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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 19806

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Camilla Kin Ming Lo

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: child maltreatment; intimate partner violence; parent-child attachment; addiction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mengtong Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: family structure; parenting and grandparenting; internal migration; interpersonal violence

Dr. Qiqi Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Social Work, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Interests: child and family poly-victimisation; bullying and cyberbullying; child protection and child welfare

Prof. Dr. Ko-Ling Chan

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: child maltreatment; intimate partner violence; child and family poly-victimisation; chinese migration and child welfare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The family system and structure have been changing rapidly. It came to a historical peak during the COVID-19 pandemic when most families were forced to stay at home during the enforcement of lockdowns and social distancing policies. There are opportunities and challenges when family members spend more time at home. Emerging research across different countries has demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic poses immediate and long-term challenges to these families due to financial instability, economic stress, caregiving burdens, changes in work and schooling modes, and confinement-related issues. A functional family could be an essential key to the success of confinement-related practices. In contrast, the health and well-being of family members in a dysfunctional family could be worsened during and after the pandemic.

This Special Issue on Family Health seeks high-quality original articles related to the following areas: (i) family changes from a global and cultural perspective; (ii) risk and protective factors for family functioning; (iii) innovative prevention or intervention strategies addressing the problem, particularly policy making or prevention programs. Empirical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analytic studies will be considered. The keywords listed below provide an outline of some possible areas of interest.

Dr. Camilla Kin Ming Lo
Dr. Mengtong Chen
Dr. Qiqi Chen
Prof. Dr. Ko-Ling Chan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

family change: global and cultural perspective
family challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic
family functioning
family structure and hierarchy
family communication and conflict
parenting and grandparenting
work-family balance
health and mental health
family-friendly policy

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“You Don’t Get That from Professionals”: A Consumer-Led Peer Recovery Program for Families and Friends of Individuals with Alcohol and Other Drugs Use Issues in Darwin

by Noemi Tari-Keresztes, Noelene Armstrong, James A. Smith, Himanshu Gupta, Sam Goding and Sal-Amanda Endemann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(8), 5514; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20085514 - 14 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1435

Abstract

While there has been a reduction in alcohol consumption among Australians aged 18 years and above, about 25% of people still drink above the recommended limit. The use of alcohol and other drugs is a substantial issue in the Northern Territory; however, there have been significant investments in alcohol reforms over the past few years. This paper reports on a pilot study that involved co-designing, implementing, and evaluating the Circles of Support consumer-led recovery and empowerment program for families and friends of individuals with alcohol and other drugs use issues. The evaluation comprised a mixed-methods approach; however, this article only presents the qualitative component (n = 7). Interview data were thematically analysed, and four main themes were identified: (1) the value of a peer-to-peer approach; (2) facing challenges and distress; (3) adopting self-care strategies; and (4) the development of valuable skills. Participants enjoyed the program content and learning. This involved self-care and communication strategies, boundary setting, service navigation, the concept of post-traumatic growth, the circles of control, and the stages of change model for families. Our findings strongly support the scaling up of the program in Darwin and other locations across the Northern Territory and future program adaptation for different vulnerable target audiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

12 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers and Facilitators to Father’s Engagement in a Depression and Alcohol Use Intervention in Kenya: Father, Family, and Community Factors

by Ali Giusto, Florence Jaguga, Victor Pereira-Sanchez, Wilter Rono, Noah Triplett, Hani Rukh-E-Qamar, Mattea Parker and Milton L. Wainberg

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4830; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20064830 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1488

Abstract

In Kenya, there is a treatment gap for depression and alcohol use that is especially large for fathers, which has consequences for families. While treatments exist, there are challenges to implementation. This study aimed to understand barriers and facilitators to implementing a treatment for fathers’ depression and alcohol use in Eldoret, Kenya. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Integrated Sustainability Framework, we conducted 18 key informant interviews and 7 focus group discussions (31 total participants) with stakeholders in Eldoret (hospital leaders, policy makers, mental health providers, community leaders, fathers, lay providers, and patients previously engaged in treatment). Interviews were analyzed using the framework method; themes were matrixed by framework domains. Participants identified barriers and facilitators, and opportunities for implementation, in the following domains: innovation, outer setting, inner setting, individual, sustainability, and characteristics of systems. Barriers included a lack of resources, stigma, masculine norms, cost of services, and alcohol dependence. Facilitators included community buy-in, family support, providers with lived experience, government support, and relevant treatment content. Findings will inform implementation strategy development for an intervention for fathers with depression and alcohol use, and family problems with local relevance and scalable potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

10 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“I Had to Do It All Alone”: Hispanic Perspectives on Navigating Breast Cancer Treatment

by Eunjeong Ko, France Nguyen-Grozavu and Andrea Valadez Galindo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4163; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20054163 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1254

Abstract

Cancer patients are at a high risk for COVID infection and its corresponding impacts on treatment delay, social isolation, and psychological distress. Hispanic breast cancer patients may be more vulnerable due to a lack of resources and language barriers, widening disparities in cancer care. This qualitative study explored the challenges and obstacles to cancer care during the COVID pandemic among 27 Hispanic females from a United States–Mexico border region. Data were collected via individual in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The majority of the participants were interviewed in Spanish. More than half (55.6%, n = 15) were diagnosed with breast cancer within the prior year to the interview. One-third of the participants (33.3%, n = 9) reported that COVID somewhat to greatly impacted their cancer care. Study findings revealed potential barriers and challenges for cancer care at multiple levels (e.g., medical, psychosocial, financial level) during the COVID pandemic. Five major themes reported include: (1) delays in testing and access to care; (2) fear of COVID infection; (3) social isolation and reduced social support; (4) challenges in navigating treatments alone; and (5) financial hardships. Our findings highlight the importance for health care practitioners to understand various challenges encountered by underserved Hispanic breast cancer patients due to COVID. Screening for psychological distress and exploring approaches to expand social support to address these challenges are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

14 pages, 649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Family Resilience and Pandemic Burnout on Mental Health: A Two-Wave Study in China

by Catherine So-kum Tang, Tiffany Sok U Siu, Tak Sang Chow and Helen Sin-Hang Kwok

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 3803; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20053803 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Family resilience refers to the processes through which a family adapts to and bounces back from adversities. Pandemic burnout refers to feeling emotionally exhausted, cynical, and lack of accomplishment during the pandemic and/or toward various preventive polices and measures. This two-wave, region-wide, longitudinal study included 796 adult participants residing in mainland China. Participants completed online surveys at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Time 1 (T1) survey was conducted when the number of new infected cases in China stabilized, while Time 2 (T2) was conducted 5 months later when there was a sudden surge of new infected cases. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the interaction and main effects of pandemic burnout and family resilience at T2 showed significant incremental prediction of depression and anxiety at T2, after controlling for demographic as well as individual and family resilience at T1. These results supported the hypotheses that current family resilience functions as a protective factor, whereas pandemic burnout functions as a risk factor of mental health during successive waves of pandemic outbreaks. In particular, family resilience at T2 mitigated the negative impact of high pandemic burnout on anxiety and depression at T2. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

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17 pages, 716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Offering and Asking for Help with Domestic Chores in Couple Relationships

by Marius Marici, Otilia Clipa, Maria-Doina Schipor, Remus Runcan and Ana-Maria Andrei

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20043708 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1797

Abstract

Domestic chores are a topic of great interest for couple relationships since they are a source of conflict between intimate partners. The purpose of the present research is to investigate offering and asking for help with domestic chores and the respondents’ tendency to be intuitive or verbal or to do chores alone. A vignette applied to children and married adults. The respondents were 116 boys and 116 girls and 110 male partners and 300 female partners, who completed individual questionnaires, online using Google Forms, regarding helping behaviour. Research findings indicate that men are more verbal and women are more intuitive when offering help, but when asking for help with domestic chores, men and women are statistically similar. The present research raises questions about the role of gender differences in couple relationships, and about educational solutions for couples and provides opportunities for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

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14 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collective Motivational Interviewing for Individuals with Drug Use Problems: A Pre-Post–Follow-Up, Uncontrolled Pilot Study

by Nick Tse, Samson Tse and Paul W.C. Wong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16344; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192316344 - 06 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2159

Abstract

Collective motivational interviewing (CMI) is a novelty motivational approach which optimises the motivational interviewing (MI) for individuals from collectivistic cultures. While MI has been empirically tested as an effective intervention for addictive disorders and has had a positive effect on facilitating lifestyle changes, CMI has retained the potency of MI as an individualistic intervention, and it further invites the social network resources to strengthen the level of motivation and cultivate a joint change partnership. This pilot study was the first clinical study of CMI to work with individuals with drug use problems (IDUPs) by involving concerned significant others (CSOs) in the three-session intervention, and the fidelity control was assessed by the Collective Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (CMITI) scale. This pre-post–follow-up and uncontrolled feasibility study was conducted between 2017 and 2019, with dyads of 20 IDUPs and their CSOs. The potential impacts of CMI were examined by measures at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month and 3-month post-intervention. All clinical sessions were audio-recorded, and four cases were randomly selected for fidelity review by two trained coders. The normality of data at the baseline was checked by a Shapiro–Wilk test. Non-parametric Wilcoxon-signed-rank test and repeated-measures ANOVA were employed for quantitative analysis. The results showed that six IDUPs had reduced drug use, and ten maintained drug abstinence with the support of CSOs, whereas four IDUPs remained unchanged or increased drug use. Overall, at the 3-month follow-up, drug use was reduced (p > 0.05), social support was strengthened (p < 0.05), and the IDUPs’ motivation for change was enhanced (p < 0.05). However, the small sample sizes, non-random sampling, and lack of control group may limit the generalizability and confirmation of the outcomes and of the “real effects”. This finding of the study suggests that the CMI is a feasible and acceptable therapeutic tool to motivate IDUPs with the support of CSOs to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals. Further development and evaluation with robust methodology are warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

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12 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Family Health among Families with Primary School Children during the COVID Pandemic in Thailand, 2022

by Nareerut Pudpong, Sataporn Julchoo, Pigunkaew Sinam, Sonvanee Uansri, Watinee Kunpeuk and Rapeepong Suphanchaimat

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15001; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192215001 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1140

Abstract

Despite evidence suggesting that the COVID pandemic has negatively affected the mental health and well-being of school aged children and parents, there are limited studies describing the state of family well-being. This study aimed to use the family health lens to assess the well-being of Thai families with primary school children and to identify its associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during January and March 2022, a period of school closure when onsite education was replaced by online education from time to time. The family health scale (FHS) questionnaire survey was carried out among 701 parents of Thai families with primary school children. The questionnaire comprised 10 questions regarding family belief, health, relationships, financial security, and housing environment. Independent variables included: (1) parental/household factors; (2) online learning related issues; (3) children’s mental health; and (4) parents’ health behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression was undertaken. Results showed that half of Thai families (54.6%) reported having moderate health status. Factors that were associated with lower levels of family health, such as poor or moderate levels, included families with a child that had mental health problems (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 5.0 [95% CI = 2.6–9.5] for poor v. excellent, and AOR = 2.7 [95% CI = 1.9–4.0] for moderate v. excellent), single parents (AOR = 2.5 [95% CI = 1.2–5.2] for poor v. excellent), a higher number (≥3) of children (AOR = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.0–4.0] for moderate v. excellent), and smoking parents (AOR = 6.5 [95% CI =1.2–34.8] for poor v. excellent). During health emergencies, health policy for providing adequate assistance to single parents, especially those that have a child with mental health problems, is of utmost importance. The design of health promotion activities and interventions should be targeted not only at single families, but also families with higher numbers of children and parents who smoke at home. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

14 pages, 588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adult Worker Model Typologies: Examining Work–Family Policies in Fifteen European Countries

by Iris Po Yee Lo, Ruby Chui Man Chau and Sam Wai Kam Yu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14637; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192214637 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1404

Abstract

This article aims to advance the discussion of government policies for improving women’s work and family life. It focuses on exploring whether it is reasonable to expect that the supported adult worker model will play an important role in guiding governments to reduce the gender employment gap and, at the same time, increase women’s resources for strengthening their control over family and work life. This model posits that governments should take a proactive approach to encouraging women to take part in formal employment, such as providing care support measures. To examine the impact of the model, this article develops an ‘input adult worker model typology’ and an ‘output adult worker model typology’ using cluster analysis of comparative data covering 15 countries. The findings show that it is important not to overestimate the impact of the supported adult worker model on reducing the gender employment gap or increasing women’s control over their lives in most of the 15 countries. The evidence generated from these typologies highlights the difficulties involved in promoting women’s welfare despite the use of the adult worker model as a substitute for the male-breadwinner model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

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14 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes toward Grandparental Involvement in Hong Kong: A Trend Analysis

by Mengtong Chen, Qiqi Chen, Camilla Kin Ming Lo, Susan J. Kelley, Ko Ling Chan and Patrick Ip

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9858; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19169858 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1736

Abstract

This article examines individuals’ attitudes toward the involvement of grandparents in family issues in Hong Kong. While existing studies have largely focused on the nature and types of grandparents’ involvement in childcare, it is worth conducting a quantitative investigation of the attitudes in the general population about grandparental involvement. Drawing on the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 waves of the Family Surveys, the study examined the trend in attitudes toward grandparental involvement with 8932 HK residents. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess individual and family relationship factors associated with the attitudes toward grandparental involvement. Results show that although most people held positive attitudes toward grandparental involvement, there was a significant drop in the agreement with grandparental involvement in 2017 across all age groups. The findings imply that intergenerational support tends to be weakened in HK in recent years. Involving grandparents in family issues in HK was more likely to be need-driven rather than value-driven, as parent respondents had relatively more positive attitudes toward grandparental involvement compared with non-parents. Positive family and intergenerational relationships were significantly associated with the positive attitudes toward grandparental involvement. Policymakers and service providers should recognize the changes in people’s attitudes toward family lives and provide appropriate support such as family counselling, (grand)parenting programs and childcare support to promote the wellbeing of families and older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

12 pages, 359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stress in Balancing Work and Family among Working Parents in Hong Kong

by Qiqi Chen, Mengtong Chen, Camilla Kin Ming Lo, Ko Ling Chan and Patrick Ip

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5589; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19095589 - 04 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3775

Abstract

Work-life imbalance might lead to detrimental outcomes, including family dissatisfaction, poor performance in the workplace, and poor mental and physical health. This population-based study aims to explore the situation and trends in regard to work-life balance among working men and women in 2017, with a special focus on the stress experienced in work and personal lives. Descriptive analysis and multiphase regression are used to explore the associations of work-life imbalance with individual and family factors. Males’ satisfaction with the amount of time spent at work was most significantly related to the level of work-life stress. Both males’ and females’ satisfaction with work life, family life, and the amount of time spent at work and with family were all negatively related to the level of work-life stress. Participants who were not in marital or cohabiting status reported significantly higher levels of work-life stress. Participants who had childcare support reported higher levels of work-life stress than those who looked after their children by themselves or their partners. A similar pattern was found among participants involved in elderly care. This study provides insight into family policy that could promote balance in professional and personal life and relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Health)

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