Journal of Family Nursing

The aim of this study was to examine factors that influenced the perceptions of mental health nurses about involving families in their nursing practice. A sample of 175 Taiwanese mental health nurses who are employed in both inpatient and community settings completed structured questionnaires designed to measure empathy, attitudes about involving families in care, and perceptions of family nursing practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, t test, one-way ANOVA, and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Positive perceptions of family nursing practice were correlated with more years of clinical experience in mental health, empathy, supportive attitudes toward the importance of family nursing care, and personal experiences with family members with serious illness in need of professional care. These findings may assist in the development of effective educational programs designed to help nurses integrate family nursing knowledge and skills in the care of patients and families experiencing mental illness.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among Japanese long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). Subjects comprised 185 adolescent and young adult (AYA) CCSs who completed anonymous self-report questionnaires. Attending physicians also completed an anonymous disease/treatment data sheet. Mean age of survivors was approximately 8 years at diagnosis and 23 years at participation. Multiple regression analysis showed that family functioning, satisfaction with social support, being female, and interactions between family functioning and gender and age at the time of diagnosis were associated with PTSS among survivors. This study revealed family functioning as the most predictive factor of PTSS among AYA CCSs in Japan. Even when the survivor may have unchangeable risk factors, family functioning can potentially moderate the effects on PTSS. Thus, it is crucial for health professionals to carefully monitor and attend to survivors’ experiences of family functioning to mitigate PTSS.

More than 60 million Americans provide care to a family member; roughly two thirds are women providing care to aging mothers. Despite the protective nature of relationship quality, little attention has been given to its role in mother–daughter care dyads, particularly in mothers without cognitive impairment. A systematic appraisal of peer-reviewed, English language research was conducted. Nineteen articles met criteria. When relationship quality is positive, mother–daughter dyads enjoy rewards and mutuality, even when conflict occurs. Daughters grow more emotionally committed to mothers’ over the care trajectory, despite increasing demands. Daughters’ commitment deepens as mothers physically decline, and mothers remain engaged, emotional partners. When relationship quality is ambivalent or negative, burden, conflict, and blame conspire, creating a destructive cycle. Avenues for continuing study, including utilizing the dyad as the unit of analysis, troubled dyads, longitudinal assessment, and end of life context, are needed before interventions to improve mother–daughter relationship quality may be successfully implemented.

Among developed countries, the reported prevalence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) varies from 16 to 150 per 100,000. Previous reviews have identified risks faced by children with chronic conditions and indicate a relationship between parent/family characteristics and child adaptation. This analysis provides a mixed-methods synthesis of 29 research reports addressing the intersection of family life and JIA. Data were extracted using a structured template, and effect sizes were calculated for reported relationships between variables. Results were coded using a scheme that differentiated types of family factors. Meta-analysis revealed a moderately strong positive relationship between parent and child psychological functioning, and a medium negative relationship between family conflict and child psychosocial well-being, and parental depression and child physical functioning. Thematic analysis of qualitative results identified parenting challenges related to pain management and regimen demands. Results indicate that interventions to enhance parenting competence and family relationships may improve caregiver and patient outcomes.