Biomedical subjects

S Kools

Publications and source records attributed to S Kools.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Child sexual abuse treatment: misinterpretation and mismanagement of child sexual behavior.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine caregiver understanding of the impact of child sexual abuse and the management of abused children in residential treatment. METHODS: A purposive sample of 20 registered nurses and child care workers were interviewed about their experiences working in residential treatment and their knowledge about child development and child sexual abuse and its application to practice. Data from interviews and field notes were analysed using dimensional analysis. FINDINGS: Caregivers had limited knowledge of the sequelae of child sexual abuse. Developmentally appropriate behaviour of sexually abused children, as well as behavioural manifestations of child sexual abuse, were often misinterpreted and mismanaged. CONCLUSION: Residential care of sexually abused children should be based on sound developmental principles and caregiver sensitivity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Prevention of mental health problems in adolescence.

Mental health problems in adolescence are noteworthy in that they are outside of the normative adolescent developmental experience. Twenty percent of adolescents in the United States experience significant and persistent mental disorders, which indicates the need for prevention and early intervention. The purpose of this chapter is to review research on the prevention of mental health problems in adolescence. Various sociocontextual factors that place an adolescent at risk for mental health problems are examined. In particular, studies that identify risk factors for problems common to adolescence, including depression, suicide, and disorders of conduct and eating are reviewed. Evaluative research on prevention and early intervention programs in this substantive area are also critically reviewed. A summative report and critique on the state of research in this area is given along with suggestions for future research. A call for the active involvement of nursing in this research agenda is made.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Methodological considerations in children's focus groups.

Focus groups are a well-known qualitative approach to gathering data in health science research. The literature on focus groups, however, primarily discusses adults as subjects. Unfortunately, the scant reports of studies using children as participants in focus groups have not described their methods in detail. This article discusses the use of children (age 6-12) in focus groups, and highlights methodological considerations in this approach, with particular attention to the integration of developmental principles. Focus groups with children can capture their perspectives, original ideas, and insights, which are often neglected in more traditional pediatric research. Focus groups can also serve as an innovative approach to understanding children's experiences from a developmental perspective. Further, focus groups free children and investigator from the data-gathering limitations placed by literacy/reading levels that plague quantitative methods using self-report. By using relatively homogeneous groups, common cultural, emotional, and cognitive processes and responses are revealed that normally would not come to light in structured data collection. Focus groups offer a rich, interactive and developmentally effective approach to planning, content and evaluation in research with children.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-protection in adolescents in foster care.

PROBLEM: Adolescents in long-term foster care experience significant health and mental health problems. Little is known about their perceptions of the impact of foster care. METHOD: Seventeen adolescents were interviewed in their foster group homes. Dimensional analysis was used to develop theory on the impact of foster care. FINDINGS: Adolescents in foster care engaged in self-protection strategies secondary to experiences of devaluation and uncertainty in foster care, including guarding foster child status, maintaining a defensive posture, distancing self, and keeping relationships superficial. Self-protection resulted in a veneer of self-reliance and social detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies are suggested to address devaluing experiences and promote positive identity development in foster care.

Adaptation, Psychological↗