Skip to main content
Log in

Predictors of Engagement in a School-Based Family Preventive Intervention for Youth Experiencing Behavioral Difficulties

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The researchers longitudinally assessed parent and child levels of engagement in an evidence-based preventive intervention for children. The sample included 114 fifth graders with aggressive, disruptive behaviors and their parents who participated in the Coping Power Program. Findings indicate that levels of engagement differentially fluctuated for children and parents throughout the course of the intervention. Results also suggest that child levels of engagement early in the course of the program influenced parent mid-intervention levels of engagement. Further, these relationships persisted when the influence of family environment variables were included in analyses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armbruster, P., & Fallon, T. (1994). Clinical, sociodemographic, and systems risk factors for attrition in a children’s mental health clinic. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64, 577–585. doi:10.1037/h0079571.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkins, M.S., Frazier, S.L., Birman, D., Adil, J.A., Jackson, M., Graczyk, P.A., . . . McKay, M.M. (2006). School-based mental health services for children living in high poverty urban communities. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33, 146-159.

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bögels, S., & Phares, V. (2008). Fathers’ role in the etiology, prevention and treatment of child anxiety: A review and new model. Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 539–558.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett-Zeigler, I., & Lyons, J. (2010). Caregiver factors predicting service utilization among youth participating in a school-based mental health intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19, 572–578. doi:10.1007/s10826-009-9331-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D.M., & Patterson, G.R. (1991). Relation of parental transitions to boys’ adjustment problems: I. A linear hypothesis, and II. Mothers at risk for transitions and unskilled parenting. Developmental Psychology in the Schools, 27, 489-504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B., & Kendall, P. C. (2001). Therapist responsiveness to child level of involvement: Flexibility within a manual-based treatment. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy.

  • Chu, B. C., & Kendall, P. C. (2004). Positive association of child involvement and treatment outcome within a manual-based Cognitive-Behavioral treatment for children with anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 821–829.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B. C., & Kendall, P. C. (2009). Therapist responsiveness to child engagement: Flexibility within manual-based CBT for anxious youth. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 736–754.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, B. C., Choudhury, M. S., Shortt, A. L., Pincus, D. B., Creed, T. A., & Kendall, P. C. (2004). Alliance, technology, and outcome in the treatment of anxious youth. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 11, 44–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, L. A., Kochanska, G., & Ready, R. (2000). Mothers' personality and its interaction with child temperament as predictors of parenting behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 274–285. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.79.2.274.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giger, J. N., & Davidhizar, R. (2007). Eliminating health disparities: Understanding this important phenomenon. The Health Care Manager, 26, 221–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman-Smith, D., Tolan, P. H., Zelli, A., & Huesmann, L. R. (1996). The relation of family functioning to violence among inner-city minority youth. Journal of Family Psychology, 10, 101–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halvorsen, I., & Heyerdahl, S. (2007). Treatment perception in adolescent onset anorexia nervosa: Retrospective views of patients and parents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, 629–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, C.E. (2005). Therapist techniques, client involvement, and the therapeutic relationship: Inextricably intertwined in the therapy process. Psychotherapy: Theory/Research/Practice/Training, 42, 431-442. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.42.4.431

  • Hill, N. E., Castellino, D. R., Lansford, J. E., Nowlin, P., Dodge, K. A., Bates, J. E., & Pettit, G. S. (2004). Parent academic involvement as related to school behavior, achievement, and aspirations: Demographic variations across adolescence. Child Development, 75, 1491–1509.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karver, M., Shirk, S., Handelsman, J. B., Fields, S., Crisp, H., Gudmundsen, G., & McMakin, D. (2008). Relationship processes in youth psychotherapy: Measuring alliance, alliance-building behaviors, and client involvement. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 16, 15–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Whitley, M. K. (2003). Treatment of parental stress to enhance therapeutic change among children referred for aggressive and antisocial behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 504–515.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Whitley, M. K. (2006a). Comorbidity, case complexity, and effects of evidence-based treatment for children referred for disruptive behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 455–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Whitley, M. K. (2006b). Pretreatment social relations, therapeutic alliance, and improvements in parenting practices in parent management training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 346–355.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Marciano, P. L., & Whitley, M. K. (2005). The therapeutic alliance in Cognitive-Behavioral treatment of children referred for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 726–730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, M., & Stattin, H. (2003). Parenting of adolescents: Action or reaction? Children's influence on family dynamics: The neglected side of family relationships. (pp. 121-151): Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

  • Lochman, J. E., Boxmeyer, C., Powell, N., Roth, D. L., & Windle, M. (2006). Masked intervention effects: Analytic methods for addressing low dosage of intervention. New Directions for Evaluation, 110, 19–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lochman, J. E., Wells, K., & Lenhart, L. A. (2008). Coping power: Child group facilitator's guide. USA: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, D. E., & King, C. A. (2001). Parental facilitation of adolescent mental health service utilization: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 8, 319–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., Hau, K.-T., & Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on hypothesis-testing approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and Bentler's (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 11, 320–341. doi:10.1207/s15328007sem1103_2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGinty, K. L., Diamond, J. M., Brown, M. B., & McCammon, S. L. (2003). Training child and adolescent psychiatrists and child mental health professionals for systems of care. In A. J. Pumariega & N. C. Winters (Eds.), The handbook of child and adolescent systems of care: The new community psychiatry (pp. 487–507). San Francisco, CA, US: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L.K., & Muthén, B.O. (1998-2007). Mplus user’s guide. Fifth Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

  • Nock, M. K., & Kazdin, A. E. (2001). Parent expectancies for child therapy: Assessment and relation to participation in treatment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 10, 155–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K., & Kazdin, A. E. (2005). Randomized controlled trial of a brief intervention for increasing participation in parent management training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 872–879.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K., & Photos, V. (2006). Parent motivation to participate in treatment: Assessment and prediction of subsequent participation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15, 333–346. doi:10.1007/s10826-006-9022-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, R.M., McKay, M.M., Wilson, M., Phillips, D., Baptiste, D., Bell, C. C., . . . Paikoff, R.L. (2007). Correlates of participation in a family-based HIV prevention program: Exploring African-American women's motivations and understanding of the program. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 15, 271-289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prado, G., Pantin, H., Schwartz, S. J., Lupei, N. S., & Szapocznik, J. (2006). Predictors of engagement and retention into a parent-centered, ecodevelopmental HIV preventive intervention for Hispanic adolescents and their families. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 31, 874–890.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spoth, R., & Redmond, C. (2000). Research on family engagement in preventive interventions: Toward improved use of scientific findings in primary prevention practice. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 21, 267–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staudt, M. (2007). Treatment engagement with caregivers of at-risk children: Gaps in research and conceptualization. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 183–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stormshak, E., Bierman, K., McMahon, R., & Lengua, L. (2000). Parenting practices and child disruptive behavior problems in early elementary school. Journal of Child Clinical Psychology, 29, 17–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szapocznik, J., Perez-Vidal, A., Brickman, A. L., Foote, F. H., Santisteban, D., Hervis, O., & Kurtines, W. M. (1988). Engaging adolescent drug abusers and their families in treatment: A strategic structural systems approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 552–557.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolan, P. H., Gorman-Smith, D., Huesmann, R., & Zelli, A. (1997). Assessment of family relationship characteristics: A measure to explain risk for antisocial behavior and depression among urban youth. Psychological Assessment, 9, 212–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The completion of this study has been supported by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R49\CCR418569). Additional support was provided by grants from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (DA-08453, DA-16135, 3R24DA021527-01A2S1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mesha L. Ellis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ellis, M.L., Lindsey, M.A., Barker, E.D. et al. Predictors of Engagement in a School-Based Family Preventive Intervention for Youth Experiencing Behavioral Difficulties. Prev Sci 14, 457–467 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0319-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0319-9

Keywords

Navigation