) it acts without activation of STAT3. ES cells propagated clonally using ESRF alone can contribute fully to chimaeras and engender germline transmission. These findings establish that ES cell pluripotency can be sustained via a LIF-R/gp130-independent, STAT-3 independent, signaling pathway. Operation of this pathway in vivo could play an important role in the regulation of pluripotency in the epiblast and account for the viability of lifr -/- and gp130 -/- embryos.     

Preventive effects of Lamaze training for first-time parents: A short-term longitudinal study.

Evaluated whether Lamaze Childbirth Preparation prevents negative effects on the marital relationship typically experienced by 1st-time parents. 39 couples who participated in Lamaze training and 37 couples who did not completed questionnaires 3 mo before birth, 1 wk after birth, and 9–20 wks after birth. Results indicate that the Lamaze group reported approximately the same levels of marital satisfaction, state anxiety, and birth-related problems, whereas the non-Lamaze couples showed sharp decreases in marital satisfaction and increases in anxiety and postbirth problems. The potential preventive value of Lamaze training for couples is discussed. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implementing a time-limited therapy program: Differential effects of training and experience.

Assessed the relationship between level of clinical experience, training format (no training, self-instructional, or intensive training), and therapeutic outcome in time-limited therapy (TLT). Six experienced therapists (aged 40–55 yrs) and 6 therapists-in-training (aged 25–31 yrs) underwent 1 of the 3 training formats prior to conducting 8 TLT sessions with a prescreened homogeneous group of 57 clients at a university counseling center. Clients of experienced therapists had consistently superior outcomes when compared with clients of their less experienced counterparts, with the exception of intake officers' outcome ratings. The more intensely trained therapists realized better outcomes, irrespective of therapist experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Secondary prevention with college drinkers: Evaluation of an alcohol skills training program.

This study evaluated secondary prevention approaches for young adults (N?=?36, mean age 23 yrs) at risk for alcohol problems. Ss were randomly assigned to cognitive-behavioral alcohol skills training, a didactic alcohol information program, or assessment only. The skills program included training in blood alcohol level estimation, limit setting, and relapse prevention skills. All Ss maintained daily drinking records during the 8-wk intervention and for 1 wk at each follow-up. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) found a significant reduction over 1-yr follow-up in self-reported alcohol consumption for the total sample. For all drinking measures, the directional findings consistently favored skills training. Despite overall reductions, most Ss continued to report occasional heavy drinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensation Seeking Scales and consumer satisfaction with a substance abuse treatment program

Satisfaction of 119 addicts with an addiction treatment program was measured by an 11 item satisfaction scale. The scale's internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = .75). The total satisfaction score was weakly but significantly correlated with Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking scales: Those with higher scores on the Boredom Susceptibility scale (i.e., those easily bored) reported less satisfaction, whereas those with higher scores on Thrill and Adventure Seeking scale (i.e., risk, adventure, and thrill seekers) reported higher levels of treatment satisfaction. Older patients were more satisfied with the feedback they received from their psychological tests and also with staff's respect for their rights.     

Evaluation of a sexual abuse prevention program for adults with mental retardation

We have measured the Fourier transform spectrum of natural OCS from 3700 to 4800 cm-1 with a near Doppler resolution and a line-position accuracy between 4 and 8 x 10(-5) cm-1. For the normal isotopic species, 37 vibrational transitions have been analyzed for both frequencies and intensities. We also report 15 bands of OC34S, eight bands of O13CS, nine bands of OC33S, and two bands of 18OCS. Important effective Herman-Wallis terms are explained on the basis of eigenvectors. A comparison of different line-pointing programs is also presented. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Eighteen-month follow-up data on a treatment program for homeless substance abusing mothers

In response to the dearth of data on substance abuse treatment among homeless mothers, this study breaks new ground in presenting 18-month follow-up data on 149 homeless mothers with young children enlisted in a substance abuse treatment program. The effects of residential compared to nonresidential services were evaluated over the follow-up period. Although dropout rates were high, predictors of dropout were identified, and the residential had a lower dropout rate compared to the nonresidential comparison group. Members of both residential and nonresidential groups evidenced improvement in alcohol and drug problems and in housing stability, regardless of the amount of time they spent in the program. This project demonstrated that homeless mothers can be more successfully engaged in substance abuse programs with provisions of residential placement in addition to participation in a therapeutic community. Future interventions can take advantage of this knowledge in designing more effective programs.     

Evaluation of a decision-making aid for parents regarding childhood immunizations.

This intervention study evaluates a decision-making aid for parents considering childhood immunizations. Participants (women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy, n = 100) rated likelihood of immunizing their child, anxiety, and perceptions of risk of the diseases and immunizations. Individuals were allocated to intervention group (received a decision aid) or control group (received standard care). Ratings were then repeated, and further ratings were obtained when the infant was 10 weeks old. The intervention compared with the comparison condition was associated with significant increase in likelihood of immunizing the infant on time, decreased perceptions of risks of immunizations, increased perceptions of risk of the diseases, reduced anxiety, and increased satisfaction. This intervention may form a useful basis for decision aids in health care settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of an educational program on parents with febrile convulsive children

The gastrointestinal form of Chagas disease is characterized by lumenal enlargement and wall thickening of the esophagus and/or colon. Very little is known about the involvement of the immune system in the development of the gastrointestinal form of the disease. In this paper we describe our initial observations on the phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with the gastrointestinal form of Chagas disease. A significant decrease in the absolute number of CD3(+) T cells as well as in CD19(+) B lymphocytes was observed. However, the most striking observation was an inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio, contrasting with results from cardiac chagasic patients in whom the ratio is normal. A decrease of the percentage of CD4(+)CD28(+) cells and an increase in the expression of HLA-DR both on CD4(+) and on CD8(+) cells suggest that although these T cells express activation markers their function may be altered by the lack of CD28 expression.     

Commitment of a cancer organization to a program for training in communication skills

The effects of several pesticides, mammary carcinogens, and antiestrogens on 17beta-estradiol (E2), 16alpha- and 2-hydroxylase activities, and 16alpha-/2-hydroxyestrone (OHE1) ratios were investigated in MCF-7 cells using a radiometric assay. The mammary carcinogens 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), respectively, increased and decreased 16alpha-/2-OHE1 ratios at some concentrations. The 16alpha-/2-OHE1 metabolite ratios for 10(-5) M kepone, atrazine, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane were 1.82 +/- 0.060, 0.71 +/- 0.027, 0.66 +/- 0.030, 1.56 +/- 0.089, 1.14 +/- 0.059, and 0.69 +/- 0.052 (mean +/- standard error), respectively, and did not show any specific trend. The effects of a series of direct and indirect acting antiestrogens on 16alpha-/2-OHE1 metabolite ratios were also investigated, and the results were compound specific. Indole-3-carbinol, tamoxifen, 4'-hydroxytamoxifen, and 9-cis,retinoic acid decreased the ratio; the effects of all trans-retinoic acid and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were concentration dependent; the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 increased the 16alpha-/2-OHE1 metabolite ratio. The results indicate that in MCF-7 cells treated with pesticides, mammary carcinogens, and antiestrogens, there were both increased and decreased 16alpha-/2-OHE1 metabolite ratios for each class of chemicals and the assay did not predict mammary carcinogens.