Psychosocial assessment of the family in the clinical setting

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Family Studies
• Primary Care Pediatrics

Background:

• Family functioning significantly impacts child psychosocial adaptation and mental health.
• Specific family psychosocial risk factors are associated with increased childhood behavioral problems.
• Early identification of at-risk families is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the Family Health Questionnaire (FHQ) for assessing family psychosocial risk profiles in primary care.
• To determine the correlation between FHQ-identified family risk factors and child behavioral health.
• To examine the FHQ's utility as a screening tool in primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• The Family Health Questionnaire (FHQ) was developed with 10 indicators of child behavioral health.
• 313 families of children aged 4-6 years completed the FHQ and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17 (PSC-17).
• Data were collected during well-child examinations at two primary care clinics.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between FHQ scores and PSC-17 scores (r=0.50, p<0.05).
• This indicates that higher family psychosocial risk, as measured by the FHQ, is associated with more reported child behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

• The Family Health Questionnaire (FHQ) shows promise as a valuable screening tool.
• It can identify families with psychosocial risk profiles associated with an elevated risk of childhood behavioral issues.
• The FHQ supports early intervention efforts in primary care settings.