Paternal involvement in Multisystemic Therapy: effects on adolescent outcomes and maternal depression

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Family Therapy Research
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Antisocial behavior in adolescents is a significant concern.
• Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an evidence-based treatment for at-risk youth.
• The role of paternal involvement in adolescent treatment outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of paternal involvement in therapy on adolescent outcomes.
• To assess the association between paternal involvement and maternal depression within MST.
• To compare treatment effectiveness between families with and without paternal involvement in MST.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 99 families undergoing Multisystemic Therapy (MST).
• Families were categorized into two groups: paternal involvement in therapy (PIT) and no paternal involvement in therapy (NPIT).
• Pre-post assessments measured changes in adolescent externalizing/internalizing behaviors and maternal depression.

Main Results:

• Both PIT and NPIT groups showed significant reductions in adolescent externalizing and internalizing behaviors.
• The magnitude of behavioral improvement was significantly greater in families with paternal involvement (PIT).
• Maternal depression decreased significantly in both groups, with no significant difference between PIT and NPIT.

Conclusions:

• Paternal involvement in Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is associated with enhanced adolescent outcomes.
• Encouraging active participation of paternal figures in therapy can improve treatment effectiveness.
• Family-based interventions like MST benefit from the engagement of both maternal and paternal figures for optimal adolescent results.