Parent-Adolescent Relationships: The Influence of Multi-Family Therapy Group on Communication and Closeness

Abstract

This article examines perceived change in communication and closeness between adolescents and parents after four weeks in adolescent residential chemical dependency treatment. Adolescents completed perception of parent-adolescent communication, closeness, and open-ended questionnaires before (n = 18) and after (n = 10) treatment and perceived changes in relationships after treatment. T-tests compared (a) those completing the post-test with those not, (b) pre- and post-test responses, and (c) pre- and post-test responses based on parents' attendance at multi-family therapy groups (MFTG). Positive change occurred after four weeks, especially when parents attended MFTG. The critical role of parent involvement in adolescent treatment needs recognition by funding and referral sources.