Browsing by Author "Saari, Milla"

Abstract Aims. Family functioning plays an important role in the development, health and well-being of the child. Research literature has shown the connection between the characteristics and distress of family members and the family functioning. However, the understanding of the importance of individual strengths to family functioning is significantly more limited compared to the knowledge of connection between risk factors and family functioning. The trait of optimism is known to be associated with better social relationships, but optimism as the predictor of family functioning has not been studied yet at all. The aim of the study is to examine the relationship of mother's and child's optimism on family functioning. In addition, it is aimed to determine the stability of child’s optimism in transition from childhood to adolescence. Methods. The data consisted of mothers and children who participated in the Finnish Glycyrrhiz in Licorice (GLAKU) follow-up study. A total of 213 mother-child pairs were selected from the original GLAKU study to the sample. Of the children selected in the sample, 113 (53.1%) were girls. Mother's optimism was measured by a Life Orientation Test - Revised (LOT-R) questionnaire based on self-assessment at the child's age of 7-8 years and 11-13 years. Child's optimism at the age of 7-8 years was measured by the mother's assessment with the Parent-rated Life Orientation Test (PLOT) questionnaire. Child's optimism at 11-13 years of age was measured by the child's own assessment with the Youth Life Orientation Test (YLOT) questionnaire. The family functioning was measured according the McMaster model by the mother assessment of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) questionnaire at the child's age of 11-13. The study examined the link between optimism and McMaster model's dimensions of family functioning: general family functioning, problem-solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, and behavioral control. The connections between optimism and family functioning were studied by linear regression analysis. Results and Conclusions. The families of the more optimistic mothers were generally better functioning. Mothers' higher optimism was associated with better problem solving skills, better communication and emotional involvement. Families with higher child’s optimism at 7-8 years of age were also better functioning when the child was 11-13 years old. The child's higher optimism at the age of 7-8 was related to better problem solving skills, affective responsiveness, affective involvement and better behavior control. Child’s optimism decreased between 7-8 years and 11-13 years. The results of the connections between child's optimism and family functioning were contradictory as the child's optimism at the age of 11-13 was not connected to the dimensions of the family functioning and, on the other hand, the decrease in child's optimism was associated with better family responsiveness and emotional involvement. Because of the contradictory results, it is important to study the topic further in the future. The results provide more knowledge about the importance of optimism for social relations. Optimism seems to be a significant psychological resource especially for mothers, and it may promote the processes that support the family functioning. According to the study, the trait of optimism can be utilize as a resource when helping families with children to improve the functioning of the family and when promoting the well-being of children and parents.