Caregivers and interventionists: Developing a Dual Role Behaviors Scale for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders.

The integration of the roles of caregivers and interventionists is important in parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, an instrument to measure dual-role behaviors is unavailable. This study developed and validated the Dual Role Behaviors Scale for parents of autistic children (DRBS-A). Initial items were generated using the interview transcripts of a previous qualitative study. The initial scale was administered to 422 parents. Data were randomly halved to generate Samples 1 and 2. Exploratory factor analysis conducted using Sample 1 (autism spectrum disorder = 216) screened items based on factor loadings and explored the scale's structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted with Sample 2 (N = 206) examined structural validity. Among the participants, 121 (Sample 3) derived from the two samples were followed up after 1 month to examine the test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was examined with another sample of 105 parents (Sample 4). The formal version of the DRBS-A comprised 20 items across four dimensions: parental acceptance, parental disengagement, persistence in interventions, and punishment in interventions. The four-factor structure with two higher order factors was supported by the CFA results (χ2  = 290.90, df = 165, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.061, SRMR = 0.063). The subscales' test-retest reliabilities ranged from 0.61 to 0.78. The internal consistencies were satisfactory (Cronbach's αs: 0.67-0.93). Convergent validity was supported by correlations of the DRBS-A dimensions with parental involvement and positive parenting practice. Other factors related to dual-role behaviors were also explored. The DRBS-A has good validity and reliability and can be used to explore the effects of role integration.

Affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in China: Effects of self-esteem, shame and family functioning.

The present study aimed to investigate affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in China and to examine the predictive effects of self-esteem, shame proneness and family functioning. Two hundred and sixty-three primary caregivers of children with autism in Mainland China participated in the survey. The results suggested that affiliate stigma in caregivers of children with autism was prevalent and severe; their depressive symptoms were significantly more severe than the national norm of the similar age group. Low self-esteem, high shame proneness and poor family adaptability were associated with experience of affiliate stigma and heightened depressive symptoms. Affiliate stigma partially mediated the links between self-esteem/ shame proneness/family adaptability and depression levels. This study was the first one to measure affiliate stigma on caregivers of children with ASD in mainland China using a quantitative method. The results highlight the necessity and importance of de-stigmatization for the caregivers of children with autism and suggest that interventions to improve self-esteem, reduce experience of shame and to enhance family functioning might be effective.

Factors impacting the mental health of the caregivers of children with asthma in china: effects of family socioeconomic status, symptoms control, proneness to shame, and family functioning.

Caregiver mental health is widely considered to be an important factor influencing children's asthma symptoms. The present study aimed to examine key factors that contribute to caregiver mental health in pediatric asthma with a Chinese sample. Two hundred participants reported their family socioeconomic status (SES), proneness to shame, asthma symptoms control of their child, family functioning, and their depression and anxiety symptoms. Results suggested that low family SES, low family functioning, and a high level of shame proneness were associated with high levels of anxiety and depression for caregivers. Family functioning mediated the effects of SES and shame on caregiver mental health and also moderated the effects of SES and shame on caregiver depression. This study highlights the importance of reducing experience of shame and enhancing family functioning in families affected by pediatric asthma.

Parenting styles and parents' perspectives on how their own emotions affect the functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders.

The grounded theory method was used to analyze the parenting styles used by caregivers to rear children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to investigate parents' experiences regarding how to help their child overcome the symptoms. Thirty-two parents from 28 families of children with ASD in mainland China were interviewed. Analysis of interview transcripts revealed four patterns of parenting styles which varied in affiliation to the roles of caretaker and coach. Based on their experience, a sizable group of parents perceived that their own emotions influence the child's emotions and his/her symptoms. The results suggest the value of developing intervention programs on emotion regulation and positive parenting for the parents of children with ASD.

Counselling and psychotherapy services in more developed and developing regions in China: a comparative investigation of practitioners and current service delivery.

BACKGROUND: Counselling and psychotherapy services have taken off with uneven speed across China since the 1980s after several years of stagnation. Researchers have attributed socioeconomic development (or the lack thereof) and regional differences as main barriers to the development in this field. However, little is known today about the status of counselling and psychotherapy services across China. AIMS: To investigate and compare the current situation of practitioners and service delivery of counselling and psychotherapy in more developed and developing regions across China. METHOD: Convenience sampling methods from counselling and psychological services organizations in 29 Chinese provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions were used to recruit 1,543 participants to take part in the investigation by completing a 93-item self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: Organizations in developing and more developed regions in China varied in their current practices and employment situation of their practitioners, and in the quality of service delivery. However, counselling and psychotherapy offered at universities in both types of regions are of similar quality. CONCLUSION: In China, the level of socioeconomic development significantly influences the development of professional counselling and psychotherapy services. Important progress is evident in the field; however, the lack of systematic training and the scarcity of professional practitioners remain a challenge.

Anion-induced structures and luminescent properties of chiral lanthanide-organic frameworks assembled by an achiral tripodal ligand.

To confirm how different anions influence sup-ramolecular self-assembly of lanthanide-organic frameworks (LnOFs) as well as their luminescent properties, a new flexible achiral tripodal ligand, 1,1,1-tris-{[(2'-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxyl]methyl}ethane (L) and the LnOFs {[EuL(NO(3))(3)]·1.5CHCl(3)}(n) and [EuL(pic)(3)](n) have been designed and assembled. In the two LnOFs, {[EuL(NO(3))(3)]·1.5CHCl(3)}(n) demonstrates an unprecedented chiral noninterpenetrated two-dimensional (2D) honeycomblike (6,3) (hcb, Schläfli symbol 6(3), vertex symbol 6·6·6) topological network, and [EuL(pic)(3)](n) confirms an unusual chiral LnOF with three-dimensional (3D) (10,3)-a (srs, SrSi(2), Schläfli symbol 10(3), vertex symbol 10(2)·10(4)·10(4)) topological framework. Also the anion-induced structures and energy transfer processes in the luminescence behavior of the two LnOFs were discussed in detail.

Psychometric properties of the Padua Inventory in Chinese college samples.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Padua Inventory in Chinese college samples. Three different samples (N1 = 1,939, N2 = 1,341, and N3 = 298) of Chinese college students were recruited. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure which was similar to that found in previous studies. Further, present results showed good internal consistency as well as convergent and divergent validity with the subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90 and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. Although no sex difference was found on total score, women had significantly higher scores on Factor 2 (Urges and worries of losing control over motor behaviors) and Factor 4 (Checking), while men had significantly higher scores on Factor 3 (Contamination). Implications of ter the results and directions for research are discussed.