Nonparental Adults as Asset Builders in the Lives of Youth

Author(s):  
Jean E. Rhodes ◽  
Jennifer G. Roffman
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
pp. 009579842110026
Author(s):  
Edward D. Scott ◽  
Nancy L. Deutsch

This case study examines the way an adolescent Black boy extends his kinship network as a part of navigating and demonstrating agency in mentoring relationships with nonparental adults. We purposively selected one participant, Bodos, from the sample of a larger mixed-method study involving youth, aged 12 to 18 years, in the southeastern United States. Drawing on narrative methodology, we used a holistic-content approach to analyze Bodos’ responses to semistructured interviews. Bodos used several narratives to describe his experiences. We offer three findings: (a) Fictive kinship is a positive feature of Black adaptive culture that can be leveraged by Black youth as a tool for creating a distinct relational dynamic with their mentors, (b) adolescent Black boys possess skills and knowledge that both preexist and emerge within positive mentoring relationships, and (c) youth agency and expectations manifest in mentoring relationships to inform and influence those adults’ significance. This case study furthers the field’s understanding of how cultural practices can positively influence relational development and create a unique relational context and experience.


2011 ◽  
pp. 1896-1902
Author(s):  
Carrie W. Rishel
Keyword(s):  

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan P. Farruggia ◽  
Pat Bullen ◽  
Joy Davidson

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 921-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marije Kesselring ◽  
Micha de Winter ◽  
Bob Horjus ◽  
Rens van de Schoot ◽  
Tom van Yperen
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher H. Seward ◽  
Michael C Saul ◽  
Joseph M. Troy ◽  
Huimin Zhang ◽  
Lisa J Stubbs

In many species, adults will care for young offspring that are not their own, a phenomenon called alloparenting. However, most nonparental adults experience an initial aversion to newborns, which must be overcome before a robust display of parental-like behaviors can begin. To capture neurogenomic events underlying this dramatic behavioral transition, we analyzed brain gene expression and chromatin profiles of virgin female mice co-housed with mothers during pregnancy and after birth. After an initial display of agonistic behaviors and a surge of defense-related gene expression, we observed a dramatic shift in the chromatin landscape specifically in amygdala, accompanied by a dampening of the defense-related genes. This shift coincided with the emergence of behaviors and gene expression classically associated with maternal care. The results reveal the outlines of a neurogenomic program associated with this dramatic aversive-to-affiliative behavioral switch, and suggest molecular networks that may be relevant to human postpartum mental health.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther S. Chang ◽  
Ellen Greenberger ◽  
Chuansheng Chen ◽  
Jutta Heckhausen ◽  
Susan P. Farruggia

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marije Kesselring ◽  
Micha De Winter ◽  
Tom Van Yperen ◽  
Suzanne Lecluijze

The involvement of nonparental adults (NPAs) in the upbringing of children is widely considered to be important for the well-being of both children and parents. However, there has been no systematic overview of parental and nonparental perspectives toward this involvement. This study presents an overview of the international literature on sharing responsibility between parents and NPAs. A structured search resulted in the inclusion of 49 relevant publications. Limitations of the extant research notwithstanding, some generalizations about shared childrearing can be made. However, many issues relating the taboo of sharing childrearing responsibilities remain poorly understood. To break the taboo, future research should further explore the underlying sensitivities.


1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Greenberger ◽  
Chuansheng Chen ◽  
Margaret R. Beam

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