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P age A4
J uly 24, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
Kids Suffer When Parents Argue Over Rearing Styles
“ Parents who would “ rather tight
than switch" their way o f parenting
are probably harming the very ch il
dren they are try ing to help," said
David B. Larson, M D, President of
the National Institute for Healthcare
Research (N IH R )
This finding is based on a newly
released N IH R summary o f a studs
lead by a team o f psychiatrists at the
University o f M ichigan. The re
searchers found that marital conflicts
over ch ild rearing can damage
childrens' mental health as well as
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Portland, OR 97211
248-5211
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their ability to function in school
with peers
The researchers investigated the
family environment o f adolescents
who were experiencing psychologi
cal problems.
Researchers found that adoles
cents who were brought up in homes
with a great deal o f marital conflict
over child rearing and little marital
satisfaction have more emotional and
behavioral problems than adolescents
who were brought up in a more har
monious environment.
Interestingly, a father’s level o f
satisfaction with his marriage was
found to directly impact his relation
ship with his children.
Fathers who reported a great deal
o f conflict in their marriage were
found to be less involved and less
affectionate with their children than
fathers who reported being satisfied
with their marriages.
The researchers suggested that it
was difficult to determine whether it
was marital conflict regarding child
rearing that caused adolescent prob-
Concerts To Help Youth
Feed The Children, an interna
tional hunger relieforganization, will
collect non-perishable food at Garth
B rooks’ concerts at the Rose G ar
den, Ju ly 25-27.
Fans attending Brooks’ concerts
are being asked to bring non-perish
able food items to the concerts for
deposit at Feed The Children collec
tion points located near entrances o f
the arena. Food collected w ill be
distributed to Portland-area feeding
agencies to help feed hungry ch il
dren.
“ Feed the C h ild re n has been
fortunate to have a long-standing re
latio n sh ip with G arth B ro o k s,”
said Larry Jones, President o f Feed
T h e C h ild re n . “ We appreciate
G a rth ’s com m itm ent to feeding
hungry children and we look for
ward to collecting food at his con-
certs.”
Through Feed The C h ild re n ’s
workduringthe Brooks concert dates
in Portland, Brooks’ fans w ill have
the opportunity to help those within
their own community, explained
Jones.
“ It has been estimated that over 25
percent ofch i Idren under twel ve years
o f age in Oregon are either hungry or
at-risk o f hunger," said Jones. “Garth
not only agree with Feed The C h il
dren that it’s wrong for a child to go
hungry, but he’s joined with us to do
something about it — to feed hungry
children.”
Feed The Children has frequently
collected non-perishable food dur
ing B ro o ks' past concerts, and
Garth is once again encouraging fans
to help feed Am erica’s hungry ch il
dren
Portland Area Host Families Needed
Foreign high school students are
scheduled to arrive soon for aca
demic program homestays, and the
sponsoring organization needs a
few more local host families.
According to Pacific Intercul
tural Exchange (P I E.) Executive
Director, John Doty, the students
are all between the ages o f 15 and
18 years, are English-speaking,
have their own spending money,
carry accident and health insur
ance, and are anxious to share their
cultural experiences w ith their new
American families. P I E. current
ly has programs to match almost
every fam ily’s needs, ranging in
lems or whether the adolescent prob
lems led to marital conflict
For example, parents who disagree
over how best to raise their children
may parent ineffectively by failing to
set consistent limits, expectations,
and consequences-a parenting style
that has been found to be associated
with child behavior problems.
Conversely, adolescent behavior
al problems may cause disagreements
and marital conflict between parents
about how best to handle or disci
pline a difficult child.
length from a semester to a full aca
demic year, where the students at
tend local high schools.
P.I E. area representatives match
students with host families by find
ing common interests and lifestyles
through an informal in-home meet
ing. Prospective host families are
able to review student applications
and select the perfect match. A s there
are no “typical” host families, P I E.
can fit a student into just about any
situation, whether it be a single par
ent, a childless couple, a retired cou
ple or a large family.
Fam ilies who host for P I.E. are
also eligible to claim a $50.00 per
month charitable contribution de
duction on their itemized tax re
turns for each month they host a
sponsored student.
Portland area families interested
in learning more about student ex
change or arranging for a meeting
with a community representative
may call P.I.E., toll-free, at 1-800-
631-1818.
The agency also had travel/study
program opportun ¡ties available for
American high school students as
well as possibilities for community
volunteers to assist and work with
area host families, students and
schools.
Whatever the relationship, the
basic finding remains that children
are negatively affected by conflict
between their parents.
Larson concluded, “Given find
ings like these, it would be wise for
parents to learn to negotiate on pa
renting styles rather than to argue
about who is right.”
T h e N a tio n a l In stitu te for
Healthcare Research is a non-profit
organization dedicated to conduct
ing and disseminating research on
the significance o f spirituality to
health and well-being.
The organization produces edu
cational materials, summarizes pub
lished research findings, hosts con
ferences to release ground breaking
research data, sponsors speakers bu
reaus and lecture series for medical
centers, awards grants to medical
schools for educational courses on
faith and medicine, and conducts a
worldwide media outreach.
For a copy o f the study, contact
Dan Kauffman or V icki Lovett at
301-231-7711.
“ W a itin g C h ild r e n "
Daniel and Alicia, ages 9 and 8.
Around the United States, there
are many children awaiting adop
tion.
In the state o f Oregon alone,
there areover200children inneed
Single adults, both male and fe
male, as well as couples are wel
come to consider adoption.
To learn more contact The Spe
cial Needs Adoption Coalition at
The Boys and G irls A id Society,
(503)222-9661.
Follow ing are some examples
Brittany, age 6.
o f the special children looking for a
loving home:
and A licia really needacommitted
family to call their own.
B rittany , age 6. Brittany has an
adorable scattering o f freckles that
enhances her strawberry-shortcake
smile She is a loving child who
can be very sweet and caring. Play
ing in the water is one o f her favor
ite pastimes, as is singing and
watching movies. Brittany is wait
ing patiently for a home where she
can be embraced by acceptance
and love.
Daniel and Alicia, ages 9 and 8.
These resilient Hispanic/Caucasian
siblings are an extraordinary pair.
Daniel is a gentle boy with a good
sense o f humor He excels in science
and finds dinosaurs intriguing. A li
cia is a caring child who is reaching
out to others. She enjoys playing
with dolls and experimenting with
arts and crafts. Doing well in school,
she is also a strong reader. Daniel
R o s e C it y C lo w n s A p p e a r F o r H o m e l e s s B e n e f i t
Fill your afternoon with lots of
laughs at this celebration o f Interna
tional Clow n week and support a
worthy cause for the community
After the 90-minute show, join the
clowns for face painting, balloon ty
ing, autographs, priz.e drawings and
just plain fun.
On Stage With Rose C ity Clow ns
will beheld Saturday, Aug. 3 at Port
land Community Co llege’s Perform
ing Arts Center on the Sylvania Cam
pus, 12000 S W. 49th Ave. Tickets
are $9 adults, $5 children 12 years
and younger.
The family-oriented show, spon-
sored in part by P C C , is a benefit for
Interfaith Outreach Services Resi
dential Independence Training and
Education ( R I T E ) Center, a shelter
to aid homeless children and adults
on their journey to independence.
Interfaith Outreach Services is based
in Tigard
V
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Northwest
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SAFEWAY EXTRA In-Store
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I
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Available at your Safeway store.