Families USA

• Family imprisonment is one of ten recognised Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). • Family imprisonment had profound impacts on children’s wellbeing over time. • Children articulated a range of emotions including grief, shock and confusion. • To ensure no child is overlooked, existing support pathways must be strengthened. Growing up in a household where a family member has spent time in prison is one of ten recognised Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This qualitative longitudinal study aimed to understand how family imprisonment impacts on children and young people’s mental health, emotional wellbeing and familial relationships. Nineteen children and young people across Scotland and Northern England took part in up to three interviews over the course of one year. We discuss three themes: [1] navigating unfriendly complex systems; [2] distress, grief and trauma; [3] acceptance, normalisation and coping mechanisms. These themes illuminate the profound impact that family imprisonment had on all aspects of children and young people’s lives, particularly their emotional wellbeing. They concealed their circumstances due to fear of stigma; took on young carer roles within the family home; enacted their own distinct coping mechanisms to counter the continual uncertainty they faced and felt unsupported by professional agencies. Future research should focus on the experiences of those who do not maintain contact with their family member in prison, those further marginalised such as black and racially minoritised children and children living with disabilities and neurodivergence. Finally, further studies should interrogate existing support pathways designed for vulnerable children and young people to ensure those experiencing family imprisonment do not fall through gaps in current provision.

Children and young people with a parent in contact with the justice system rarely receive the support they need; many are judged and stigmatised. Child Impact Assessments were developed by the Prison Reform Trust in collaboration with 28 children and young people from across the United Kingdom with experience of parental imprisonment, who said in interviews, focus groups, and an online survey that they want to be seen, listened to, and considered at all stages of a parent’s journey through the justice system: arrest, court, and sentencing, prison or community sentence, and prior to a parent’s release. They want to be supported, and they want to be included in decisions about that support. This paper lays out why Child Impact Assessments are needed; what they are; and crucially how they can be used in practice to ensure the right support is offered to meet a child’s needs at the earliest opportunity. The paper will provide evidence of how Child Impact Assessments can improve children’s wellbeing and will give an overview of recent developments to the resources. The authors will also explore future developments, including adapting the resources to understand the impact on unborn babies, babies, and very young children (the first 1001 days) when a pregnant woman or mother is in contact with the justice system.

The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of adolescents and young adults with selective mutism (SM) and their specific (treatment) needs, as well as those of their environment. We conducted a mixed methods systematic review of scientific databases APA PsycINFO and MEDLINE until February 2025. Descriptive studies were included if they incorporated information on individuals between 10-24years old with a current diagnosis of SM. Two independent reviewers extracted data using combined deductive and inductive coding, with categories finalized by consensus. Data were synthesized using a convergent segregated approach. A total of 749 records were identified, of which 40 studies (n = 54 participants) met inclusion criteria. Methodological quality varied, with 27.5% studies rated as high quality, 65% as moderate, and 7.5% as low. Key findings showed that SM manifests differently in adolescents and young adults compared to children, and therefore requires a different approach to treatment. The reviewed literature shows that adolescents and young adults with SM have a later onset, longer diagnostic delays, and a prolonged history of negative reinforcement of symptoms from accommodations by others. Consequently, SM tends to be more therapy-resistant, requiring greater patience and diligence from therapists.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that the incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, has increased to 1 in 31 children. Individuals with ASD have a constellation of neurological, behavioral, sensory, feeding, gastrointestinal, and immunological issues. Even though there is some genetic component to the pathogenesis of ASD, accumulation of environmental and pathogenic toxins could contribute to disruption of the gut–blood-barrier (GBB) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) via activation of mast cells (MCs) and microglia, resulting in a chronic cycle of gut–brain inflammation. Here we discuss how various environmental, pathogenic, and stress factors can disrupt gut–brain homeostasis to create susceptibility and epigenetic effects that contribute to the development of ASD. We also suggest simple ways to address some of the key pathogenetic processes involved in ASD.

Although a large body of research has documented the importance of routines for children's development, the role of developmental timing of routines has received less attention. The present study examined how use of routines across the preschool period is linked to children's socioemotional adjustment. We used Year 3 and Year 5 data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,353; 48% female). Child routines were measured through maternal reports of routines, including household chores, play, mealtime, and bedtime. Latent profile analysis revealed four groups based on timing and number of routines: stable-high, increasing, decreasing, and stable-low. In Year 5, parents reported on children's attentional, externalizing, and internalizing problems and social skills. Latent transition analysis indicated that most children (n = 1,782; 75%) maintained the same profiles over time. Regression analyses showed that profiles were differentially related to outcomes. After controlling for a set of confounding variables, children in the stable-high group had significantly lower attentional, externalizing, and internalizing problems than the decrease routines group (βs range from .23 to .40, p < .05). These findings contribute to the understanding of how routines are associated with child functioning and highlight the potential importance of the continued use of routines across early childhood. Children who had consistently high routines demonstrated better adjustment compared to those whose routines decreased across the preschool period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Abstract Water scarcity arises not only from chronic water shortage but also from seasonal and interannual variability. Water infrastructure fills the gaps in water requirements and sustainably available water. However, its role in mitigating water deficits and the differences across regions have been insufficiently explored. Here, we quantify the contribution of reservoirs and desalination plants (RDs) in reducing water deficits using a global hydrological model and indicators that capture spatiotemporal dynamics. We find that RDs substantially reduce global water deficits and that their functions vary regionally: seasonal reallocation dominates in Asian monsoon regions, whereas interannual buffering is more prominent in regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Globally, RDs alleviate water deficits equivalent to more than 5% of the global human water requirements on average and over 13% during drought periods. These findings provide a quantitative assessment of how water infrastructure contributes to water security across regions with differing hydroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions.

Le Dr Ian McWhinney, un jeune praticien généraliste de Stratford-Upon-Avon, en Angleterre, est arrivé au Canada avec sa famille en 1968 pour diriger la Division de la pratique familiale du Département de la médecine communautaire à la Faculté de médecine de l’Université Western Ontario

Background: Despite previous studies showing that acculturation in Hispanic mothers is associated with less frequent use of highly controlling feeding practices, our understanding of acculturation and feeding is still limited. Little attention has been given to positive feeding practices, researchers have focused on acculturation as a unidimensional construct, and few studies have compared Hispanic to non-Hispanic parents. Methods: In this study, 750 mothers (596 Hispanic) completed questionnaires assessing feeding practices/styles; Hispanic mothers completed a bidimensional, language-based acculturation questionnaire. Acculturation was analyzed both as a continuous variable and by assigning Hispanic mothers into acculturation groups based on their language competency, usage, and media preferences (separation, assimilation, integration, and marginalization). Results: Highly controlling feeding practices were associated with Spanish orientation scores, whereas mealtime/snack-time structure, responsiveness to children's fullness cues, child involvement in food preparation, and feeding efficacy were associated with English orientation scores. Acculturation group comparisons showed that mothers in the separation group differed the most from non-Hispanic mothers and that mothers in the assimilation group did not significantly differ from non-Hispanic mothers on any feeding practices. Mothers in the integration group were more restrictive than non-Hispanic mothers. The indulgent feeding style was most common among mothers in the assimilation group. Conclusions: These findings extend the results of previous research by: (1) identifying positive feeding strategies associated with acculturation, (2) demonstrating the value of studying acculturation as a multidimensional process, and (3) showing how feeding practices and styles show different patterns of association with acculturation in Hispanic mothers.

ABSTRACTBackgroundComorbid anxiety disorders affect up to 28% of children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While coercive parenting is often linked to ADHD and overprotectiveness to anxiety disorders (ADs), little is known about parenting practices in children with both disorders (ADHD+ADs). This systematic review and meta‐analysis examined parenting practices in children aged 5–12 years with ADHD+ADs.MethodsStudies were identified through PsycINFO (Ovid), Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, and Web of Science from inception date to January 23, 2025. Of the 1838 records screened, four studies were included in the review, and three were included in the meta‐analysis.ResultsCompared to parents of children with ADHD alone, those of children with ADHD+ADs reported greater use of anxiety‐related parenting practices (k = 3, g = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.53, p = 0.002) and fewer positive parenting practices (k = 3, g = −0.35, 95% CI = −0.55, −0.14, p = 0.001). No significant differences were found in ADHD‐related parenting practices (k = 2, g = 0.27, 95% CI = −0.16, 0.70, p = 0.26).ConclusionThese findings suggest that families of children with ADHD+ADs may be characterized by increased anxiety‐related parenting practices and reduced positive parenting compared to families of children with ADHD alone. Further research is needed to inform the development of targeted interventions.