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Biomedical subjects

S Wolkind

Publications and source records attributed to S Wolkind.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

A comparative study of Greek children in long-term residential group care and in two-parent families: I. Social, emotional, and behavioural differences.

The social, behavioural, and school adjustment of 41 9-year-old children in long-term residential group care in Greece was compared with that of children of the same sex and age brought up in two-parent families. Observational, interview, and questionnaire measures were employed. Observations in school classrooms showed that compared with their classmates, the group care children were more inattentive, participated less often in the classroom activities, were more likely to be passive, and tended to be involved in alternative and nonproductive activities. In the playground, they rarely interacted with non-institutional children. On both parent and teacher scales the group care children showed significantly more overall disturbance. The boys showed poor task involvement in the classroom and more emotional difficulties, conduct problems, and hyperactivity, whereas the between-group differences for girls were statistically significant only for emotional disturbance and poor task involvement in the classroom. Both boys and girls in long-term residential care showed less harmonious, confiding relationships with peers than those reared in families, and were more affection-seeking with teachers.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1998

A comparative study of Greek children in long-term residential group care and in two-parent families: II. Possible mediating mechanisms.

Forty-one children reared in group care were compared with 41 age- and sex-matched family care children according to interview, questionnaire, and observation measures of behavioural and scholastic functioning. Individual differences in outcome within the group care sample were examined in relation to a range of possible risk/protective indicators. The strongest predictor of outcome proved to be the reason for admission into residential care, with the implication that the outcome was best for children who had experienced stable, harmonious family relationships in their early years. The risk and protective effects applied to both the children's behaviour and scholastic attainments but, although the two were intercorrelated, neither accounted for the other. All subgroups of children in institutional care failed to show a lack of confiding peer relationships, with the pattern of findings suggesting that this stemmed from some aspect of experiences (possibly involving peer relationships) during residential care, as well as from discontinuity in caregiving during the early years.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1993

Recurrence of unexpected infant death.

Families which had experienced two or more unexpected infant deaths were the subject of detailed confidential enquiries, including necropsy examination. Cases were derived from two main sources: first, deaths occurring during a nationwide programme of support for families with a subsequent baby (8 families) plus 2 families from a series of confidential enquiries in Sheffield, and second, direct referrals from paediatricians (17 families). Fifty-seven deaths were studied. Twenty-four families had experienced 2 and three had experienced 3 deaths; 11 deaths (19%) were found to be adequately explained by history or post-mortem findings; 7 (12%) were probably accidental; 31 (55%) were most probably due to an action by one of the parents (filicide); only 5 (9%) were considered to be true or idiopathic sudden infant death syndrome; in 3 (5%) cases there was insufficient information to draw a conclusion. Five (18%) of the families lived in circumstances of serious social deprivation. A history of psychiatric illness was present in one or both parents in 18 (67%) of the families.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1987

Child abuse.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Mothers' depression and their children's attendance at medical facilities.

Data is presented from a longitudinal study examining the association between depression in mothers and the frequency with which medical services were used for their children. Children of depressed mothers were taken more often to their GPs and had more frequent hospital admissions than others. At various stages of the study they were more often prescribed certain forms of medication. Multiple hospital admissions were commoner in children whose mothers had evidence of more chronic depression.

Child Health Services↗
PubMed1985

Research issues in child abuse.

Research into child abuse and its interpretation has been bedevilled by controversy over questions of definition and appropriate approaches. It is suggested in this paper that different questions require different approaches, and that the use of both sociological and medical models may be justified depending on the nature of the research issue. Possible future social science research activity based on this distinction is described in relation to definition, the acceptability of violence in society, the perception of punishment, the establishment of standards of care and decision-making by professionals. Specific recommendations concerning future research into prevention and treatment using a more medical approach are also outlined.

Child↗
PubMed1984

A longitudinal study of maternal depression and child behaviour problems.

Using a random sample of first-time mothers from an inner London borough, the relationship was examined between maternal depression and child behaviour problems at various stages after the birth of the child. Child problems at 14 months were unrelated to present or past maternal depression. Child problems at 27 and 42 months were related in an interactive way with present and past depression. There was little indication of behaviour problems preceding maternal depression. An examination of possible confounding factors in these relationships was also attempted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Adult psychiatric disorder and childhood experiences. The validity of retrospective data.

In a sample of young mothers an association was found between a depressed mood and the recall of poor parental relationships during childhood. Women who had been depressed but had recovered by the time of questioning did not recall a poor relationship. A second retrospective measure of a childhood experience, based on more factual details, was unrelated to current mental state.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Psychiatric disorders in children in long-term residential care: a follow-up study.

Ninety-two children who had been examined in a psychiatric study of five to twelve year-olds in long-term residential care were followed up four years later. Three-quarters were still in children's homes, but over half had been moved to different establishments. At both the original study and follow-up, the majority showed evidence of psychiatric disorder. Considerable continuity of behavioural pattern was found, particularly amongst those who originally had antisocial disorders, who were also most likely to have had changes of care-taker during the four years. It is suggested that the persistence of their disorder may be due to a vicious circle of unacceptable behaviour and adult rejection.

Child↗
PubMed1978

Psychiatric aspects of pregnancy in schoolgirls: a review.

This review has searched the literature to examine the hypothesis that illegitimate pregnancy in girls of school going age is an indicator of underlying psychopathology and, in particular, that pregnancy or sexual activity provide a form of gratification for otherwise deprived young girls. Surveys suggest that precocious sexual activity is more common in disadvantaged young teenagers and that pregnant schoolgirls are especially likely to come from large families, and to have unskilled parents. There is a suggestion that the younger groups of pregnant teenagers come from unsatisfactory home backgrounds. However, these conclusions are derived from inadequate studies and should be treated with caution. Relatively few sexually active teenagers use contraceptives but there is no evidence that this represents a subconscious intent to conceive and there is greater support for more straightforward explanations. There is a further suggestion that girls who continue with their pregnancy when the choice for termination is available are more disadvantaged than girls who obtain a termination, although the reasons for this association are not clear. Children born to very young mothers appear to do less well than children born to older mothers. However, it may be that this difference can be attributed to greater overall disadvantages in the younger group rather than to specific age related deficiencies in 'mothering ability'. The problems of schoolgirl pregnancy are compounded by interruption of her schooling and early re-conception. There is evidence that these complications can be lessened by the provision of specially designed intervention programmes.

Abortion, Induced↗