Young Parents Research Articles

One HPV Vaccination Message Does Not Fit All: Differences Between Young Adults Deciding to Be Vaccinated and Parents Deciding for Their Children

ABSTRACT Despite decades of research on HPV vaccination, the U.S. has still not achieved optimal vaccination rates. This study investigated two different message strategies (agency assignment and deviance regulation marking) for encouraging HPV vaccination in two different populations: parents considering vaccinating their children and young adults (18–26) considering vaccinating themselves. Using a 2 × 3 × 3 online experiment, this study examined the differences between the two message target groups and the effects of the different message strategies on psychological precursors to HPV vaccination and vaccination intention. The findings indicate that using both agency and deviance regulation marking message strategies provided a significant increase in HPV vaccination intentions. However, there were many differences in terms of the variables influencing HPV vaccination decision making in young adults (18–26) and parents making decisions for their children. Specifically, using human agency and a deviance message increased HPV vaccine confidence in young adults, but did not in parents. Implications of these findings for designing different messages directed to these target groups along with future directions are discussed.

Sensory-processing sensitivity, parenting styles, and adult attachment patterns in parents of young children

ABSTRACT Background Increased sensitivity to internal and external stimuli, known as sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS), has been linked to attachment insecurity and less optimal parenting styles in parents of children aged 4–13 years. Associations between these parenting factors in parents of children aged 3 years and younger have not yet been investigated. Understanding the relationships between these factors will facilitate the development of strategies to better support highly sensitive parents. Methods A sample of 153 parents of children aged 3 years and younger completed an online survey comprising standardised measures of SPS, attachment, and infant parenting styles. The underlying factor structure of the Infancy Parenting Styles Questionnaire was investigated. Results Factor analysis identified 33 items loading onto five factors: Discipline, Routine, Anxiety, Nurturance, and Involvement, with moderate to high reliability. SPS was positively correlated with parenting anxiety, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance, but did not predict parenting style. Younger parent age was associate with more insecure attachment styles. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that variability in parenting anxiety was predicted only by attachment anxiety and having fewer children. Conclusion While SPS was not seen to predict parenting anxiety, relationships between SPS, parenting anxiety, and insecure attachment suggest that strategies tailored to SPS would support highly sensitive parents to care for their children and promote improved parent–child relationships. These strategies may therefore be a beneficial addition to attachment-based parenting programs. Further studies using the Toddler Parenting Styles Questionnaire (TPSQ) are needed to identify optimal parenting styles for parents of infants and toddlers.

Clinical case of a live-born child with triploidy

Theoretical data on etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations of triploidy, life expectancy of children in case of live-birth with this chromosomal anomaly are presented. A clinical case of a triploidy in a child is described. The girl was born from the first pregnancy from young healthy parents. Parents are not close relatives. Pregnancy was complicated with anemia, recurrent threats of miscarriage, progressive lack of water, progressive violation of uteroplacental blood flow and delay in fetal development. A congenital heart defect was diagnosed prenatally. The girl was born at 38 weeks of pregnancy with low indicators of physical development by caesarean section. Multiple developmental anomalies and malformations were revealed after birth. Combined congenital heart disease was confirmed by instrumental examination. Karyotyping revealed karyotype 69, ХХХ. Dynamic observation revealed that the child's age-related skills were not formed. Epileptic seizures occurred from the age of 4 months. The seizures had a status course. Surgical correction of congenital heart disease was performed in two stages: at 4.5 months and at 9.5 months in this patient. A fatal outcome occurred with an increase in multiple organ failure at the age of 10 months. The features of the clinical case, the possibilities of prenatal diagnosis of triploidy are analyzed.

Mental health among parents and their children with eczema in Hong Kong.

This cross-sectional survey research investigated mental health symptoms and quality of life among Chinese parents and their children with eczema at a paediatric dermatology clinic in Hong Kong from November 2018 to October 2020. Health-related quality of life, eczema severity, and mental health among children with eczema, as well as their parents' mental health, were studied using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL), Nottingham Eczema Severity Score (NESS), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and the Chinese version of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). In total, 432 children and 380 parents were recruited. Eczema severity (NESS and POEM) and health-related quality of life (CDLQI) were significantly positively associated with parental and child depression, anxiety, and stress levels according to the DASS-21, regardless of sex (children: r=0.28- 0.72, P<0.001 to 0.007; parents: r=0.20-0.52, P<0.001 to 0.034). Maternal depression was marginally positively associated with increased anxiety in boys with eczema (r=0.311; P=0.045). Younger parents had higher risk of developing more anxiety and stress compared with the older parents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=-0.342, P=0.014 and aOR=-0.395, P=0.019, respectively). Depression level of parents with primary to secondary education was 58% higher than their counterparts with post-secondary education or above (aOR=-1.579; P=0.007). Depression, anxiety, and stress among children with eczema and their parents were associated with eczema severity and impaired quality of life in those children. These findings regarding impaired mental health in children with eczema and their parents highlight the need to include mental well-being and psychosocial outcomes in future studies and clinical practice.

A demographic assessment of the Lansing Effect in duckweed ( Lemna turionifera Landolt)

The Lansing Effect is the propensity for offspring of older parents to have shorter lifespans than offspring of younger parents. A recent review identified two demographic patterns that can produce the Lansing Effect: (i) a greater offspring mortality rate at all offspring ages in offspring of older versus younger parents (greater initial mortality parameter); and (ii) an offspring mortality rate that increases more rapidly with offspring age in offspring of older versus younger parents (greater mortality rate parameter). Here, we report on a longitudinal study designed to investigate these patterns, using the duckweed Lemna turionifera . We tracked asexually produced offspring that detached from parents that were comparatively young versus old (first versus fifth offspring, respectively). Offspring of older parents lived 15% shorter, on average, than offspring of younger parents, providing evidence of the Lansing Effect. A model-selection approach revealed that the difference between survival curves of first versus fifth offspring was mainly attributable to greater initial mortality in fifth compared to first offspring, though alternative models also received some support. Our study provides a demographic explanation for the Lansing Effect in L. turionifera in particular and provides a method for assessing the survival patterns underpinning the Lansing Effect in general.

A model of community youth mental health support services in the global South: A description and use of school-based services delivered by a non-governmental organisation in South Africa

ObjectiveYoung people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including South Africa, are disproportionately affected by multiple risk factors for developing mental health problems and there are numerous barriers to accessing mental health care. In such contexts non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a key role in providing support. We report on the mental health care services provided by NGO Community Keepers in South Africa. MethodCommunity Keepers (CK) offers psychosocial support to young people, parents, and teachers, during regular school hours, and free of charge. At the end of 2019, CK was based at 23 schools in 12 areas in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. In this paper we describe the model of service provision and present descriptive statistics from retrospective observational service data using routinely collected quantitative data from 2019, including details about referrals received, referral sources and reasons, and feedback received from children, parents, and teachers on the psychosocial support CK delivered. ResultsDuring 2019, 34 676 individuals accessed 18169 psychosocial support sessions rendered by CK. The most common referral source of learners to CK was self-referrals (40.6%), and the main referral reasons were emotional (psychological) problems, behaviour problems, or family (community) problems. At termination of therapy 320 (79.2%) learners said they strongly agreed that they would recommend CK to someone at their school. At termination of therapy with learners, 95 (39.3%) teachers rated CK’s services as excellent, 139 (57.4%) teachers gave a rating of good, and 204 (79.7%) parents reported an improvement in their relationship with their children. ConclusionsCK is an example of how psychosocial support can be embedded in schools in a LMIC. CK’s multifaceted model of service delivery could be used by other school-based mental health care service providers in other LMICs to inform and/or refine the services that they wish to offer.

Language shift in Aceh: The sociolinguistic situation of post-conflict society

Aceh is a special autonomous province of Indonesia located on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island. Aceh had been in conflict with the Indonesian government for more than 3 decades before officially declaring peace in 2005. This study aims to shed light on the sociolinguistic situation in Aceh during the conflict and following the 2005 peace accord, as well as to provide a deeper understanding of the roots of Aceh’s rapid language shift. Based on focus groups with young people and young parents, as well as follow-up interviews with members of an earlier generation, the study revealed that the prolonged conflict between Aceh and Indonesia failed to lead to resistance. Instead of being a colonial language, Indonesian is an integral part of national identity. Even though there was still a stated pride and high level of ideological identification with Acehnese, a gradual shift away from Acehnese began during the conflict. Since the 1970s and 1980s, an emerging phenomenon of Indonesian intergenerational transmission has emerged. This linguistic phenomenon then became more and more common among Acehnese families in the 2000s and peaked after the tsunami and peace agreement. Prestige/modernity, education, and socioeconomic factors seem to be the primary drivers of the Acehnese-to-Indonesian language shift.

Life Trajectories of the Russophone Speakers in Germany: 30 Years of Observation

This article presents a multifaceted portrait of immigrants to Germany from the post-Soviet states. The article traces the paths of two families over the course almost of a third of a century after immigration, focusing on language use and integration into the new environment. In-depth interviews conducted at various stages of the integration process and age-appropriate tests served as research material. The content, text, and lexical analyses, as well as a linguistic biography method, were used. The research included four generations of Russian Germans and Jews in each family. Russophones in Germany have not had an easy time integrating but, ultimately, have a positive attitude toward their adoptive country. The results show that the German language became the primary means of communication outside the family and partly within the family where Russian dominates among the second and third generations. The oldest generation (great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers) were fluent in German to some extent; those who moved at the age of 20–40 learned it sufficiently for their jobs; their children studied in German preschools and schools and became completely bilingual; and the great-grandchildren were born in Germany. The younger generations have fully integrated into German society, although strong connections with locals exist among the older generations too. Proficiency in the Russian language is still maintained even among the great-grandchildren’s generation, although not to the same extent as among the generation of young parents.

ВОЗРАСТНАЯ ДИНАМИКА ПРОМЕРОВ ТЕЛА И ИНДЕКСОВ ТЕЛОСЛОЖЕНИЯ МОЛОДНЯКА ОВЕЦ ТУШИНСКОЙ ПОРОДЫ В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ВОЗРАСТА РОДИТЕЛЕЙ

Research study of the biological characteristics of rams and ewes of different ages and their ability to transmit to their offspring the qualities required by the breeder which were obtained as a result of crossing is a very important and urgent task. To identify the best age combination of parents used to produce highly productive offspring, it is necessary to study not only the fertility and fertility of the queens of the selected breed as well as the safety of the resulting offspring, but also the exterior characteristics of the resulting offspring. For our research 1200 heads of Tushino breed sheep were selected and 4 groups of different ages were formed. The queens were inseminated with elite rams, of which, in turn, 3 age groups were formed. The characteristic measurements of the offspring obtained as a result of such mating were studied. Based on the experimental data, we can conclude that the little ones received from young and older parents are significantly inferior in all respects to their peers received from middle-aged parents. The same picture is observed in rams. Middle-aged parents gave birth to offspring that are the best in all respects.

Vaccine Completion and Timeliness Among Children in the Military Health System: 2010-2019.

Few studies have evaluated pediatric vaccination coverage in the Military Health System, although some evidence suggests lower than ideal coverage. This study assessed vaccine completion and timeliness among military dependents through age 24 months. Children born at military hospitals from 2010 through 2019 were identified using Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program data. Vaccine completion and timeliness were assessed for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; polio; measles, mumps, and rubella; hepatitis B; Haemophilus influenzae type b; varicella; and pneumococcal conjugate individually and as a combined 7-vaccine series; rotavirus was assessed separately. Modified Poisson regression models were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for noncompletion and delays, adjusting for demographic characteristics. Of 275 967 children, 74.4% completed the combined 7-vaccine series, and 36.2% of those who completed the series had delays. Completion peaked at 78.7% among children born in 2016 and 2017. Among all vaccines, completion was lowest for rotavirus (77.5%), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (83.1%), Haemophilus influenzae type b (86.6%), and pneumococcal conjugate (88.4%). Risk for noncompletion was higher among children born to younger pregnant parents (adjusted RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.27-1.40) and with a well-child care location change (adjusted RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.09-1.12). Risk for delays paralleled that for noncompletion. Vaccine completion and timeliness generally improved among military children, but greater noncompletion of vaccine series with more versus fewer doses and disparities for younger and mobile service members suggest system barriers remain.

Young people and parent or carers views on type 2 diabetes mellitus care in england and wales - insights from the PREM survey report

Young people and parent or carers views on type 2 diabetes mellitus care in england and wales - insights from the PREM survey report

Interactions between broiler parent stock age and egg pre-incubation duration: effects on embryo development, hatchability, day-old chick weight, and yolk sac weight

Egg storage is a common practice in commercial hatcheries, but prolonged storage can negatively impact hatchability, causing a significant problem for the poultry industry. Repeated pre-incubation could mitigate the decline depending on the age of the parent stock. The study investigated the interactions between parent stock age (30, 45, and 58 weeks) and repeated pre-incubation on the hatchability and embryo development of 15-day stored eggs from Ross 308 parent stock. Three different pre-incubation durations were employed during storage: no pre-incubation and twice at the 5th and 10th days of egg storage for either 4 or 8 h. For each parent stock age, 3 600 eggs collected on the same day from the same parent stock were used for hatchability assessment. The duration of pre-incubation was determined as the eggshell temperature increased from 28 °C to a maximum of 35 °C and then cooled to 28 °C; the persistency at 35 °C was either 1 or 4 h for the total pre-incubation period. The hatchability of both set and fertile eggs and early, middle, and late embryonic mortality depended on the parent stock’s age (P < 0.001). Pre-incubation alone did not have any impact on hatchability. Conversely, a significant interaction was observed between parent stock age and pre-incubation duration on the hatchability of fertile eggs (P = 0.001). At 30 weeks of parent stock age, both durations of pre-incubation positively influenced the hatchability. At 45 weeks of parent stock age, pre-incubation length had no effect on hatchability. At 58 weeks of parent stock age, a longer pre-incubation period, 2 × 8 h, was associated with decreased hatchability. Early embryonic mortality was not influenced by pre-incubation. However, a significant interaction was observed (P = 0.003). At 30 weeks of parent stock age, both short and long lengths of pre-incubation were associated with a decrease in early embryonic mortality. However, at 45 and 58 weeks, pre-incubation did not significantly affect early embryonic mortality. Additionally, longer pre-incubation periods significantly increased middle mortality compared to untreated eggs (P = 0.035). The median of embryo development for untreated eggs was the same across all ages (stage 10). In the older parent stock (45 and 58 weeks), repeated pre-incubation increased variability in embryo development, while in the younger parent stock, repeated pre-incubation decreased variability in embryo development. In conclusion, the duration and the frequency of pre-incubation should be specified based on the age of the parent stock.

Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Early Childhood Caries in Bihor, Romania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant global health issue, particularly affecting deciduous teeth in young children. ECC is prevalent in Romania, where nearly half of children experience dental caries. This study aimed to assess the influence of gender, age, and living environment on parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding ECC in Bihor County, Romania, using a KAP-type questionnaire. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and September 2024, utilizing an online KAP questionnaire distributed via social networks. The sample comprised 419 parents of children under six years old. Respondents provided socio-demographic data and answered questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning ECC prevention, treatment, and oral health. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square tests to assess associations between demographic factors and parental KAP. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 419 respondents, 83.1% were female, and 62.5% were between the ages of 31 and 40. Significant gender-based differences were found in knowledge about pain from caries (93.7% of female participants vs. 81.7% of male participants, p = 0.004) and the importance of brushing twice daily (93.7% of female respondents vs. 80.3% of male respondents, p = 0.010). Younger parents (aged 18-30) were more likely to affirm the effectiveness of fluoride (65.4%) compared to those aged 31-40 (53.1%, p = 0.02). Urban parents were more likely to correctly identify the timing of tooth eruption (59.1% vs. 52.6% of rural parents, p = 0.021). The study highlights gender, age, and urban-rural disparities in parental knowledge and attitudes towards ECC. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to improve oral health outcomes and reduce ECC prevalence in the Bihor region. Tailored public health strategies addressing demographic factors could enhance preventive oral health behaviors and reduce the healthcare burden associated with untreated dental caries.

Generation Scotland Teenage Recruitment – Creating, evaluating and evolving a study sign-up process in collaboration with study participants and young people

ObjectivesGeneration Scotland (GS) is a family-based genetic epidemiology study. Initial recruitment was ~24,000 adult volunteers from across Scotland in 2006-11 with consent for medical record linkage and re-contact. In 2022 we began recruiting another 20,000, with consent extended to administrative records, with age range now 12+. MethodsPeople join the study and complete a questionnaire online, with postal saliva sample collection for DNA. Initially, the consent process required a parent/guardian to join GS, confirm their 12-15 year-old’s capacity for enduring consent and invite their child to join. After launch, parents and young people fed back that the communication and consent methods had a negative effect on the ability of young people to join GS - impacting their autonomy, as they were unable join GS independently of their parents. ResultsThe GS Team designed a new sign-up process for 12–15 year-olds that allowed the teenager to sign up first and request that their parent agree they have capacity to consent. Creating this process was done in collaboration with the new GS YPAG. This new sign-up process was launched in September 2023. We also enabled sign-up using a mobile phone number instead of an email address. ConclusionCo-design of GS recruitment with young people and parents has greatly improved the sign-up process, making GS the first UK longitudinal study where people aged 12-15 can provide enduring consent online with parental confirmation of their capacity. This provides young people with greater ownership over their ability to take part in health research.

Natural Selection Across Three Generations of Americans.

We investigate natural selection on polygenic scores in the contemporary US, using the Health and Retirement Study. Across three generations, scores which correlate negatively (positively) with education are selected for (against). However, results only partially support the economic theory of fertility as an explanation for natural selection. The theory predicts that selection coefficients should be stronger among low-income, less educated, unmarried and younger parents, but these predictions are only half borne out: coefficients are larger only among low-income parents and unmarried parents. We also estimate effect sizes corrected for noise in the polygenic scores. Selection for some health traits is similar in magnitude to that for cognitive traits.

Parental domestic violence and abuse, mental ill-health, and substance misuse and the impact on child mental health: a secondary data analysis using the UK Millennium Cohort Study

BackgroundParental domestic violence and abuse (DVA), mental ill-health (MH), and substance misuse (SU) can have a negative impact on both parents and children. However, it remains unclear if and how parental DVA, MH, and SU cluster and the impacts this clustering might have. We examined how parental DVA, MH, and SU cluster during early childhood, the demographic/contextual profiles of these clusters, and how these clusters relate to child MH trajectories.MethodsWe examined data from 15,377 families in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. We used: (1) latent class analysis to create groups differentially exposed to parental DVA, MH, and SU at age three; (2) latent growth curve modelling to create latent trajectories of child MH from ages 3–17; and (3) a case-weight approach to relate latent classes to child MH trajectories.ResultsWe identified three latent classes: high-frequency alcohol use (11.9%), elevated adversity (3.5%), and low-level adversity (84.6%). Children in the elevated adversity class had higher probabilities of being from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and having White, younger parents. Children exposed to elevated adversity displayed worse MH at age three (intercept = 2.274; p < 0.001) compared the low-level adversity (intercept = 2.228; p < 0.001) and high-frequency alcohol use class (intercept = 2.068; p < 0.001). However, latent growth factors (linear and quadratic terms) of child MH did not differ by latent class.ConclusionsParental DVA, MH, and SU cluster during early childhood and this has a negative impact on children’s MH at age three, leading to similar levels of poor MH across time. Intervening early to prevent the initial deterioration, using a syndemic-approach is essential.

The Early Pretending Survey (EPS): A reliable parent-report measure of pretense type development for 4- to 47-month-olds

We present a new 18-item parent-report measure of pretense development for 4- to 47-month-olds: the Early Pretending Survey (EPS). Study 1 (N = 231) demonstrated good internal reliability, and a strongly correlated 2-factor structure for 4- to 47-month-olds. Study 2 (N = 587) also showed good internal reliability, and found the two factors loaded onto a latent second-order Pretend Play factor. Study 3 (N = 84) found the EPS correlated with a researcher-led pretense experiment, however it no longer correlated when controlling for age. Additional analyses using subsamples of parents from Studies 2 and 3 showed good inter-observer reliability between parents (N = 29), and good longitudinal stability after 6 months (N = 196). Additional analyses combining Study 1–3 participants (N ≤ 902) found no item functioning differences across demographic variables, including child age, country, and socio-economic factors. Children’s EPS scores increased as they aged; girls had higher scores than boys; and children of younger parents had higher scores. Finally, we examined the age patterns of each EPS item, demonstrating when 25 %, 50 %, and 75 % of children were predicted to pass each pretense type. The EPS is useful for researchers to better understand how pretending relates to other areas of development (e.g., cognition, language). The EPS could also help parents, early years educators, and children’s media professionals decide which pretense types to use with children of different ages.

Children’s screen time and psychosocial symptoms at 5 years of age – the role of parental factors

Background and objectivesElectronic media (e-media) has become a universal part of young children’s daily lives. Previous studies have found an association between increased screen time and children’s psychosocial symptoms. We investigated whether parents’ psychological distress and parenting style dimensions explain the association between children’s screen time and psychosocial symptoms. Moreover, we investigated whether parents’ mental well-being and parenting style dimensions moderate this association.MethodsWe used data from the Finnish CHILD-SLEEP birth cohort study. Parents and the child were assessed when the child was 5 years old (N = 671). The measure of screen time included program viewing from TV and other devices. Child’s psychosocial problems and parents’ depression, stress and parenting style dimensions were assessed by self-reports.ResultsA high level of screen time in children was associated with attention and concentration difficulties, hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms as well as internalizing and externalizing symptoms among 5-year-olds. For the most part, the associations remained significant despite controlling for parents’ mental health, parenting style dimensions and multiple background factors, especially associations relating to attention and concentration difficulties and hyperactivity symptoms were robust. Maternal stress and depression moderated the association between children’s screen time and psychosocial symptoms, indicating a more pronounced association among stressed or depressed mothers.ConclusionThere is an independent association between children’s screen time and psychosocial symptoms which is especially pronounced among those children whose mothers had poorer mental well-being. In clinical practice, the length of screen time should be inquired already at a young age and parents should be offered guidance to reduce the possible ill effects of excessive screen time, as well as help with their own mental health problems.

Interventions for improving the health and socioeconomic well-being of young parents in Africa: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionEarly childbearing is highly prevalent in Africa. Despite the harmful consequences of early childbearing on young people, there is limited documentation of interventions that aim to improve the health and...

Clinician perspectives on how change occurs in multi-family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa: a qualitative study

BackgroundMulti-family Therapy (MFT) is being increasingly used in specialist eating disorder services internationally. Despite evidence of its efficacy, little is understood about the treatment mechanisms and what specifically promotes change. This study aimed to understand clinician perspectives on how change occurs during MFT.MethodsClinicians with (a) 5 or more years’ experience facilitating MFT and (b) who had facilitated a minimum of two MFT groups were eligible for this study. Two individual interviews and four semi-structured focus groups were conducted online. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsTwelve clinicians (five systemic/family psychotherapists, five clinical psychologists, and two consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists) from six different specialist services in the UK participated. Four main inter-connected themes describing how change is perceived to occur were generated; (1) Intensity and immediacy, (2) Flexibility, (3) New ideas and channels of learning and (4) Containment.ConclusionsCurrent data matches closely with young person and parent experiences of MFT and intensive day treatment and how they perceive change to occur. Quantitative data are now needed to evaluate the impact of these factors on outcome.Plain English SummaryMulti-family Therapy (MFT) is being increasingly used in specialist eating disorder services internationally. While there is evidence that it is helpful, little is understood about how the treatment works and what specifically promotes change. This study aimed to understand how clinician believe change to occur during MFT for young people and their family members. Clinicians with (a) five or more years’ experience facilitating MFT and (b) who had facilitated a minimum of two MFT groups were eligible for this study. Two individual interviews and four semi-structured focus groups were conducted online. Recordings were written out word-for-word and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, a commonly used method for analysing this type of data. Twelve clinicians (five systemic/family psychotherapists, five clinical psychologists, and two consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists) from six different specialist services in the UK participated. Four related themes describing how change is perceived to occur were generated; (1) Intensity and immediacy, (2) Flexibility, (3) New ideas and channels of learning and (4) Containment. Current data matches closely with young person and parent experiences of MFT and intensive day treatment and how they perceive change to occur. These factors now need to be tested in future research.