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Biomedical subjects

A M Meijer

Publications and source records attributed to A M Meijer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Relations between parenting and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviour in early adolescence: child behaviour as moderator and predictor.

In this longitudinal study we investigated relations between parenting and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviour during early adolescence. First, we examined parenting effects on problem behaviour, including child behaviour as a moderator. Second, we examined child behaviour as predictor of parenting, also including moderator effects. A total of 650 13- to 14-year-olds filled out the Youth Self-Report and questionnaires about parenting at two times within a one-year interval. Relations between parenting and problem behaviour appeared to be stronger for externalizing than for internalizing problem behaviour. Both parenting effects and child effects were found. Parenting significantly predicted an increase in externalizing problem behaviour one year later. Adolescent's previous level of problem behaviour predicted changes in parenting (involvement and decisional autonomy granting). In addition, parental and child characteristics interacted in predicting outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Mental health, parental rules and sleep in pre-adolescents.

A health-sleep model concerning the relationship of mental health and parental rules with time in bed and sleep quality has been developed on the basis of survey data collected from 448 children in the first trimester of the regular school year. The children had a mean age of about 11 years and were attending last two grades of primary school. The relations between mental health characteristics, parental rules concerning sleep, sleep environment, sleep quality and time in bed are analysed using a structural equation model. In addition to a latent variable for 'mental health', two uncorrelated latent variables had to be introduced for sleep to achieve a satisfactory fit. One latent variable is related to sleep quality (restorative sleep), and the other relates to lying awake in bed prior to sleep (awake in bed). Restorative sleep shows a strong relationship with mental health, and awake in bed is related to having an own bedroom.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Time in bed, quality of sleep and school functioning of children.

This study describes the relationship of time in bed and quality of sleep with concentration and functioning at school. Neurotic and psychosomatic symptoms have been used as control variables. The sample consisted of 449 Dutch children in the seventh and eighth grades of elementary school. The age of the children varied between 9 y 5 mo and 14 y 5 mo. Seven schools participated in the research, with a total of 18 classes. The results indicated that 43% of the children had difficulty getting up in the morning. Furthermore, 15% of the children reported sleep problems and 25% did not feel rested at school. Time in bed and sleep quality show no relationship with concentration. Sleep quality, feeling rested at school and less distinct bedtimes were clearly related to school functioning. Another result was that children who had no difficulty getting up displayed more achievement motivation. Being open to the teacher's influence and achievement motivation depended mainly on sleep characteristics. Not getting bored at school, self-image as a pupil and control over aggressive behaviour were also influenced by gender, age, neuroticism and neurosomaticism.

Achievement↗
PubMed1995

The excitation-adaptation model of pediatric chronic illness.

This article examines the value of the psychosomatic family model for the study of chronically ill children. Four conceptual problems arise in the discussion of this model: the unidirectional causality of the model; the function of the sick child for the family system; the pathology of the family characteristics; and the disease type. In the present study, we propose (a) that a distinction be made between uncontrolled and controlled forms of disease, and (b) that the family characteristics of "cohesion" and "adaptation" be examined in relation to the parental capacity for problem solving and the acceptance or rejection of the child by the parents. This is shown by means of empirical research. In this empirical study, 20 families with a child suffering from controlled asthma are compared with 20 families with a child suffering from uncontrolled asthma. Contrary to the assumptions derived from the psychosomatic family model, the results show significantly more cohesion and structure in the group with a child suffering from controlled asthma. The findings from this study are integrated in a new model for the study of chronic childhood illness--"the excitation-adaptation model." In this model, two circular processes are emphasized involving (a) the progress of the illness and the way in which parents and child deal with medication and medical advice (therapy compliance), and (b) the factors influencing the therapy compliance on the part of the parents, the family, and the child. By studying these factors in connection with the management of the illness, it should become clear whether family characteristics are adaptive or pathological.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Intractable or uncontrolled asthma: psychosocial factors.

The purpose of this study was to address the question of why, when there is a comparable severity of asthma, medical facilities, and treatments, some children develop controlled asthma whereas other children do not and are frequently ill. The major research questions pertained to whether families with a child with uncontrolled asthma differ from families with a child with controlled asthma as regards family characteristics and child-rearing attitudes, whether particular psychosocial variables relate to the severity of the asthma, and whether the interaction between the severity of the asthma and its controllability may clarify the role of psychosocial variables. Two studies were conducted, in which 70 asthmatic children (age range 9-15 years) and their families participated. The children and their caregivers were presented with measures assessing parental child-rearing attitudes, the problem-solving abilities of the caregivers, family functioning, and emotional disorders in the asthmatic children. Contrary to the assumptions derived from the psychosomatic family model, the findings of these studies suggest, among other things, that cohesion of family members and rigid manner of function of caregivers may have a positive rather than a negative influence on the welfare of the asthmatic child. In addition, controlled asthma was found to relate to the correct use of medication, which was predominantly evident in more structured and interdependent family environments. Of major importance is the conclusion that a distinction between controlled and uncontrolled asthma leads to a better insight into the role of psychosomatic variables than a distinction on the basis of the severity of the asthma.

Asthma↗