Relationship-based Intervention with Young Children with Autism in Saudi Arabia: Impediments and Consequences of Parenting Stress and Depression

ABSTRACT

This investigation examined the consequences and effects of the severity of mothers psychosocial functioning as assessed by measures parenting stress and depression in a randomised control trial of a Relationship-based Intervention (RBI) called Responsive Teaching (RT). The sample included 28 parents and preschool aged children with Autism from Saudi Arabia. RT subjects received weekly parent–child intervention sessions for 4 months. Dependent variables were mothers’ style of interaction as assessed by the PICCOLO at post intervention as well as pre- and post-measures of parenting stress and depression. There were three findings from this study. First, mothers who participated in this study had extremely high levels of psychosocial dysfunction. Nearly all reported clinical levels of parenting stress and more than 40% reported clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Second, high levels of psychosocial dysfunction did not prevent mothers from participating in RT as indicated by their ability to integrate RT strategies into their interactions with their children. Third, RT was associated with substantial improvements in mother’s parenting stress and depression. Implication for early intervention practice are discussed.     

智力落后儿童不良情绪与学校适应研究现状及展望

随班就读和特殊学校是我国特殊儿童的两种主要教育安置形式。究竟哪种安置形式对特殊儿童最适合,以便特殊儿童在合适的教育安置形式下获得最大的发展,我们可以从特殊儿童的不良情绪与学校适应这个视角展开讨论。本文通过比较两种不同教育安置形式下智力落后儿童的焦虑、抑郁情绪与学校适应是否存在水平上的区别,各心理变量之间的相互关系如何,对这一问题进行探讨。     

Student teachers’ knowledge about children with ADHD and depression and its relations to emotions

Student teachers’ knowledge about children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression and its relations to reporting experiencing emotions during teaching practice were studied. The participants were 186 teacher education students in Estonia. Student teachers’ general knowledge and confidence in knowledge varied a lot. Knowledge about children with ADHD was generally limited. Knowledge and confidence in knowledge were negatively related to reporting negative emotions (anxiety, anger, shame) experienced during teaching practice. Findings are discussed, taking into account recent changes in scientific knowledge about ADHD and depression and democratic changes in schools. As knowledge of special educational needs has become important due to applying inclusive education, the findings also refer to the need for modifications in teacher education curricula.     

The Mental Health Status of Law Students: Implications for College Counselors

The purpose of this study was to describe law students' psychological symptoms, assess the role of law school stress in students' symptoms, and suggest ways college counselors can help this population. More than half of the 316 participants displayed symptoms of depression and psychological distress, and nearly half showed symptoms of anxiety. Law school stressors significantly predicted students' symptoms. Workload, peers, and low instrumental support most impacted students, thus providing specific directions and implications for college counselors.     

杜牧诗中低沉情绪及其表现--兼论其原因

晚唐诗风大多色泽艳丽，格调低沉。杜牧诗歌却以“雄姿英发”（《蕊概》）称于绮靡颓废的晚唐诗坛，但晚唐诗坛的颓废感伤情调在其诗中也隐约流露，主要表现在伤今怀古的悲悼情绪和明哲保身的处世思想上。其主要原因在于晚唐时代颓败的黑暗现实给诗人投下的心灵阴影及希望与失望、热情与冷遇而导致的个人心理平衡的失调。     

Differences in the Prevalence,Severity and Symptom Profiles of Depression in Boys and Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder versus Normally Developing Controls

The prevalence, severity and symptom profiles for major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared in samples of boys and adolescents with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Self-reports were obtained on the Depression subscale of the Child and Adolescent Symptoms Inventory (CASI-D) with 70 ASD and 50 non-ASD male participants between the ages of 8 and 18 from Queensland, Australia who were matched for age and IQ. Results indicated that the ASD participants had significantly higher total CASI-D scores, a greater proportion of participants who qualified for a diagnosis of MDD, and over 50% higher scores for 8 of the 10 CASI-D symptoms than non-ASD participants. The MDD profiles for the ASD participants were dominated by anhedonia. Issues for assessment and diagnosis of comorbid MDD in young males with an ASD, plus targeted treatment planning that directly addresses their MDD profile, are discussed.     

Schools and emotional and behavioral problems: A comparison of school-going and homeschooled children

Much attention has been focused recently on the deepening crisis in the education system. Researchers have attributed these problems to the school environment. One method for examining this claim is to compare specific emotional and behavior problems among children who attend schools and children who do not. This study examined three aspects of children's emotional world—emotional and behavioral problems, depression, and attachment security—in a group of children attending school and a group of homeschooled children, matched for socioeconomic background and research procedure. The findings indicated a lower level of depression among the homeschooled children; no difference was found between the groups in attachment security. With respect to emotional and behavioral problems, no difference was found in internalizing problems, but more externalizing problems were found among the school-going than the homeschooled children, in 9–10-year-olds and 11–12-year-olds, but not in 6–8-year-olds.     

How is Challenging Behaviour Associated with Depression in Boys with an Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The association between aberrant behaviour and depression was examined in a sample of 150 young males with Autism Spectrum Disorder via parent ratings on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Major Depressive Disorder subscale of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory (CASI-4-D). Although several subscales of the ABC were significantly correlated with CASI-4-D scores, only the Irritability subscale was a significant predictor of CASI-4-D, but with different patterns of association across younger (6–12 years) and older (13–18 years) participants. When examined at an individual ABC item level, adolescents’ depression was primarily predicted the presence of temper tantrums that were associated with the introduction of variability or frustration at not getting his or her own way.     

台湾海峡诱生低压和9802号热带气旋路径偏折的分析

在常规气象资料分析的基础上，结合9802号热带气旋环境场的物理诊断和卫星云图，分析了台湾海峡地形性低压的形成以及9802号热带气旋次级环流对地形性低压的诱生加强作用，并探讨了9802号热带气旋移动路径偏折的原因，着重指出台湾海峡诱生低压引起9802号热带气旋翻越台湾岛过程中路径左偏和两低涡合并加强引起路径右折及其可能机制。     

庸众的沉沦与哲人的悲哀--《金瓶梅》读札

《金瓶梅》作者,是具有哲人智慧的中国古代文人,他看到了庸众的沉沦,但不能给他们以救赎的办法,而只能透过字面背后发出深深的悲哀.可以说整部《金瓶梅》蕴含着哲人的悲哀和怜悯,它强调着尘世万物的痛苦和空虚,并在富有宗教框架背景下,唤醒读者对生命本身的反省,从而对自己、对自己的同类,产生同情与慈悲.