Abstract
The present study examined the long-term treatment outcomes of the family-centered program Intensive Family Treatment (IFT) for families with multiple problems. We also tested the hypothesis that parental empowerment at the end of IFT constitutes a buffer between the negative influences of parental stress on their children’s behavioral problems afterwards. We included 275 families with multiple problems. Information about parental empowerment and child behavioral problems was gathered at the start and end of IFT and at follow-up, on average 2.8 years (SD = 1.6) later. At follow-up, information was also collected about parental stress and professional support. Data were analyzed through latent regression analyses. Significant improvements in child behavioral problems (effect size 0.60) and parental empowerment (effect size 0.53) were observed during treatment. Improvements were sustainable for child behavioral problems after IFT. Nevertheless, child behavioral problems remained severe on average and might be a stressor for parents. Together with other environmental stressors after IFT, these problems can increase parental stress and subsequently increase child behavioral problems. However, taking into account that professional support after IFT often still is needed, the findings of our study showed that parental empowerment at the end of IFT constitutes a buffer; parental stress had a less negative influence on child behavioral problems at follow-up when parents had a higher level of parental empowerment at the end of IFT. This study stresses the importance of empowering parents during family treatment to successfully cope with environmental stressors after treatment, including the problematic behavior of the child.
Highlights
Parental empowerment is an important factor in family-centered treatment to achieve favorable long-term outcomes for families with multiple problems (Graves & Shelton, 2007; Henggeler & Schaeffer, 2016)
We tested the hypothesis that parental empowerment at the end of Intensive Family Treatment (IFT) constitutes a buffer between the negative influences of parental stress on their children’s behavioral problems afterwards
The aim of the present study was to examine the long-term treatment outcomes of the Dutch family-centered program Intensive Family Treatment (IFT, Van der Steege, Ligtermoet, Lekkerkerker, & Van der Vliet, 2013) and to test the hypothesis that parental empowerment at the end of treatment constitutes a buffer between the negative influences of parental stress on their children’s behavioral problems afterwards, taking into account the amount of professional support received after the treatment of IFT
Summary
Parental empowerment is an important factor in family-centered treatment to achieve favorable long-term outcomes for families with multiple problems (Graves & Shelton, 2007; Henggeler & Schaeffer, 2016). Research showed that the situation of families with multiple problems after treatment often remains precarious and that parents still have to deal with the same environmental stressors which were present at the start of treatment, such as relationship issues, absence of financial resources or social support, poor family functioning, child behavioral problems, and the negative impact of previous life events (Cash & Berry, 2003; Van Assen, Knot-Dickscheit, Post, & Grietens, 2020). We will take into account the received professional support that is usually still needed for these families (Hair, 2005; Tausendfreund, Knot-Dickscheit, Schulze, Knorth, & Grietens, 2016)
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