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The selection of valid and reliable instruments for research and clinical purposes is needed to increase our understanding of the role that expectations of motherhood have in early identification and treatment of perinatal mental health difficulties. We aimed to identify and assess the psychometric properties of self-report measures of expectations of motherhood. A systematic review was conducted and articles describing the development or validation of quantitative self-report measures of expectations of motherhood were included. The developmental quality (risk of bias) and psychometric properties of each measure were assessed according to the 2018 COSMIN guidelines. Twenty-five articles describing 16 measures were identified and included. Eleven measures were designed to assess a broad range of expectations, while the remaining measures mainly assessed expectations of childbirth. The quality of measure development was mostly poor and rated as adequate or better for only three measures. The most suitable measures with the strongest evidence of good psychometric properties are the Slade-Pais Expectations About Childbirth Scale and the Rigidity of Maternal Beliefs Scale. This systematic review of measures of expectations has identified relatively few measures with adequate psychometric properties. Further development of existing measures is needed for use in both research and clinical settings. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Maternal mental health difficulties can have significant and long-term adverse consequences on mothers, their children, and families. Previous evidence suggests that holding unrealistic maternal expectations may contribute to postpartum mental health difficulties. Early identification of the potentially modifiable risk factor of maternal expectations may contribute to improving postpartum mental health outcomes. What this topic adds: This is the first systematic review to assess the developmental quality and psychometric properties of 16 measures of expectations of motherhood. The Slade-Pais Expectations About Childbirth Scale had the strongest evidence for good psychometric properties. For the majority of the measures, adequate methods for ensuring good content validity during measure development and validation were not used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present research was to develop a measure that assessed the level of ethnic identification of adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds, as well as individuals' level of ethnic identification with a host culture following migration. In the first study, an ethnically diverse sample of 275 people (138 males and 137 females) responded to a range of new items, as well as items drawn from related scales. Factor analysis revealed three dimensions of ethnic identity that were labelled, 'Pride in Ethnic Background and Language,''Liking for Traditional and Social Activities of my Ethnic Group,' and 'Sense of Belonging to This (host) Country.' This factor structure was evaluated in a second study with 1,007 (552 males, 455 females) adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A two-factor structure provided the most parsimonious fit to the data but further investigation of the factor structure within ethnically diverse samples was recommended. The results are discussed in relation to theories of social identity as well as research on ethnic identification and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research was to explore the nature and type of support required in a postnatal support group intervention for Iraqi women in Australia. A further aim was to understand Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers' explanatory models surrounding motherhood, relevant to the appropriate design of a culturally sensitive postpartum/postnatal support group. The qualitative research involved semi structured interviewing from which data was extracted and categorised into relevant themes using an interpretative phenomenological approach (Smith, 1995). In depth interviews were conducted with 7 Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers. A number of major themes emerged, suggesting key aspects to include in a postnatal social support group for Iraqi women based on their explanatory model of their mental health. Themes included: significance of motherhood; physical and emotional difficulties confronted; postnatal health care experiences and negotiating motherhood in a new country; and receptivity to the provision of a support group intervention. Findings will be used to design and evaluate a postnatal social support group for Iraqi women and, potentially, provide a generic family model of intervention for mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the year following the birth of their baby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although attention deficit — hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a distinct developmental progression and a substantial genetic component, very little is known about the genetic contribution to its development and the question of whether the same genes contribute to ADHD throughout childhood and into adolescence. Data from one of the most extensive twin databases, the Australian Twin ADHD Project (ATAP) have shown that ADHD is inherited as a behavioural dimension rather than as a discrete disorder. Behavioural genetic analysis is used in this study with both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of inattention and hyperactivity — impulsivity symptoms of ADHD to demonstrate that much of the consistency in behaviour during childhood and early adolescence is due to genetic influences. Genetic analyses help identify environmental influences that impact upon symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity - impulsivity. It is emphasised that the main function of genetic analysis does not lie in simply estimating the heritability of a trait, but rather in contributing to the understanding of developmental progression and environmental factors that may impinge upon this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]