Journal of Child and Family Studies

Social bonds are key for adolescent psychosocial development; how youth perceive their connectedness with family, school, peers, and communities varies widely, which may be interrelated with self-esteem over time. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 8760), researchers examined how: (1) family, school/peer, and community connectedness linked with youth self-esteem trajectory classes, (2) self-esteem trajectory classes link with young adult socioeconomic and relationship outcomes including education level, income and close relationship quality, and (3) social connectedness is differentially related to young adult outcomes across self-esteem trajectory classes. While results showed that connectedness was universally beneficial, there were multiple significant differences between self-esteem classes with high self-esteem class showing highest levels of community, school and parental connectedness. Among all comparisons, consistently high self-esteem yielded optimal young adult socioeconomic outcomes in education level and income compared with both decreasing and increasing classes and better relationship quality compared with increasing class. Identifying members of different self-esteem trajectory classes with various patterns, and differing levels of social connectedness and young adult outcomes provides useful information for early developmental efforts, and program formulation.

Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) have been found to experience higher levels of parenting stress compared to parents of typically developing children as well as parents of children with other forms of psychopathology. We aimed to examine parenting stress in parents with children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the possible associations between parenting stress, child psychosocial functioning and the parent’s own symptoms of NDD. Participants consisted of 86 mothers and 37 fathers of children 8–18 years old (n = 97) diagnosed with ADHD and/or ASD. Parents were interviewed with the Swedish Parental Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ) and completed self-rating scales: Autism Symptom Self-ReporT for Adolescents and Adults (ASSERT) and the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). The Children’s Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS) was used as a clinical-rated measure of child psychosocial functioning. Results showed that both mothers and fathers experienced high levels of parenting stress, although mothers, when compared with the child’s father, reported higher levels in the domains of role restriction, health problems and total scale. No differences in parenting stress were found relating to their child’s diagnosis. Both parental NDD symptoms and child psychosocial functioning were found to be associated with levels of parenting stress in mothers, and the association remained in the adjusted model accounting for family context factors and child factors. Parental stress should be considered when planning interventions for families with children with ADHD or ASD.

The purpose of this study was (a) to describe traumatic experiences (TEs) prior to being adopted, (b) to identify groups of TEs in adoptees, and (c) to explore the relationships of a group membership with adoptees’ psychological disorders and adjustment. Data were drawn from 1616 participants in the Modern Adoptive Families Study, a nationwide survey of adoptive families that adopted a child via foster care adoption, private domestic adoption, or international adoption. Latent class analysis revealed four groups of TEs (moderate deprivation, high deprivation, multiple high adversity, and low adversity), based on TEs prior to adoption. The high deprivation group was associated with greater numbers of psychological disorders. The high deprivation group and the multiple high adversity group had lower psychological adjustment than the other two groups. The multiple high adversity group consisted of adoptees who were the oldest, adopted from foster homes, had more special health needs, and were not Asians. These findings explain heterogeneity of TEs in adoptees and suggest implications for post-adoption services that are sensitive to the characteristics of adoptees’ TEs, particularly for domestic adoptees.

The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship between mothers’ life satisfaction and social support reported at Time 1, and their children’s well-being indicators (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and happiness) reported one year after (Time 2). The main analyses involved 629 mother-child pairs, with children (53.9% female), aged 8 to 13 years (M = 10.52, SD = 1.18). To test our hypotheses, we conducted a longitudinal two-wave analysis using structural equation modelling, in which we controlled for children’s age and gender, and initial levels of children’s well-being indicators at Time 1. The results demonstrated direct significant positive longitudinal association between mother’s life satisfaction at Time 1 and children’s life satisfaction at Time 2, but there was no significant longitudinal association between mother’s life satisfaction at Time 1 and children’s happiness, and positive and negative affect. However, the results showed that mothers’ social support boosts the positive effects of mothers’ life satisfaction on children’s positive affect and overall happiness. In conclusion, the findings suggest that whilst mother’s life satisfaction is directly associated with children’s life satisfaction in the longer term, mother’s social support can enhance the positive effects of mother’s life satisfaction on children’s overall happiness and positive affect.

With the growing use of social networks, online body shaming is becoming a widespread and often socially acceptable phenomenon. However, unlike cyberbullying, the consequences of online body shaming are largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of behavioral, relational and cognitive-emotional responses to the experience of online body shaming. The study included a population-based cohort of 9441 adolescents aged 11–17 years. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the research team utilizing multiple-choice questions. The experience of online shaming was categorized based on whether it focused on the victims’ online presentation, appearance, or physical constitution. The results showed that 25.84% of teenagers had experienced online body shaming. We observed up to 50% prevalence of relational responses in both online and offline space and 25–45% prevalence of cognitive-emotional responses, primarily associated with depression- and anxiety-like feelings. This was accompanied by up to 15% prevalence of psychosomatic problems and substance use. These responses were significantly more prevalent in girls. Body shaming targeting teenagers’ physical constitution resulted in up to 21 times higher odds of negative responses compared to body shaming with a different focus. These findings suggest that online body shaming can have similarly detrimental effects on mental health, social functioning, and self-perception as cyberbullying.

Parents play an important role in protecting their children from childhood sexual abuse. Yet, there is relatively little empirical research examining what parents in the United States are currently doing to keep their children safe. Thus, our study examined which strategies a sample of United States parents reported using to prevent childhood sexual abuse and assessed the attitudes and beliefs they hold about sexual violence prevention. Parents were recruited for participation using an online crowd sourcing platform and completed a survey assessing their attitudes and beliefs related to childhood sexual abuse prevention. To assess prevention behaviors, participants reported their engagement in certain behaviors, use of prevention resources, and strategies for assessing the safety of other adults. The final sample (n = 383) was primarily White and college educated, with a slight female majority, and reported households largely comprised of cohabitating mothers and fathers. We found that parents in this sample are generally reporting implementing strategies reflecting best practice, including internet safety behaviors and parent-child discussions and education. Parents from this sample reported attitudes and beliefs thought to positively contribute to childhood sexual abuse prevention, including awareness of the prevalence of perpetration by known individuals, support for bodily autonomy, and use of correct anatomical terms for genitals. Lastly, a small negative correlation was found between parental perceptions of their child(ren) not being at risk for childhood sexual abuse and parental engagement in discussion-based practices.

Parent-child activities support children’s socio-emotional and cognitive development, yet numerous barriers limit engagement, particularly among families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. This study uniquely investigates and addresses these challenges by integrating insights from parents and early years practitioners. Through online workshops, 118 parents and 127 practitioners identified barriers relating to opportunity (e.g., time constraints, access to resources, and worries about mess and damage), capability (e.g., gaps in knowledge and expectations) and motivation (practitioners in particular emphasized the importance of parental confidence and positive experiences of play). To address these barriers, three co-designed activity packs were distributed to over 1000 families. The packs featured simple, clearly explained, play-based activities requiring minimal setup, along with resources and guidance tailored to diverse family needs. Emphasizing the process over outcomes, the packs aimed to boost parental confidence, bridge knowledge gaps, and support parent-child interactions. Feedback from 23 parents and interviews with 10 practitioners highlighted the packs’ positive impact on parental perceptions of play, their confidence in supporting child development, and their ability to overcome practical constraints. Practitioners played a pivotal mediating role, fostering trust, addressing concerns, and encouraging participation through personalized interactions. This study offers a scalable, cost-effective intervention model that directly addresses practical and psychological barriers to parent-child engagement. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, emphasizing the need for targeted, evidence-based solutions that combine resource provision with practitioner support. Such approaches are essential for fostering equity in early childhood development and improving outcomes for children across diverse populations.

Current and foster youth regularly lack adequate mental health support before, during, and after leaving the foster care system. Research on mental health care with foster youth rarely relies on the direct experiences and recommendations of those with lived and professional experience in child welfare. The current community-based participatory action research study worked with key stakeholders (n = 22) in child welfare to understand successful mental health treatment outcomes for foster youth. Five categorical themes emerged from stakeholder interviews, including (a) psychotherapy is a developmental process, (b) increased understanding of self in context is an indicator of improved mental health, (c) therapy effectiveness ought to be individualized, (d) perceptions of helpfulness is a key driver of benefit, and (e) outcomes ought to be conceptualized at the individual and relational levels. Findings highlighted an overall perception that there is a lack of clarity between researchers and clinicians as to what constitutes successful psychotherapy, and offer implication for how to reconcile this by prioritizing the voice of those with lived experience in both processes.

The play equipment present in children’s homes has previously been associated with their physical activity levels. This study aimed to describe sex differences in the play equipment found in Australian children’s homes. Data were from the Mothers and their Children’s Health study and the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health that included 5314 children from 2805 families. Families were divided based on number of siblings (only child vs siblings) and by their sex composition (all girls, all boys, mixed). For only children, this was further stratified by age. The percentage of families with each type of play equipment was calculated. Differences were determined through non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Play equipment was present in a higher percentage of homes with siblings than only children. For families with siblings, a higher percentage of homes with all boys or mixed sex siblings had bats/racquets/golf clubs and skateboards/ripsticks than homes with all girls, whereas skipping ropes were found in a higher percentage of families with all girls and mixed siblings than all boys. A higher percentage of homes with all girls had slides/swings than homes with all boys. For only children, there were no sex differences in play equipment for children < 2 years, 1 difference for children aged 2–4 years, and 3 differences for children > 5 years. Given that these sex differences could affect children’s physical activity levels, future research should consider these contextual differences to create inclusive spaces for children to explore their interests without having specific toys or equipment imposed on them.

The current study aimed to address the gap in understanding how different types of race-related stressors (e.g., racial/ethnic (R/E) discrimination experiences and worries) are related to adolescents’ psychological adjustment (e.g., internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and further, how various sources of social support moderate the associations between race-related stressors on adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The sample included 835 adolescents, with 44% identifying as Black and 56% as Hispanic, with a mean age of 15.2 years old (SD = 1.58) (50.9% female; 49.1% male), drawn from a subset of the larger Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) study. We ran descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression analyses using adolescent and parent-reported data. Results showed that R/E discrimination experiences were associated with both adolescents’ internalizing (p < 0.001) and externalizing symptoms (p < 0.001), whereas R/E discrimination worries were associated with only adolescent internalizing symptoms. (p < 0.01) There were no significant findings for the mitigating role of the different sources of social support on the relationship between R/E discrimination experiences and worries and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, supplementary analyses found that each source of social support had different significant direct effects on adolescents’ symptoms. The results highlight the intricate role of social support in response to R/E discrimination and adolescent psychological adjustment, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address specific support sources to effectively support adolescents.

The mechanism of COVID-19’s impact on the quality of life of adolescents over time remains elusive and inconclusive. To better explore the dynamics of the epidemic’s impact, a comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted at the beginning stage (Time 1) and after lifting (Time 2) Wuhan’s citywide quarantine in Hubei Province. The total sample size was 10,116. The results showed that among biological factors, the quality of life of adolescents with poorer health status was significantly impaired at both time points, while female adolescents were more fragile merely at the beginning stage. Psychological factors, such as self-efficacy and resilience have both short and long-term effects on promoting adopt changes in their daily lives. Anxiety as an instant negative indicator of the quality of life was only significant in Time 1. As social factors, lower social class and perceived stigma negatively impacted their quality of life continuously. Meanwhile, adolescents with higher education levels were significantly related to a worse quality of life in Time 2. Within the framework of the biopsychosocial model, self-efficacy, resilience, and de-stigmatization strategies were the targets for maintaining and promoting the quality of life among adolescents.

Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is a relatively new diagnosis, characterized by an abrupt and dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder together with neuropsychiatric symptoms. This sudden onset of symptoms that occurs within 24–48 h presents tremendous challenges for the affected children and their immediate family members. Currently, research on the experiences of siblings of children with PANS is lacking. This study explored siblings’ perspectives on living with brothers and sisters with PANS, and their perceptions of own ability and available resources to manage challenging situations. Nine siblings of children with PANS, aged 10–17 years, participated in semi-structured interviews. Informed by Transactional Theory, a combined deductive-inductive approach to qualitative content analysis was used for analyzing the data. The findings illuminate that PANS has considerable impact on the lives of healthy siblings who experienced fear of aggression and unpredictability of their siblings’ behavior; they felt that their basic needs as well as social and emotional needs were often neglected. The results also showed that siblings lacked formal knowledge about PANS and had only a limited number of strategies to cope with stressful situations. However, peers in similar situation were a source of emotional support. Practical implications include the need for development of community-based, family-centered support programs to reduce the impact of PANS on healthy siblings’ well-being. Directions for further research are outlined.

Parenting stress can be detrimental to child outcomes and there is evidence that both parental fatigue and household chaos are associated with the stress experienced by parents. There has been little investigation of the relative contributions these variables make to stress and even less consideration of the changes that may occur in the impact of and associations among these variables as children mature. This study explored the contribution of fatigue and household chaos to parental stress in a large sample of Australian mothers of children and adolescents. Participants completed the Parental Stress Scale, the Fatigue Assessment Scale and the Confusion, Hubbub and Order Scale. There was no group difference on the measure of stress. While parents of young children reported slightly higher levels of fatigue and household chaos than those of adolescents, effect sizes were small. Household chaos contributed to maternal stress over and above the impact of fatigue; however, there was a complex interaction between the effect of chaos and fatigue on stress. As the level of chaos increased, the impact of fatigue on maternal stress decreased. This interaction was not moderated by child age. As the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, our considerations of the results of the study include some speculation about the influence of this on our results.

This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Infant/Toddler HOME and Early Childhood HOME inventories. Participants included 131 Chinese families with children aged 3 years 4 months to 6 years, and 129 families with children under 3 years 4 months. The HOME inventory was completed by trained social workers during home visits. Parents completed measures on their parental stress, their children’s behaviour, and provided demographic information. Children’s development was assessed by individual assessment (early childhood group) or observation (infant/toddler group). HOME scores correlated negatively with child behaviour problems and parental stress, and positively with child development. Families with higher income and higher parental education levels reported higher HOME scores. Rasch analysis results indicated that the HOME inventories largely fulfilled the unidimensionality requirement though the items loaded on the lower end. The Chinese version of the HOME inventory is considered a promising tool for assessing family environment in Chinese families.

This longitudinal cross-lagged research attempted to examine the directions of relations between interparental conflict and aggressive behavior, with attention to the potential mediating effects of social anxiety. This study included 340 Chinese senior primary school students (51.5% boys, Mage = 10.86years, SD = 0.73). Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that children’s interparental conflict can predict aggressive behavior over time, as well as aggression did not predict children’s interparental conflict. Besides, we found social anxiety at time1 and time 2 played a mediating role between interparental conflict at time 1 and aggressive behavior at time 2. This study might help understand the relationship between parental conflict and aggressive behavior, providing important practical basis for reducing social anxiety and aggressive behavior. Our findings contribute to understanding the relationship between parental conflict and aggressive behavior, providing important practical basis for reducing the occurrence of social anxiety and aggressive behavior.

This study sought to test whether teacher self-efficacy relates to child internalizing and externalizing problems over two years. For two nationally representative samples of 8-year-old Australian children (sample 1, n = 3176; sample 2, n = 3417), teachers provided information on self-efficacy, child internalizing and externalizing problems, and perceived student academic performance. After controlling for child and teacher sociodemographic factors, results showed that higher self-efficacy was associated with lower levels of child internalizing and externalizing problems, and greater mean-level decreases in internalizing and externalizing problems over two years. Self-efficacy effects were moderated by teaching experience such that self-efficacy predicted child internalizing and externalizing problems for teachers with low or moderate teaching experience, but not those with high teaching experience. There was also a significant moderation effect on child academic performance, such that higher teacher self-efficacy predicted higher academic performance, but only for teachers with low levels of teaching experience. Moderated-mediation models further demonstrated that child externalizing problems mediated the association between teacher self-efficacy and student performance for teachers with low and moderate levels of teaching experience. Overall, these findings provide evidence that, for less experienced teachers, teacher self-efficacy might have an important role in child emotional and behavioral problems.

Against the background of growing urbanization, Chinese grandparents increasingly migrate to cities to provide informal childcare. However, this upheaval may negatively impact their well-being. This study aimed to investigate the association of migration status with depressive symptoms among grandparent caregivers and test the indirect association of social support and moderation of social health insurance. Using multi-stage cluster random sampling, we recruited and surveyed 981 grandparent caregivers (mean age = 58.3 years; 71.6% female) from Eastern China. After controlling for covariates, migration status was positively associated with depressive symptoms. The indirect association via family social support (but not friend social support) was significant. Moreover, social health insurance coverage moderated the indirect association via family social support. Hence, the role of family social support appears to outweigh that of support from friends in protecting Chinese grandparent caregivers’ mental health; such protection is stronger among those without local social health insurance. We underscore the need for universal social health insurance coverage, regardless of individuals’ migration status, to protect grandparent caregivers’ mental health in China.

Previous research has assessed ways that parenting behaviors, such as warmth and control, uniquely predict young adult internalizing symptoms; however, profiles of parenting incorporating multiple dimensions in tandem may more accurately characterize these behaviors and how they affect young adult well-being. This study aimed to identify profiles of maternal parenting emerging from warmth, psychological control, behavioral control, helicopter parenting, and autonomy support in two undergraduate samples, as well as their associations with students’ internalizing symptoms. Sample 1 (N = 409) was collected 8 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and Sample 2 (N = 324) was collected 5 months later. Latent profile analyses supported a 3-profile solution for both samples. Derived profiles identified maternal parenting that was 1) cold and controlling, 2) moderately high in control and helicopter parenting and moderately low in warmth and autonomy support, and 3) warm and autonomy granting. In both samples, students in the moderately controlling and cold, controlling profiles reported greater depressive symptoms than students in the warm and autonomy granting profile, a pattern that was found to be specific to females in Sample 2. Findings emphasize the value of examining constellations of parenting across domains and highlight the importance of maternal parenting for college students’ internalizing symptoms.

Despite high prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs) among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), there are limited randomized trials assessing the impact of interventions on these outcomes. We assessed the impact of two evidence-based interventions in a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) where nine clinics were randomized to one of three study arms: (1) Usual Care; (2) Group–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (G-CBT) + Usual Care; and (3) Multiple Family groups (MFG) + Usual Care. We utilized mixed effects models to assess the effect of the intervention on EBDs. While the main effect of the intervention was not significant, χ2(2) = 0.43, p = 0.806, the main effects for time χ2(2) = 32.47, p < 0.001, and intervention-time interaction, χ2 (2) = 59.59, p < 0.001, were statistically significant, suggesting reduction in the EBDs across the groups overtime. Pairwise comparisons showed that in the G-CBT group, EBDs reduced at three months [contrast = −7.59 (CI: −8.20 – −6.99), <0.001] and 6-months [contrast = −8.11 (CI: −12.64 – −3.57), <0.001] compared to baseline. No statistically significant pairwise comparisons across time were observed in the control group, which confirmed that the significant group-by-time interactions were driven by our intervention effects. Findings that G-CBT improved EBDs in this pilot trial highlight the potential efficacy of this intervention in addressing EBDs among ALHIV. However, further studies are warranted to investigate prolonged exposure to MFG as well as combination of MFG and G-CBT to understand the nuances that will ultimately inform the development of tailored effective interventions for addressing EBDs in this vulnerable population.

The existing body of literature concerning adolescent fathers is notably limited. This study aims to meticulously explore the fatherhood experiences of individuals who assumed the role during their adolescence. The qualitative data for this phenomenological study were collected online between March and August 2022. The study was conducted with participants residing in four different geographical regions in Turkey (Marmara, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions). The study cohort comprised eleven fathers, aged between 20 and 25 years. Data were gathered utilizing a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview form. Following the thematic analysis, we developed five overarching themes: “Emotions and experiences of being a father”, “Increased need for social support”, “Lifestyle changes due to being an adolescent father”, “Positive and negative effects of being an adolescent father” and “Recommendations for those who consider early marriage and becoming a father”. The study illuminated that those who became fathers during adolescence encountered financial challenges, mitigated by support from their immediate family or experienced relatives engaged in childcare. The findings of this study are anticipated to furnish essential data for nurses working with adolescents, contributing to the safeguarding and enhancement of adolescent health.

Parenting behaviors that support and hinder adolescents’ developmental needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence are associated with adolescent self-control. However, less research has examined a range of parenting behaviors in relation to adolescent self-control within a single study. Moreover, these associations may vary based on adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We analyzed adolescent self-reported survey data from a sample of adolescents ages 11–19 years in 2 Appalachian, southeastern U.S. states (N = 406, M = 15.00, 57.6% female), examining multiple parenting behaviors and adolescents’ self-control. Data collection occurred in Spring 2020. Multivariable linear regressions examined: (1) associations among parenting behaviors (i.e., behavioral control, warmth, solicitation, psychological control) and adolescents’ self-control controlling for adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics; and (2) interactions between parenting behaviors and adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., age, sex, family financial strain) in relation to adolescents’ self-control. For all adolescents, family financial strain was associated with lower levels of self-control. For younger, but not older adolescents, parental behavioral control was associated with higher levels of self-control. Parental warmth was associated with higher levels of self-control for male adolescents only, whereas parental psychological control was associated with lower levels of self-control for female adolescents only. Findings have important implications for understanding familial factors that promote and inhibit adolescent self-control by identifying its association with individual parenting behaviors, and key sociodemographic characteristics that strengthen these associations. Findings may be used to develop targeted parent-child interventions and resources to aid in the development of self-control during adolescence.

The spouse, parent-child, and sibling subsystems are critical components in the dynamics of multi-child families, collectively contributing to family differentiation and cohesion. This study employs a person-centered approach to explore the interdependence among these subsystems in Chinese multi-child families in Shandong Province. Additionally, it examines the relationships between subsystem patterns and two key outcomes: parental burnout and adolescent loneliness. Data were collected through a survey of 547 adolescent-parent pairs, all from intact, first-marriage, multi-child families. Using latent profile analysis based on marital, parent-child, and sibling relationships, the study identified three distinct profiles within multi-child families: Harmonious (73.1%), Disharmonious-Spillover (20.3%), and Disharmonious-Compensatory (6.6%). Results indicate that Harmonious families are associated with the lowest levels of parental burnout and adolescent loneliness. Conversely, Disharmonious-Spillover families exhibit the highest levels of adolescent loneliness, while Disharmonious-Compensatory families experience the highest levels of parental burnout.

The current study examined how parents’ perceptions of their family’s communication is associated with their expressions of affection, reactions to their child’s negative emotions, and their child’s social self-efficacy. Parents (N = 146), whose eldest child was between 10 and 15 years old, were recruited from Prolific and completed an online survey. Structural equation modeling indicated higher family conversation predicted higher perceptions of affection, adolescent social self-efficacy, more positive responses to negative emotions, and less negative responses to negative emotions. Furthermore, the model indicated that higher reports of conformity predicted more negative responses to negative emotions and fewer positive responses to negative emotions. Examining the impacts of family dynamics on young adolescents adds to the literature and provides further insight for family therapists about the impact of family dynamics.

Parenting can be challenging, and military parents face additional family stressors related to relocations and deployments. ADAPT4U is an evidence-based preventive parenting program specifically designed for military parents of school-aged children. This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of in-person group and telehealth versions of the program. We used quantitative and qualitative data in a concurrent embedded design. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS with regressions and ANOVAs. Qualitative data were thematically coded by multiple authors and then a consensus process was undertaken. Both conditions were highly satisfactory for participants, with in-person group rated slightly higher. Families were more likely to attend telehealth than group, both at all and for at least 50% of sessions. Telehealth participants rated more highly: helpfulness, the facilitator was understanding and responsive, and they would participate in a future parenting program based on their experience. Qualitative results reflected positive experiences both with the content and facilitators, and concerns or recommendations that often were directly addressed by the other format (e.g., suggestions by in-person group participants for a telehealth format). Consistent themes across formats included wanting children to be involved in the program and more follow-up after the end of the program. The ADAPT4U program is highly acceptable to participants, and providing multiple format options (in-person group and individual telehealth) will likely make it more feasible for parents to participate in a way that works best for them.

Although the literature has provided a large body of evidence about the impact of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), studies on how this influences typically-developing (TD) siblings are scarcer and less consistent in their findings. Moreover, fewer studies have included TD siblings from non-English speaking countries as informants from a qualitative perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of adolescents and adults with a sibling with ASD. The sample comprised 14 TD people from Spain aged between 12 and 29, currently living with a sibling with ASD. The thematic analysis revealed that participants identified seven domains of impact, grouped into three different levels: personal, dyadic, and family. The findings of the present study highlight the complexity and heterogeneity of TD sibling experiences and relationships among family members. This study presents topics that are of particular relevance to the Spanish context while identifying commonalities with other studies. These results highlight the importance of cultural factors in some family processes. In addition, results shed light on how TD siblings appraise differential parental treatment and potential protective factors for adjustment, incorporating the relevance of the individual parent-child relationship and certain parenting components as potential protective factors for TD siblings. Such information is important to develop more accurate and effective interventions and adjust the necessary resources to assist TD siblings.