Medicina Fluminensis, Vol. 58 No. 2, 2022.
Short communication, Note
https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2022_275142
Family characteristics of children involved in psychiatric treatment
Ljubica Paradžik
; Psihijatrijska bolnica za djecu i mladež, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Miranda Novak
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Odsjek za poremećaje u ponašanju, Laboratorij za prevencijska istraživanja, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Martina Ferić
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Odsjek za poremećaje u ponašanju, Laboratorij za prevencijska istraživanja, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the characteristics of the family environment, including protective and risk factors of children who are involved in psychiatric treatment due to mental health difficulties. Participants and Methods: The study was conducted on a clinical sample of 112 participants, 56 children aged 12-19 years and 56 of their parents/guardians. In addition to the characteristics of parents/guardians, the risk and protective factors in the family and the risk factors related to the characteristics of the child and of the family were examined. The target variables were examined using the Family Resilience Questionnaire and the List for assessing risk factors affecting child development, which consists of an assessment of the family circumstances and characteristics of the parent as a factor in the developmental risk of the child and the assessment of the characteristics of the child and his behaviour. In addition, for each child included in the study, we gathered data from medical records on the children's clinical diagnoses and the aetiology of specific disorders. The study was a part of the project "The specific characteristics of families at risk: contribution to complex interventions planning – FamResPlan". Results: Families of children with mental health difficulties are characterized by the lack of environmental support, the presence of parents’ emotional difficulties due to family stress, and mental illness or untreated parental mental illness. On a sample of 56 children, 49 had internalising and 7 had mixed internalising and externalising problems. Conclusion: The characteristics of the families of children involved in psychiatric treatment suggest the need to provide appropriate and comprehensive support to parents in early childhood in order to prevent subsequent mental health disorders in children and youth.
Keywords
adolescent; child; family; mental disorders; protective factors; risk factors
Hrčak ID:
275142
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2022.
Visits: 1.521 *