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Patterns of change in family-based aggression prevention
1Department of Family Resources and Human Development, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 872502, Tempe, AZ 85287-2502, USA.
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
|April 21, 2001
Summary
This study identified distinct change patterns in families receiving intervention for children's aggression. Some families improved, while others showed no change, highlighting varied intervention outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
- Behavioral Interventions
Background:
- Childhood aggression poses significant challenges for families and requires effective interventions.
- Understanding how families respond to interventions is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize different patterns of change in families undergoing an intervention for children's aggressive behavior.
- To explore the relationship between family characteristics and intervention outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cluster analysis to identify patterns of change in parents' alliance, parenting skills, and children's aggressive behavior across five time points.
- Analyzed data from 151 families participating in a targeted intervention program.
Main Results:
- Identified linear and nonlinear improvement patterns, alongside two distinct patterns of no change in intervention targets.
- Observed that different family characteristics were associated with these distinct change trajectories.
- Found interrelations among change patterns across different intervention targets.
Conclusions:
- Family interventions yield diverse outcomes, with some families showing significant improvement while others do not.
- Recognizing these varied patterns is essential for tailoring interventions and understanding treatment effectiveness in childhood aggression.
- Family characteristics play a role in differentiating intervention response, suggesting personalized approaches may be beneficial.
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