OBJECTIVE: This study focused on the role of extended family in mitigating the stress experienced by parents of children with autism and the possible challenges of involving them, especially in modern Nigerian society. The study identified the sources of stress for parents of children with autism, and considered location and family size factors in stress experienced by parents, the role of the extended family in mitigating the stress and the challenges that may inhibit the involvement of the extended family.  METHOD: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and was carried out in South East, Nigeria. All parents and guardians of children with autism in the three special needs schools that cater for children with autism in the two selected states were used for the study. Data was collected using a self-report questionnaire with 36 items to elicit information on the sources of stress for parents and the role of the extended family in mitigating the stress. A semi-structured 26 items interview schedule adapted from Smithfield’s (2011) parents of children with autism questions covering the child's behaviour, parent's feelings, and role of the extended family was also used to generate firsthand information on the issues raised and to complement data collected through the self-report questionnaire. There was a researcher observation guide for monitoring progress in the study. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions while regression analysis, t-test and Analysis of variance were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: The findings revealed that parents of children with autism experience stress that is hinged basically on the behaviour of the children. Family size does not influence parents’ stress experience but location does.  Some parents receive child care and/or financial help sometimes from extended family members. CONCLUSION: Parents of children with autism face a lot of stress that is hinged basically on the behaviour of the children. Some of the rural parents, however, have the opportunity of getting help sometimes from extended family members since special need schools are not located in their area or even nearby. The extended family relations sometimes offer financial help but from all indications, the modern urbanization has really eroded their help. Family size does not influence parents’ stress experience and role of extended family but location does.

This study determined the effects of mother-child mediated learning (MCML) strategies on the psychological resilience (PR) and cognitive modifiability (CM) of children with learning disabilities (LD) using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The study utilized a sample of 60 mothers and 60 children with LD. These children were both male (63%) and female (37%) primary five level children diagnosed with LD and were sampled from inclusive primary schools in Enugu State, Nigeria. The mean age and standard deviation of the children was 10.5 ± 1.04 years. Data collected were analyzed using a SEM approach. The findings of the study showed that (a) the causal model for the explanation of the effects of MCML on the PR and CM of pupils with LD significantly fitted in the observed causal model and (b) MCML had a significant effect on the PR as well as CM of children with LD. One implication of this study is that the PR, as well as the CM of children with LD, can be enhanced through MCML.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Research on the predictive capacity of emotional self-regulation on self-esteem and academic self-efficacy among children with visual impairment is limited. The present study investigated the predictive capacity of emotional self-regulation on self-esteem and academic self-efficacy among children with visual impairment in South-east Nigeria. METHOD: A predictive correlational research design was adopted for the study. The participants were 186 students with visual impairment in public schools in the study area. The data was obtained using the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES). We applied multiple stepwise linear regression analysis for data analysis. RESULTS: Results show that ERQ reappraisal and ERQ suppression are independent predictors of RSES. The ESRQ combined scores significantly predicted RSES. The standardized coefficient for the predictive capacity of the ERQ on RSES was -.464 (p=.000). The ERQ total score in collaboration with gender also predicted RSES. The ERQ reappraisal alone was a significant predictor of ASES, but ERQ suppression alone was not. The ERQ combined score did not significantly predict ASES. The standardized coefficient for the predictive capacity of the ERQ total score on ASES was -.108 (p=.164). The ERQ total score together with age significantly predicted ASES. But ERQ total score with parent’s educational background did not significantly predict ASES. CONCLUSION: Emotional self-regulation reappraisal and Emotional Self-regulation suppression as independent predictors consequently interact to lower the self-esteem and self-efficacy of children with visual impairment. It is pertinent to focus on and teach emotional self-regulation of students with visual impairment so as to boost their self-esteem and academic self-efficacy. This will help to reduce low self-esteem among the students with visual impairment and will also help to eliminate the negative emotional thoughts concomitant with disability.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The debate about the interaction between the individual student and learning environment (home) is still ongoing and inconclusive. Parents are modelled and they establish basic patterns at home which may never stop as teens develop. This study investigated child-rearing patterns as predictors of in-school adolescents’ maladaptive behaviours in very low-income rural communities in Nigeria. METHOD: The study was a cross-sectional correlational survey. Two hundred and sixty-one parents and teachers in Enugu and Ebonyi States of Nigeria participated in the study. Teachers identified the students with Conners' Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (CBRS). Parents whose children were identified answered the Child Rearing Pattern Questionnaire (CRPQ). The validity of the instruments was ascertained by three experts. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to address the research questions, while the null hypotheses were analyzed using regression at an alpha level of significance of 0.05. RESULTS: Results revealed in-school adolescents in very low-income rural communities in Nigeria exhibit maladaptive behaviours. It was found that 4.7% of in-school adolescents’ maladaptive behaviours can be attributed to the authoritarian child-rearing pattern while 12% of maladaptive behaviours among in-school adolescents can be attributed to the authoritative child rearing pattern. Authoritative and authoritarian child-rearing patterns did not significantly predict the maladaptive behaviours of in-school adolescents from very low-income rural communities. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the need for researchers to check out whether and how several other factors in the school that may contribute significantly to in-school adolescents’ maladaptive behaviours such as peer influence, disciplinary measures, school environment and even curriculum and pedagogy.