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Browsing by Author "Bell, Linda G."
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Item Accuracy of Retrospective Reports of Family Environment(Springer Nature, 2018-04) Bell, David C.; Bell, Linda G.; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsRetrospective reports of family environments are often the only way to collect data concerning the influence of a child's experience in the family on later development. However, the accuracy of retrospective measures can be problematic because of social desirability or potential failures of memory. The purpose of this study is to compare retrospective and prospective measures of family environment. In this unique study, 198 parents and 241 adolescent children (mean age 15.7) described their family environment, and then 25 years later completed retrospective reports. We test the effects of memory, positivity, gender, and generation on retrospective reports, as well as testing the ability of prospective and retrospective measures to predict adult well-being and adult-child/elder-parent relationships. Results show moderate correlations of .30 - .45 between prospective and retrospective measures. In examining the relative effectiveness of prospective and retrospective measures to predict later life outcomes, we find that retrospective reports of the family environment most validly capture influences on the child in domains of strong emotional content but are less successful in cognitive domains.Item Between two worlds : an exploration of privacy management issues arising from first-year college students dealing with a mother's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment(2011-03-14) Lewis, Shannon Sweeney; Petronio, Sandra G.; Bell, Linda G.; Whitchurch, Gail G.Item The Impact of Family Functioning on Children's Adaptation During a Parent's Bone Marrow Transplantation(2010-04-08T15:36:40Z) Spath, Mary L.; Fife, Betsy Louise; Austin, Joan Kessner; Monahan, Patrick O.; Bigatti, Silvia M.; Bell, Linda G.Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is being used ever more widely for advanced and refractory malignancies. The family unit and individual members are profoundly affected by this treatment process. Few studies have examined the effect of parental BMT on the family, and there are no known studies which have investigated the impact of parental BMT on children. A descriptive design with longitudinal data from 61 children, ages 10-18, examined children’s adaptation, characterized as emotional and behavioral response, during the acute phase of parental BMT. The study included 3 time points: pre-transplant, during parental hospitalization, and one month after transplantation. The Response to Stress Questionnaire, and subscales from the Child Health Questionnaire and Family Environment Scale were used to assess child, parent, and family variables associated with child adaptation. Child emotional and behavioral response significantly improved over the course of the parent’s transplant, and significant changes in children’s use of coping strategies at each time point were found. The model accounted for 27% to 46% of the explained variance in child behavioral response, and accounted for 41% of the explained variance in emotional response prior to the parent’s BMT and one month after BMT. The model did not explain the variance of child emotional response, however, during the parent’s hospitalization. Family structural change, family conflict, and disengagement coping were found to be the predominant variables significantly associated with more negative child behavioral response across the transplant trajectory. Female child gender and increased use of disengagement coping before the parent’s BMT, autologous BMT during the parent’s hospitalization, and increased family structural change when the parent returned home one month later were significantly associated with more negative emotional response in children. Additional cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, using mixed methods, and include both parent and child data, are needed to substantiate the validity of findings. The data also suggests that significant variables in this model could be further studied for their association with one another and for refining a more accurate and inclusive model that may better explain children’s adaptation.Item A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Family From Generation to Generation(Sage, 2018-10) Bell, Linda G.; Communication Studies, School of Liberal ArtsThis study explores the effects of family system characteristics on the children’s families when they grow up and become parents themselves. Family systems have profound effects for individual family members. The study addresses the question of whether or not these effects continue into the next generation by influencing the families created by adult children. Also evaluated is the extent to which parental intentions to make specific changes can be successful. Families in two generations participated in home interviews during the midlife/adolescent family life cycle stage. During home interviews at both waves, family members completed a questionnaire describing their family. They then discussed differences of opinion about the family and jointly created a projective “picture” of their family. Both family members’ reports and coded measures from the family interaction process supported a continuity between family of origin (FoO) characteristics and the next generation’s families. Evidence was also found for the ability of both mothers and fathers to purposely change particular family characteristics, such as connection, individuation, or conflict, in their second generation families. These results support the usefulness of exploring connections between FoOs and families of procreation. They also suggest that helping parents focus on particular characteristics they wish to change from their FoOs may enhance their success in making those changes.Item A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Marriage from Midlife to Later Life(American Psychological Association, 2018-03) Bell, Linda G.; Harsin, Amanda; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsThis prospective longitudinal study explores the relationship between marital functioning at midlife and in later life as measured by global coding of marital interaction process. Couples participated in home interviews at midlife, then again 25 years later. During home interviews at both waves couples completed a questionnaire describing their family, then discussed differences of opinion about the family. Marital system variables were coded by trained coders from taped discussions. Coded measures of the marital interaction supported a relationship between midlife and later life marriage. Connection at midlife was positively related to warmth/support and clear interpersonal boundaries in later life; more connection at midlife was also related to less depression in later life. More individuation at midlife was associated with less conflict in later life. Evidence was also found for enhanced marital functioning in later life: more warmth/support, clearer interpersonal boundaries, more comfort with differences, and less covert conflict.Item Transnational Mothers and the Construction of Alternative Meanings of Motherhood(2011-03-14) Escobar, Juliana Quintero; Parrish-Sprowl, John; Bell, Linda G.; Goering, Elizabeth M.During the 20th century, production and labor flows across borders have increased the frequency of transnational constituted families. In the past, family configurations across borders were composed primarily of an immigrant male income-producer living apart from women and children who remained in the sending country. In contrast, in recent years more women are also leaving their loved ones behind in order to become their family’s main source of income. In many cases, women even leave their children to be cared for by their relatives. This social phenomenon is now known as transnational motherhood. In the U.S., transnational motherhood has become increasinly common, particulalry among women of Filipino and Latin American origins. The new trends of transnational motherhood, challenge mainstream western ideas about family configuration and in particular, about women’s maternal role. Whereas in Western cultures mothering is generally understood as a practice that involves the physical presence, nurturance and training of children for adulthood, transnational mothers generally choose physical separation in order to better their children material conditions. Consequently, transnational mothers may suffer as a result of social stigma and peer pressure of 'good mothering'. The present study examined the processes of meaning construction that serve to promote and negotiate motherhood identity and stigma management among Mexican mothers who left their children back in their country. In doing so, this study relied on theoretical frameworks about ideology, identity construction, social roles and stigma management.Item Women's Descent into Crime(2018-10) Pierce, Allison Bianca; Aponte, Robert; Foote, Carrie E.; Bell, Linda G.The rate of criminal involvement of women has historically been lower than that of men; however, that is changing. Changes in societal norms and progress toward gender equality have broadened the scope of female behaviors, and modified traditional female responsibilities and roles in the home potentially influencing their participation in the crime market. However, the bulk of research on criminal activity is based on the male experience. Thus, less is known about female criminals and their motivations. A closer look at women’s trajectories into crime therefore will likely yield important insights. This study investigates the descent into drugs and crime from the perspective of women who have previously been charged with crimes beyond simple possession of illegal substances. The key interest lies in shedding light on the experiences that set these women on the path to criminal activity. Specifically, this project aims to explore what the women themselves perceive as precursors to their criminal experience. Our findings suggest that female descent into crime may run contrary to many widely held beliefs, such as: that criminal careers begin in adolescence; that women become participants in crime through the influence of significant others; and that criminals come from lower class households.