Association of socio-demographic factors and likelihood of depression with family function among community – dwelling elderly

Background and Objective@#A positive family functionality is a significant factor to a good quality of life in the elderly. This study sought to determine the factors that contribute to family dysfunction among community-dwelling older persons.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was done among community-dwelling elderly ages 60 years old and above through the outpatient department of a tertiary government hospital. A researcher-assisted interview was done to gather socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, family type, and, GDS-S score, and family APGAR. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to determine the association of the said socio-demographic factors and likelihood of depression through GDS-S with family function through family APGAR.@*Results@#Among the 309 respondents, the average age of respondents was 69 years(SD=6.53), with female predominance of 61.8%, and a higher frequency of older persons belonging to an extended family. The mean GDS-S score is 1.69(SD=1.83), with a frequency of 13.9%. A very minimal percentage of 8.06% (25, N=309) showed to exhibit family dysfunction. Regression studies revealed association of advancing age, and female sex with family dysfunction. The type of family, and GDS-S are not significantly associated with family dysfunction.@*Conclusion@#Advancing age and female sex are associated with family dysfunction. There is no specific family type that is significantly associated with family dysfunction. Likelihood of depression does not necessarily imply family dysfunction in an elderly.

Family APGAR and treatment outcomes among HIV patients at two ART Centers in Kumasi, Ghana

objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve (Family APGAR) and HIV treatment outcomes. Design: A cross-sectional study using the Family APGAR questionnaire Setting: The study was conducted in Kumasi, Ghana, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital Participants: Consenting HIV-positive patients who had been on treatment for at least 12 months were recruited. Main outcome measures: The Family APGAR questionnaire was administered, and relevant data were extracted from hospital records and analysed using STATA® software. The relationship between Family APGAR and treatment outcomes was determined using Chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact test. Results: Approximately 70.1% of 304 participants were females with a mean age of 41.8 years (±9.9). At treatment initiation, 47.4% of the patients presented at World Health Organisation (WHO) clinical stages I and II and had a CD4 count ≥ 200 cells/mm3 . Females were less likely (Odds Ratio= 0.52; 95% CI=0.31 ­ 0.90, p = 0.018) to report late for treatment compared with the males. After 12 months of treatment, approximately 70% recorded undetectable viral load. Patients with functional families constituted 70.4%, which had a statistically significant relationship with viral load (p = 0.041). Conclusion: HIV care providers should incorporate family functionality evaluation into clinical practice and provide early essential support to enhance treatment outcomes

Association of Family APGAR on the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KD-QOL) among Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients on Hemodialysis (HD) in Southern Isabela Medical Center

Introduction@#Chronic non-communicable disease are illnesses that require attention throughout life and they require people to make major changes to adapt their lives to these conditions: both for the patient and the patient’s family. The onset of endstage renal disease and subsequent recommendation of dialysis as a treatment option involves a change in lifestyle for both patients and close persons. Dialysis for chronic kidney disease patients can seriously impair patients’ health-related quality of life, strain resources, cause caregiver strain and drive a family to dysfunction.@*Objective@#This study aimed to determine if there was an association between the Family APGAR and kidney disease quality of life (KD-QOL) among these hemodialysis (HD) patients of Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC).@*Methods@#This is a cross-sectional, analytical study design. After consent was secured, the KDQOL Short Form version 1.3 questionnaire and Family APGAR tool were given to HD patients of SIMC from May 15 to June 15, 2020. The descriptive statistics (frequency and weighted mean) and Pearson product-moment correlation were used thru IBM SPSS™ for Windows™ version 20.@*Results@#One hundred three HD patients were included in the study. Most of the participants were males (58%), single (62%), Asian/Pacific Islanders by complexion (40%), high school graduates (32%), disabled (24%), and were insured by PhilHealth and other institutions (78%). Most of the participants had diabetes mellitus (26%) and hypertension (24%) as co-morbidities. Majority of the participants responded affirmatively with little health limitations and restrictions from various daily life activities. The extent of the participants’ varied feelings in the past 4 weeks were felt “some of the time”. The participants’ perception on their health were ambivalent whether they felt sick or healthy. The participants also “don’t know” whether their condition interferes too much with their life. However, they were “moderately bothered” in terms of physical symptoms. They also felt that their condition “moderately bothered” some aspects in their daily lives. They were “somewhat satisfied” with the support of the family and friends, and “moderately satisfied with the services rendered by the HD staff of SIMC.@*Conclusion and Recommendation@#The study determined the clinical profile of 103 patients with CKD on HD and the relationship of KD-QOL to Family APGAR scores. The analysis showed that the relationship between overall Family APGAR score and KD-QOL score was inversely very weak and statistically non-significant (r = -0.005, n = 103, p = 0.947). It is recommend that similar studies be conducted from various HD centers to validate the findings of this study and explore more areas of understanding the HD patients’ coping mechanism/s that could affect the QOL perception. Lastly, caregiver strain can also be conducted among family members of HD patients.

Association between perceived family functionality and teenage pregnancies

Background@#Teenage pregnancy is a public health concern because of its increasing incidence and its dire consequences. Numerous studies document the role of family in initiating sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, but there is a lack of studies that assess the effects of families and peers on teenage sexual behavior in the Philippines.@*Objective@#To determine the association between perceived family functionality as measured by the Family APGAR and teenage pregnancy in selected barangays in District 2, Quezon City, Philippines@*Methodology@#The study enrolled 233 women who are residents of Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas in Quezon City. Cases consisted of 133 women aged 18 to 24 years at the time of the interview who have become pregnant in 2011-2016, while they were 13 to 19 years old, while controls (N=100) were similar but had never been pregnant before age 20. Consecutive respondents who consented to participate in the study were enrolled and interviewed using the Filipino version of the Family APGAR. Respondents were then classified as having functional or dysfunctional families. Odds ratio was computed to determine the relationship between family functionality and teenage pregnancy.@*Results@#Family dysfunction based on the Family APGAR score was significantly associated with increased risk of teenage pregnancy with an OR 16.69, 1.93-144 (p=0.010) along with having both parents as caregivers with an OR of 29.69, 2.46-345, and teenage pregnancy in the mother with an OR of 15.87, 2.006-125.@*Conclusion@#Perception of dysfunction in the family based on the Family APGAR score, having both parents as caregivers and teenage pregnancy in the mother are associated with teenage pregnancy. Future researches should investigate the interactions of these factors but targeting family functionality may be key to curbing teenage pregnancies.

Influence of Family Communication and Family Function to their Body Mass Index among Medical Students / 의료커뮤니케이션

BACKGROUND: Association between obesity and family communication was a controversial issue in previous studies. Previous studies were done on adolescents and adults in overall. This study was done to figure out association between obesity of medical school students specifically and their family function including communication and to help them on the treatment of obese patients.METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was filled in by 97 medical school students in Busan. They were asked to answer forty different questions including their height and weight. Association between BMI and family communication was studied using FACE III, Family APGAR and KOBES.RESULTS: Among 97 correspondents, 30 of them were found to be overweight to obese. There was a significant difference in number of siblings, amount of food intake, meal time and recent weight reduction trial among overweight-obese group and normal group. The mean Family APGAR score of normal group was higher than overweight-obese group. Flexibility and connectivity score in FACE III of normal group was also higher than overweight-obese group. Among all the factors considered, recent weight reduction trial was the only factor that was statistically significant in accordance with normal weight.CONCLUSION: There was significant relation between flexibility and connectivity of family function with overweight and obesity. In order to investigate further relation and significance on separate gender, larger study samples are needed. Future studies are suggested regarding gender differences on relationship between overweight-obesity and family function in medical school students.

Psychometric Study of the Depression, Anxiety and family Dysfunction Scales in Students at Universidad Industrial de Santander / Estudo psicométrico das escalas de depressão, ansiedade e funcionalidade familiar em estudantes da Universidade Industrial de Santander / Estudio psicométrico de las escalas de depresión, ansiedad y funcionalidad familiar en estudiantes de la Universidad Industrial de Santander

Abstract The aim of this research is to study the psychometric properties of Zung's and Apgar's Questionnaires for Depression and Anxiety, applied by the División de Bienestar Universitario de la UIS (DBU, for its Spanish acronym), a division in charge of students' welfare at UIS. The questionnaires were applied as part of a comprehensive assessment of admitted students, oriented to an early diagnosis of risk factors that may influence their academic performance. The sample consisted of a group of 3614 students admitted to the 2013 and 2014 cohorts, ages between 15 and 56 years. The psychometric properties of the instruments were verified and the results were compared by gender and age. Confidential levels of 0,85, 0,842 and 0,875 were observed for anxiety, depression and Family Apgar Scales, respectively. Only the item 6 of the depression test was eliminated since it did not show an adequate discrimination level. Spearman lineal correlation between anxiety and depression was r = 0,76 and, r = 0,526 between Family Apgar and depression. Those values indicate adequate convergent and divergent validity. Once psychometric validity was verified, results were used to establish a comparison with clinical diagnoses obtained from general and specialized psychiatric consultation carried out by DBU. Sensitivity levels of 70% for anxiety and depression and 67% for Family Apgar tests were found. Finally, higher anxiety and depression were found in the women's group compared to the men's, and a similar level of family dysfunction in both groups. No significant differences were observed between students' age groups.

Resumo Estudaram-se as propriedades psicométricas dos questionários de depressão e ansiedade de Zung e o APGAR familiar. aplicados pela Divisão de Bem-estar Universitário (DBU) da Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS). como parte da avaliação integral dos estudantes admitidos para o diagnóstico precoce de transtornos que pudessem influir em seu desempenho acadêmico. Tomou-se uma amostra de 3614 estudantes com idades entre 15 e 56 anos que ingressaram nas turmas de 2013 e 2014. Verificaram-se as propriedades psicométricas dos instrumentos. e os resultados foram comparados segundo sexo e idade. Observaram-se níveis de fiabilidade de .85. .842 e .875 para as escalas de ansiedade. depressão e APGAR familiar respectivamente. ainda que se tenha solicitado a modificação da escala de depressão com a eliminação do item 6. A correlação linear de Spearman entre ansiedade e depressão foi de r = .76. e de r = - .526 entre o APGAR familiar e depressão. o que indica uma adequada validade convergente e divergente. Ao comparar os diagnósticos clínicos realizados na consulta geral de psicologia e na consulta especializada de psiquiatria realizada pela Seção Serviços Integrais de Saúde da DBU com as pontuações das provas. observaram-se níveis de sensibilidade de 70. 67 e 67 % em ansiedade. depressão e APGAR familiar. respectivamente. Finalmente. constatou-se que em média as mulheres apresentaram maiores pontuações de ansiedade e depressão em comparação com os homens. e uma funcionalidade familiar similar entre ambos os sexos. sem diferenças significativas por idade.

Resumen Se estudiaron las propiedades psicométricas de los cuestionarios de depresión y ansiedad de Zung y el APGAR familiar, aplicados por la División de Bienestar Universitario (DBU) de la Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS). como parte de la evaluación integral de los estudiantes admitidos para el diagnóstico temprano de trastornos que puedieran influir en su desempeño académico. Se tomó una muestra de 3614 estudiantes con edades entre 15 y 56 años que ingresaron en las cohortes de 2013 y 2014. Se verificaron las propiedades psicométricas de los instrumentos. y los resultados fueron comparados según sexo y edad. Se observaron niveles de confiabilidad de .85. .842 y .875 para las escalas de ansiedad. depresión y APGAR Familiar. respectivamente. aunque se requirió la modificación de la escala de depresión con la eliminación del ítem 6. La correlación lineal de Spearman entre ansiedad y depresión fue de r = .76. y de r = - .526 entre el APGAR familiar y depresión. lo que indica una adecuada validez convergente y divergente. Al comparar los diagnósticos clínicos realizados en la consulta general de psicología y la consulta especializada de psiquiatría realizada por la Sección Servicios Integrales de Salud de la DBU con los puntajes de las pruebas. se observaron niveles de sensibilidad de 70. 67 y 67 % en ansiedad. depresión y APGAR familiar. respectivamente. Finalmente. se encontró que en promedio las mujeres presentaron mayores puntajes de ansiedad y depresión en comparación con los hombres. y una funcionalidad familiar similar entre ambos sexos. sin diferencias significativas por edad.

Survey of Family Function in Rehabilitative Breast Cancer Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To investigate the conditions of family function of rehabilitative breast cancer patients and its related factors. Methods Self-administrated questionnaire and the family APGAR (adaptation, partnership, growth, affection, resolve) index questionnaire were used in 245 breast cancer patients to investigate their general and illness information, and their family APGAR index. The factors relat-ed with the family function of breast cancer patients were analyzed. Results The APGAR score of the participants was (7.51±1.17), and the condition of family was graded from good (73.5%), moderate impairment (21.2%) to severs impairment (5.3%). The multiple regression analysis found that the stage of the disease (β=-9.671), the condition of marriage (β=8.29) and their social activities (β=7.402) related with the APGAR index in rehabilitative breast cancer patients. Conclusion The family function needs attention, especially the metastasis ones in breast cancer patients. A healthy marriage and beneficial socialization contribute to keep good family function.

Tipificación del tipo de disfunción familiar de un barrio vulnerable de la ciudad de Ibagué-Tolima / Typification of the type of family dysfunction in a vulnerable neighborhood in the city of Ibagué-Tolima

Esta investigación tipifica posibles niveles de disfunción en familias vulnerables de un barrio en la ciudad del Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia, a través del APGAR familiar que evalúa la satisfacción a través de la adaptación, participación, ganancia o crecimiento, afecto y recursos. Se encontró una buena función familiar (44,4%), disfunción moderada (22,2%), disfunción familiar severa (18,5%) y disfunción familiar leve (14,8%).

This research typifies possible levels of dysfunction in vulnerable families in a neighborhood in the city of Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia, through the family APGAR that assesses satisfaction through adaptation, participation, gain or growth, affection and resources. Good family function (44.4%), moderate dysfunction (22.2%), severe family dysfunction (18.5%) and mild family dysfunction (14.8%) were found.

Niveles de disfunción familiar, en veinte mujeres victimas de violencia intrafamiliar en el municipio de Armenia / Family dysfuntion levels in twenty women, victims of intrafamily violence, in the municipality of Armenia

Esta investigación pretende encontrar posibles niveles de disfunción familiar en las familias de 20 mujeres víctimas de violencia intrafamiliar en la ciudad de Armenia - Quindío, para lo cual se aplicó el APGAR familiar, el cual evalúa la satisfacción respecto a 5 variables: adaptación, participación, ganancia o crecimiento, afecto y recursos. El estudio encontró que las familias presentan disfunción leve (35%), moderada (30%) y severa (20%), mientras un porcentaje muy bajo tiene buena función familiar (15%); lo anterior indica una correlación importante entre violencia intrafamiliar y disfunción familiar, condición que disminuye la calidad de vida del núcleo familiar, alterando los roles, los modos de expresión afectiva y la interiorización de lo normativo.

This research aims to find possible levels of family dysfunction in families of 20 women victims of domestic violence in the city of Armenia - Quindío, which applied the family Apgar. It evaluates satisfaction with respect to 5 variables: adaptation, participation, gain or growth, affection and resources. The study found that the 35% families have mild dysfunction, 30% moderate dysfunction, and 20% severe dysfunction, while a very low percentage has good family function, which represents 15%. This indicates a significant correlation between intrafamily violence and family dysfunction, a condition that reduces the family unit's quality of life, altering roles, modes of emotional expression, and the internalization of norms.

Caracterización de la funcionalidad familiar y redes sociales en desplazados por la violencia en localidades de Bogotá DC: año 2007, bajo los lineamientos de medicina familiar / Characterization of family and social networks of violence-related displaced populations at locations in Bogotá DC, 2007, under the guidelines of family medicine

Introducción: Bogotá DC como capital de Colombia es el receptor del mayor flujo migratorio de población desplazada por causa de la violencia, son individuos o grupos familiares con crisis no esperadas, que requieren una atención integral para restituir su bienestar biopsicosocial. Objetivo: caracterizar la funcionalidad, ciclo vital familiar e identificar las redes sociales existentes, por medio de instrumentos de medicina familiar, de una población desplazada por la violencia, en algunas localidades de Bogotá DC. durante el año 2007. Métodos: con la información de las carpetas familiares del convenio de la Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS) y ASCOFAME, se realizó un subanálisis de la información en un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en el cual se describen las características demográficas y la funcionalidad familiar medida por instrumentos debidamente validados (APGAR familiar), así como la valoración de las redes sociales existentes en familias desplazadas por la violencia, certificadas por el gobierno de Colombia, en tres localidades de Bogotá DC.: Engativá, Mártires y San Cristóbal. Resultados: se describen las características de 795 familias con 3.815 individuos. La edad promedio fue 22 años (de 17), la mayor proporción de la población proviene de la zona Andina (49,9%) y Caribe (18,9%). El 53,5% de las familias tenían hijos adolescentes y escolares. Con el puntaje de APGAR se encontraron 40,7% familias funcionales, 27% con disfunción familiar leve, 20,8% moderada y 11,5% con disfunción severa. Conclusiones: la mayoría de las familias desplazadas mostraron por medio del APGAR familiar aplicado a un miembro, ser disfuncionales en cualquier grado predominando la disfunción leve. La severa se asocia con desempleo y ausencia de recreación en el núcleo familiar.

Introduction: As the capital city of Colombia, Bogotá DC. is the major receptor of population migration resulting from violence. These are individuals or family groups who experience non expected crises and need comprehensive assistance in order to recover their biological/psychosocial well-being. Objective: to characterize family function and vital cycle and to identify existing social networks by means of family medicine instruments applied on a violence-related displaced population in some locations of Bogotá DC. during year 2007. Methods: a subgroup analysis was performed using data of family files of Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS) and ASCOFAME Agreement by means of a cross sectional descriptive trial. It describes demographic features and family function measured with duly validated instruments (Family APGAR), as well as, the assessment of current social networks in Colombian-government-certified violence-related displaced families in three locations: Engativá, Mártires and San Cristóbal. Results: the characteristics of 795 families and 3815 individuals are described. Mean age was 22 years (of 17). The greatest proportion of the studied population came from the Andean zone (49.9%) and the Caribbean (18.9%). Adolescents and elementary-school-aged children were found in 53.5% of families. Using the Family APGAR instrument, 40.7% were classified as functional families, 27% as having mild dysfunction, 20.8% moderate and 11.5% severe dysfunction. Conclusions: any degree of dysfunction was identified in most of the displaced families, predominantly mild dysfunction, when the Family APGAR instrument was completed by one of their members. Severe dysfunction is related to unemployment and to lack of recreation within family nucleus.

Influential factors on mental health of rural left-behind middle school students: family APGAR index and perceived social support / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To find out the differences between left-behind and non left-behind junior middle school students (JMSS) on family APGAR index (APGAR),perceived social support (PSSS) and mental health (MH);and to analysis the relationship among APGAR,PSSS and MH of left-behind JMSS.Methods 2406 JMSS in rural areas were assessed in Hunan,using self-designed Demographic Data Recording Form,Family AP-GAR Index,Perceived Social Support Scale and Scale of Mental Health for Chinese Middle-school Student.Results Left-behind JMSS' PSSS(59.27±11.78 vs 60.55±11.88,P=0.009),family support (19.12±4.69 vs 19.72±4.59,P=0.012),other support (20.29±4.59 vs 20.69±4.57,P=0.033) were lower;APGAR ((4.79±2.32 vs 5.08±2.46,P=0.014) and Adaptation (0.77±0.62 vs 0.87±0.62,P=0.001) lower;mental health status score higher (2.18±0.56 vs 2.07±0.57,P=0.000) than non-left-behind JMSS.APGAR was signifi-cantly correlated with PSSS(r=0.368,P<0.000) ;APGAR (r=-0.098),in which Adapt;on (r=-0.123),Growth (r=-0.074) and qmidu (r=-0.080,PSSS (r=-0.149),in which family support (r=-0.151),friend support(r=-0.089) and other support (r=-0.137)were significantly correlated with MH of left-behind JMSS(P<0.01),family support (β=-0.126) and adaption (β=-0.086)entered the multiple linear regression equation,which can explained 16.2% of the changes on mental health(F=20.049,P=0.000).Conclusion In order to improve mental health of JMSS,parents,caregivers,should give them more family care,schools and soci-ety should pay more attention to left-behind JMSS,and give them more help and a health environment in life,teach them to find social support and solve problems in life by them through a series of mental health education.

Family Function and Children of Alcoholics Screening Test Score in High School Students

BACKGROUND: Parent's alcohol drinking not only influences their health but also their children. This research was designed to assess the family function of children who were affected by parent's alcohol drinking. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was performed on 208 high school students (129 males and 79 females) in Daejeon from March to April, 2005. We defined the students whose CAST (Children of Alcoholics Screening Test) score was 6 or more as children of alcoholics (COA) group. Then, we evaluated the family function by family APGAR score between the COA group and the control group. RESULTS: Among the total, 36 (27.9%) male and 27 (34.1%) female students were in COA group. There was a significant (P<0.01) negative correlation between the CAST score and the family APGAR score in all students. In boys, there was no significant correlation between the CAST score and the family APGAR score, but in girls, there was significant negative correlation (P<0.01). Mean family APGAR score of the COA group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the control group in all students. In boys, there was no significant difference, but in girls, the COA group's family APGAR score was significantly lower than the control group's score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The high school students, especially girl students, who were affected by parent's alcohol drinking showed a lower family APGAR score. Therefore, family physicians need to evaluate the family function when encountering students similar to COA group.

Association between family APGAR and depression for one university freshmen

BACKGROUND: Though many adolescents are suffering from depression in Korea, there have been few studies about the prevalence of it and depressive adolescents are not managed appropriately yet because of ignorance of the society and family. This study was intended to find out college freshmen's prevalence of depression, and the relationship between family function and depression. METHODS: The subjects were college freshmen of one university both in Seoul and Suwon and the study period was from January to February on 1999. Family APGAR was used as a family function index and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure the degree of depression. Chi square tests and logistic regression were done for analysis using SPSS 8.0/PC program. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression among college freshmen was 1.5%(37 out of 2465) as of BDI score 21 or more. Depression was more common in the families with low Family APGAR score and those in Suwon campus. No significant differences were found in gender, age, blood pressure, blood type, BMI, present illness, number of families, marital status of parents or siblings. Relative risks of depression were 4.5 times for family dysfunction group and 2.6 times for Suwon campus group. CONCLUSION: Depression is not a rare disease among college freshmen. Therefore, family physician as a primary care physician should consider the possibility of depression among adolescence and screen depression using BDI for adolescents in dyfunctional family particularly.

The influence of family functioning on psychosocial dysfunction in children

BACKGROUND: A large number of children with psychosocial dysfunction are not recognized within schools or primary care settings. In several research, an increasing amount of attention has been paid to the importance of low family support as a predictor of psychosocial dysfunction in children. Our study examined the agreement and relationship between the lack of family support as measured by the Family APGAR and child psychosocial dysfunction as screened by the Pediatric Symptom Checklist(PSC). Therefore, We studied the usefulness of Family APGAR as a screening tool of child psychosocial dysfunction. METHODS: We set 643 children that are engaged in elementary school. We gave a questionnaire to their parents and made them record the questionnaire which contained the sociodemographic data, past history of child and parents, the Family APGAR and the translated Pediatric Symptom Checklist(PSC). Finally, we analysed only 506 complete data. We use the SAS/PC 6.12 that is a statistical analysis program. RESULTS: Children with a lack of family support(APGAR) were 5.1 times as likely to receive scores indicating dysfunction on the PSC(PSC). Families with a lack of support were significantly more likely to report low parental educational achievement and low income. Sixty percent of children from families with a lack of support were identified as having a psychosocial dysfunction by the PSC rating; however, only 24% percent of the children identified with psychosocial dysfunction by the PSC had scores indicating poor family functioning on the Family APGAR. Families with a lack of support had significantly higher total scores on PSC(mean=20.2) than families with adequate support(mean=11.9). The strength of the agreement between the Family APGAR and the PSC was k=.29. CONCLUSION: A lack of family support is associated with child psychosocial dysfunction as assessed by the PSC. However, the Family APGAR was not a sensitive measure of child psychosocial dysfunction, and thus it supplements, but does not replace the PSC.

A study on family function of the patients with psychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders have been known to occur by the interaction of biologic, psychologic and social factors. A family can affect the occurrence of psychiatric disorders as a primary social factor. On the other hand, psychiatric disorders can affect family function. There fore, we studied to compare family function between the families of psychiatric inpatients and those of normal persons, using Family APGAR and FACES III. METHODS: Between July 1, 1999 and August 31, 1999, we examined the subject group as 40 relatives to visit psychiatric inpatient and the control group as 40 persons whose family members did not have chronic diseases or psychiatric disorders, using questionnaire of socio-demographic factors and family function. RESULTS: Family APGAR scores in subject group were lower than those of control group, but not statistically different. But the degrees of 'Partnership' of the Family APGAR in subject group were significantly lower than those of control group.(P<0.05) Adaptability scores of FACES III in two groups were not different. Cohesion scores of FACES III in subject group were lower than those of control group but not statistically different. The Family APGAR scores in the families of the schizophrenics were significantly lower than those of control group. The duration of psychiatric disorders did not affect family function. CONCLUSION: The family function of subject group was worsened but not statistically different. But in the families of the schizophrenics, the Family APGAR scores were significantly lower than those of control group. Therefore, we should consider serious family dysfunction in the families of schizophrenics.