A transactional model of the influence of a congenital risk variable for first- and second born children on families varying in healthy functioning and of the influence of families on children will be tested. Through testing the model, the relative importance of congenital, sibling, parent-child, marital, parental, and whole family characteristics for behavior problems in children and family coping will be assessed. Through the model, we will assess when socialization is family-driven (family coping remains high, independent of one or two children who vary in risk for congenitally related difficulties) from socialization that is child- driven (families with congenitally one or two easy children cope well while those with congenitally difficult children cope less well.) The need for research on behavior problems in children that encompasses more than one causal mechanism has been recognized increasingly and emphasized in recent reviews. By identifying the relative importance of congenital, sibling, parent- child relationship, marital, parental and whole family characteristics to behavior problems in both first- and second born children, appropriate foci for intervention (either as prevention or treatment) can be identified. There is also a need for information on families with pre-school children from nonclinical populations. The majority of child behavior problems are not brought to the attention of professionals until the child is enrolled in school. Much of the research on the effects of the whole family has come from clinical studies of school-age children or adolescents. No research on marital and family effects on child behavior has focused specifically on young children and none has focused on how congenital risk factors in siblings affect families. The importance of early intervention suggests the need to study this age group. While clinical studies are important, it is also vital to obtain information on a wide range of families in order to put clinical studies in an appropriate context. Research participants are 160 families recruited through radio announcements and newspaper advertisements. Families with firstborns have been observed, have filled out questionnaires on family coping health, and childbearing. The second borns will now be followed for 2 years along with continued assessment of firstborns. Multivariate analyses will examine the joint interaction of sibling congenital characteristics and family measures in predicting behavior problems of both children over four years.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH039899-05
Application #
3377695
Study Section
(LCRA)
Project Start
1985-01-01
Project End
1989-12-31
Budget Start
1989-01-01
Budget End
1989-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Georgia
Department
Type
Sch of Home Econ/Human Ecology
DUNS #
City
Athens
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30602
Deal, James E (2018) Normativity and Desirability in Observational Assessments of Family Interaction. Fam Process :
Halverson, Charles F; Havill, Valerie L; Deal, James et al. (2003) Personality structure as derived from parental ratings of free descriptions of children: the inventory of child individual differences. J Pers 71:995-1026
Deal, J E (1996) Marital conflict and differential treatment of siblings. Fam Process 35:333-46
Deal, J E; Wampler, K S; Halverson Jr, C F (1992) The importance of similarity in the marital relationship. Fam Process 31:369-82
Wampler, K S; Halverson Jr, C F; Moore, J J et al. (1989) The Georgia family Q-sort: an observational measure of family functioning. Fam Process 28:223-38
Deal, J E; Halverson Jr, C F; Wampler, K S (1989) Parental agreement on child-rearing orientations: relations to parental, marital, family, and child characteristics. Child Dev 60:1025-34
Victor, J B; Halverson Jr, C F; Wampler, K S (1988) Family-School context: parent and teacher agreement on child temperament. J Consult Clin Psychol 56:573-7