Background: Knowledge about family support systems available for Jordanian families of children with cerebral palsy (CP) is limited due to the lack of culturally valid measures of family support. The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Family Support Scale (A-FSS) were examined. Methods: Parents of 115 children with CP who were…

This article includes a description of a family-systems model for implementing early childhood and family support assessment and intervention practices. The model includes both conceptual and operational principles that link theory, research, and practice. Lessons learned from more than 20 years of research and practice have been used to revise…

The extent to which the influences of family-systems intervention practices could be traced to variations in parent-child interactions and child development was investigated by meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM). MASEM is a procedure for producing a weighted pooled correlation matrix and fitting a structural equation model to the…

In a study of 137 parents of mentally retarded, physically impaired, and developmentally at-risk children, hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed more supportive social networks were associated with better personal well-being, more positive attitudes, and more positive influences on parent-child play opportunities and child behavior and…

The study, with 47 mothers and their young children with handicaps, found that personal and family well-being, and to a lesser extent social support, were significantly related to child behavior characteristics, and that well-being and child behavior characteristics were significantly related to child progress. (Author/DB)

A meta-analysis of 47 studies investigating the relationship between family-centered helpgiving practices and parent, family, and child behavior and functioning is reported. The studies included more than 11,000 participants from seven different countries. Data analysis was guided by a practice-based theory of family-centered helpgiving that…

This study of 88 mothers of children with mental retardation, physical disabilities, or developmental risk found that, although biocultural factors such as employment and marital status have differential influences on parent, child, and family functioning, intrafamily role sharing and extrafamily support available to mothers can buffer possible…

Two newly developed instruments being used in a number of studies examining the influences of intrafamily and extrafamily resources and supports on parent, family, and child functioning are described. The instruments are the Personal Assessment of Life Events (PALE) Scale, developed by C. M. Trivette and others (1988), and the Personal Assessment…

Mothers (n=45) of developmentally delayed young children were surveyed concerning family resources, personal well-being, and adherence to professionally prescribed child-level interventions. Adequacy of resources was related to both well-being and intervention commitment, even after the effects of maternal age, socioeconomic status, and child age…