An efficient tool for screening for maladaptive family functioning in adolescent drug abusers: the Problem Oriented...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Family Studies

Background:

• Maladaptive family functioning is linked to adolescent drug abuse and delinquent behaviors.
• Effective family interventions exist for treating family dysfunctions.
• Accurate assessment of family functioning is crucial for targeted treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) family domain for assessing family functioning in clinic-referred youths.
• To determine the utility of the POSIT family screen with adolescents exhibiting behavior problems, including drug use.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 135 Hispanic and African-American youths referred for severe behavior problems.
• The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) family functioning screen was administered.
• Confirmatory factor analysis and criterion validity were used to assess the screen's utility.

Main Results:

• Findings support the usefulness of the 11-item POSIT family functioning screen.
• The POSIT Family screen demonstrated criterion validity and accurate family classification.
• Adolescent-reported gender and race/ethnicity differences in family functioning align with broader measures.

Conclusions:

• The POSIT family functioning screen is a valuable tool for assessing family dynamics in at-risk youth.
• The screen's validity is supported by its ability to classify families and its factor structure.
• The POSIT screen captures relevant family functioning differences across demographic groups.