Family Stability and Emotional Development of Young Children

 

Project Topic Selection and Rationale

 

PART ONE (Length: 2 pages)

            The research will focus on the stability of families in the midst of various challenges that they are exposed to in the society affect the emotional development of young children. Specifically the paper discusses children between 7 and 15 years of age, both male and female especially in families that have been formed within the first 5 years and involving the female and male relationship whose aim is to sustain the family in the long-run family. Young families provide a conducive environment necessary for nurturing children and where such children can socialize.  The couples in the family view the institution as being core to child-bearing throughout the world, and play an important role in the development of individuals who are healthy in all aspects including mental, physical and social welfare. The young couple has barely understood each other and this presents challenges as they try to adjust to the new life and as the family institution is undergoing various challenges.  These challenges are informed by changes in the economic and social factors that may threaten the stability of a young family to the point of disintegration.

             While the structure, processes and functioning of families have undergone various changes with time, a young family may face the risk of not surviving as a fundamental nurturing unit. For a child to develop in a healthy manner, it is important for a family environment to be harmonious and for the young parents to be healthy mentally (Perrin,  2014).  The instability in a young family can be brought about by deep relationship problems such as unfaithfulness, trauma, modern diseases and even environmental influences (Dowling, 2014). This can be more pronounced in case there were no sufficient early interventions for marriage preparation, lack of a social policy on family that would encourage a young family to grow, inadequate support for families where a partner in careers such as military. Given that the family should provide an favorable environment for  emotional development of children , unstable families fall short of this and this lead to lack of proper early development for toddlers and infants (Crosnoe, Prickett,  Smith  & Cavanagh, 2014).

            Young families also come with psychological and money related stress due to higher demands for raising children and educating them. It is when the family is young that psychological and financial pressures increase and become more acute due to the profound change in lifestyle or increase demand at work. In such a case, one parent will have to work for few hours than normal which means that there is a reduction in income. For instance, the commitment needed in some occupations like military mean that a partner will have to be absent for longer time, and this can affect the family (Kochanska & Kim, 2014). In addition, lack of a social policy that will support the families while they are undergoing social stress means that there are no programs that they can turn to for help. In case of young step families, there are unique challenges and even compounded stresses that they experience and this can increase instability and hence, more marital dissolution risk.  “At risk” means that there is a chance of the young family being unstable so that even the children being raised by the young family do not grow health especially emotionally (Lee & McLanahan, 2015)).  This shows the need for young family’s members to be inspired to value their family life by engaging them in a quest to discover strengths that may keep the institution stable.

 

Scholarly Research Log

 

PART TWO (Reaserch Log)

Author	Date	Article/Journal Title or Book Title	Peer Review?	Have it	ILL placed	Theory/Model	Methods	Findings	Notes
Dowling, M. (2014).	2014	Young children's personal, social and emotional development	no	no
Kochanska, G., & Kim, S. (2014)	2014	A complex interplay among the parent–child relationship, effortful control, and internalized, rule-compatible conduct in young children: Evidence from two studies	Yes	Yes			Quantitative		Looks at connection between student level on hierarchy and likelihood of cheating
Brophy‐Herb et al		Early emotional development in infants and toddlers: Perspectives of Early Head Start staff and parents. Infant Mental Health Journal	Yes	Yes			Phenomenological
Brophy‐Herb et al. 2009	2009	Early emotional development in infants and toddlers: Perspectives of Early Head Start staff and parents. Infant Mental Health Journal	Yes	Yes
Duncan, S. F., Childs, G. R., & Larson	2010	Perceived helpfulness of four different types of marriage preparation interventions. Family Relations	Yes	Yes			Quantitative
Gelatt, V. A., Adler‐Baeder, F., & Seeley, J. R	2010	An Interactive Web‐Based Program for Stepfamilies: Development and Evaluation of Efficacy. Family Relations,	Yes	Yes			qualitative
Fomby, P., & Cherlin, A. J.	2007	Family instability and child well-being. American sociological review	Yes	Yes			qualitative
Brown, S. L., Manning, W. D., & Stykes	2015	Family structure and child well‐being: Integrating family complexity. Journal of Marriage and Family	Yes	Yes			qualitative
Karberg, E. F	2015	Children's adjustment to parents' break up: The family system mechanisms	No	No			phenomenological

 

 

Critique of Research Methodology and Recommendations

PART THREE(Length: 5 pages)

 

• Identify what you see as strengths and weaknesses of the research methodology and research designs in the studies you used to inform and support your critical analysis.

            The study from which information in this research is derived utilizes various research methods and research designs in collection of data and analyzing them. The research methods in the studies include the qualitative, quantitative and even descriptive methods that the authors used to put forward theories and arguments. This method shows various strengths and weaknesses. The quantitative methods involve a general issue of study and require the researcher to narrow down to a particular research question and then measuring some factors and use of various techniques like questionnaires for data collection (Choy, 2014). In the studies used in this research the quantitative method has shown the presence of various important advantages. The collected numerical data has enabled the authors to   compare between various strengths and to determine the extent to which various respondents agree. The quantitative method allows for easy administration and evaluation of data and the tabulation of responses can be tabulated within the given time.  This makes the quantitative data collected to be legitimate. The reliability of quantitative data that has collected using the right methods and undergone critical analysis makes it legitimate (Hussein, 2015). The use of qualitative methods has also allowed the authors in these studies to explore the perceptions of diverse groups and homogenous groups of people and hence assisting in differentiating the different views of people in the society. In qualitative methods, asking groups of people to give their response to various questions and even hypothetical situations can result to information that in more legitimate. The major strength of a qualitative method involves the ability to look into the underlying issues like values and beliefs (McCusker  & Gunaydin, 2015). In this case, the studies that have used such methods have helped in relating the issue of child emotional development and instability especially in young families. The qualitative research have also helped the authors to obtained details relating to human behavior in a family setting including emotions, personal traits and the resulting family environment in which children are born and brought up. Where trends cannot be subjected to statistical analysis cannot be validated through calculation like in quantitative data, the qualitative analysis or research program. Moreover, the use of descriptive methods in some of the studies enabled the researchers to observe subjects in a natural environment which increases the reliability of data collected.

            There are also weaknesses in research methodologies in the studies used in this research. In case of the quantitative research, various significant characteristics including their perceptions and identities cannot be reduced to numbers in a meaningful way which makes in difficult to understand without referring to local context in which families live. The collected data also fails to offer a complete description of the issues that are affecting the selected population.  The other limitation involves the use of qualitative methods where the interpretation by the researchers are limited since the family experience, positioned subject and even knowledge affects the authors observations and eventually their conclusions. In some of the cases, especially where the descriptive methods have been used knowing the reliability of information is not guaranteed since participants may behave unnaturally after realizing they are being observed.  In addition, the researcher may have taken a subjective selection on which information to use and put emphasis on in the findings which may reduce the reliability of the information.

            The strengths of the research design stems from the structure and organization of the review of the various studies, and the integration of different elements of research in a logical and coherent manner. The case study, action research, causal and cross-sectional designs have been used in the various studies that have been utilized in this research. The research designs are collaborative and adaptive and using them in family situations possible. The focus on research outcomes that are solution driven and pragmatic instead of just testing theories improves the understanding of family issues especially that affect the emotional development of children. The use of case studies assists in understanding the complex factors through contextual analysis that is detailed, and involving events and their relationships (Von Elm et al., 2014). This also allows the use of various methodologies and depend on a range of sources investigate the specific issue being researched.

            In addition, the studies that have used empirical association have been able to achieve valid conclusions. Valid conclusion involves finding a relationship between the various depended variable and independent variables. The weaknesses associated with such designs seem to lower the reliability of the research analysis. Where case studies are used, the application of one or few cases provides little basis on which reliability is established or on which findings are generalized to a broader population (Vannest, & Ninci, 2015). Measuring of change and creation of differences is not possible in designs such as cross-sectional since they focus on drawing inferences from observable differences among phenomena. Moreover, establishment of cause –effect relationships is not easy while using these research designs.

• Identify what the authors report as limitations of their research.

            In the article by Duncan, Childs & Larson (2010), the authors gives various limitations to their study.  The Relate sample used can be viewed as self-directed participants that are already motivated relationally which mean that there may be a pre-disposure to assigning them more positive ratings to different interventions. This can lead to more percentages that favor self-directed means to preparation of marriage than may be real in a population that is selected randomly. The authors Fomby & Cherlin (2007) highlights the limitation of the study as being the restriction of mothers’ age at 14-21 and this limits children representativeness in the study. In the study by Brophy‐Herb et al., (2009), the major limitations includes the inability to generalize the focus-group to a bigger population beyond the one represented. In addition, the participating parents may be functioning more highly than those who did not participate. The limitations highlighted in the article by Gelatt, Adler‐Baeder, Seeley (2010), includes the fact that the representatives of the study cannot be a representatives of the entire population but are just a convince sample for those interested. In addition, the participants are not a representative of people’s experience in cohabiting stepfamilies and households. In the study by Fomby & Cherlin (2007) various limitations are indicated which includes the indicators of children well-being being restricted by their economic status, other elements of child adjustment could not be examined and public assistance eligibility was confounded with a give family structure.

• Review and discuss the recommendations made for future research and make additional recommendations for future research to expand upon or develop new theories or models for understanding the phenomena you are investigating.

            These includes the kind of couples that more or less intervention before marriage including the need for personal change and what kind of marriage preparation that can offer the best positive outcomes. In addition, the research should also be specifically child-centered so as to measure and conceptualize the living arrangements of children. The researchers in family should also widen their focus on family composition of a child in order to obtain an understanding of child-wellbeing variation that is more nuanced. The future studies may also focus on practices and beliefs of a parent’s emotional socialization especially in populations that are low-income and at risk.  Such research should also focus on examining how effective the marriage intervention models, the best interventions and situations under which the effectiveness is highest.

• Also, review and discuss any recommendations regarding approaches to working with families from a prevention, psycho-educational, or advocacy perspective, adding additional recommendations of your own for working with or on behalf of families, based on your critical analysis.

            The research may also look into the synergistic approach potential for integrating professionals such as early childhood and mental health professionals who integrate with mothers from low-income populations. This will help in encouraging and empowering parents of small children. In addition, the research should also focus on how the important interventions that should be embraced by professionals to assist parents in creating favorable environment for bring up children that are emotionally health (Duncan, Childs & Larson, 2010). The focus should also be on the various family structures that can help in reducing rate of transition which affect the development of a child. In case of young parents, it is necessary to focus on what issues are likely to bring about instability and what programs should assist in solving issues that cause stability.

Critical Analysis: Research on a Current Family Issue

PART FOUR:

            Research has indicated that young children who undergo many transitions in a given family structure are likely to encounter worse developmental outcomes than those bought up in stable families, whether two-parent or single-parent families. The many transitions and undesirable child outcomes can be related due to common factors like antecedent attitudes and behaviors of parents (Gelatt Adler‐Baeder & Seeley, 2010). The instability of such a family institution has continued to be a salient part of the lives of young children over the past century and in current times. In addition, marriage and inhabitation seems to be more unstable in developed countries like US than other developing countries. In this case, a higher number of American young children in United States experience transitions from two-parent families to step-families and single-families (Fomby & Cherlin, 2007). 

            An expanding body of literature seems to suggest that such children undergoing the transition can fare worse in terms of development than those whose families are stable. The idea of an instability impact  is based on the proposition that every transition the partners, parents and stepparents undergoes requires a stressful adjustment at the beginning for children and biological parent and the overall effect on the well-being of a child can be significant. The kind of transition in regard to alteration of household composition is not as relevant as the stress resulting from movement from one to the other (Fomby & Cherlin, 2007). Such transitions can greatly affect the emotional development of the child and more importantly their behavior. Children whose parents have remarried have similar behavior levels to the children from families with single parents and even higher than children from families with both biological parents. These issues affect the young families, where partners are more comfortable remarrying than remain a single parent. The inclusion of a step-parent is also likely to increase stress among children as they try to adjust to new structures and as biological parents’ attempts to concentrate on the new relationship (Karberg, 2015).

            An important aspect in a child’s emotional development involves the attitude and behavior of caregivers so that depressed parents especially mothers. Mothers suffering from depression usually have maladaptive thoughts, behaviors and attitudes and when a young person is in an environment that similarly stressful, they are faced with emotional development problem. Instability in a family is a source of stress for the mother; she is likely to act indifferent towards her child (Karberg, 2015). This puts the child in situations that are less social and also, the child is exposed to stimulation so that he or she is disadvantaged in the achievement of normal development in terms of emotion. A major factor in the health emotional development for children involves self-emotional control. A child sees how his or her parent is interacting with other people and displaying emotions and seems to emulate how the parent regulates their emotions (Karberg, 2015). Moreover, young children need to be able to not only express their emotions but recognize and deal with emotions of other people in a given social situation. The contact between the child and his parents also has an effect on social and emotional development and instability brought about by issues like marital conflict leads to troubles in such areas. “Background anger” arising from conflict among the parents and which a child may be exposed to even if it is does not involve them can lead to emotional regulation and security problems (Karberg, 2015).

Scholarly Review and Critical Analysis

            The emotional competences of a child are determined by the environment which parenting quality creates. The maternal behaviors that inform interactions with infants at about 18 months can predict the emotional competences of child even as a preschooler. The sensitivity and warmth of a parent are associated with to the desirable social development of a child and his or her ability to control their behavior (Brophy‐Herb et al. 2009). Therefore, emotional security formed in the relationship between a child and the parent, which are shown by sensitivity and mutual warmth while interacting plays a big role in a young child’s ability to control their emotions and even engage in behaviors that are socially desirable. However, insensitivity and negative responsiveness from a parent have also been associated with emotional outcomes and poor social relations, which include some antisocial behavior (Fomby & Cherlin, 2007). This also leads to poor skills in regulating emotions especially for young children who are economically at risk. 

            The structure of a family is also an important ingredient in determining whether the children will develop in the right manner especially in relation to emotional aspects.  Patents forms a very critical feature that informs family environment, since they channel resources including money and time that help in shaping children’s well-being and development. However, in case of step-families, parents tend to direct more resources to children who are related to them biologically. The presence of other children in the family is also a determining factor in the emotional development of a child especially if the children’s parents are different (Mooney, Oliver &Smith, 2009). Majority of children who lives in step-families undergo the experience of family complexity, and such step –families mostly result from increased rates of divorce and even re-partnering of single mothers (Brown, Manning & Stykes, 2015).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Brophy‐Herb, H. E., Horodynski, M., Dupuis, S. B., London Bocknek, E., Schiffman, R., Onaga,             E., ... & Adkins, M. (2009). Early emotional development in infants and toddlers:           Perspectives of Early Head Start staff and parents. Infant Mental Health Journal, 30(3),            203-222.

Duncan, S. F., Childs, G. R., & Larson, J. H. (2010). Perceived helpfulness of four different         types of marriage preparation interventions. Family Relations, 59(5), 623-636.

Gelatt, V. A., Adler‐Baeder, F., & Seeley, J. R. (2010). An Interactive Web‐Based Program for             Stepfamilies: Development and Evaluation of Efficacy. Family Relations, 59(5), 572-       586.

Fomby, P., & Cherlin, A. J. (2007). Family instability and child well-being. American      sociological review, 72(2), 181-204.

Brown, S. L., Manning, W. D., & Stykes, J. B. (2015). Family structure and child well‐being:      Integrating family complexity. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(1), 177-190.

Karberg, E. F. (2015). Children's adjustment to parents' break up: The family system        mechanisms (Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park).

Mooney,A.,  Oliver,C.,  and Smith, M.,( 2009). Impact of Family Breakdown on Children’s         Well-Being Evidence Review. University of London.

Dowling, M. (2014). Young children's personal, social and emotional development.90-107

Kochanska, G., & Kim, S. (2014). A complex interplay among the parent–child relationship,        effortful control, and internalized, rule-compatible conduct in young children: Evidence      from two studies. Developmental psychology, 50(1), 8.

Choy, L. T. (2014). The strengths and weaknesses of research methodology: Comparison and             complimentary between qualitative and quantitative approaches. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(4), 99-104.

Hussein, A. (2015). The use of triangulation in social sciences research: Can qualitative and         quantitative methods be combined?. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 4(1).

McCusker, K., & Gunaydin, S. (2015). Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), 537-542.

Von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., Vandenbroucke, J. P., &   Strobe Initiative. (2014). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in      Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies.    International Journal of Surgery, 12(12), 1495-1499.

Vannest, K. J., & Ninci, J. (2015). Evaluating intervention effects in single‐case research designs. Journal of Counseling & Development, 93(4), 403-411.

Crosnoe, R., Prickett, K. C., Smith, C., & Cavanagh, S. (2014). Changes in young children’s family structures and child care arrangements. Demography, 51(2), 459-483.

 

Lee, D., & McLanahan, S. (2015). Family structure transitions and child development: Instability, selection, and population heterogeneity. American sociological review, 80(4), 738-763.

 

Perrin, E. C., Sheldrick, R. C., McMenamy, J. M., Henson, B. S., & Carter, A. S. (2014). Improving parenting skills for families of young children in pediatric settings: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA pediatrics, 168(1), 16-24.