scholarly journals Intervention Programs For Children of Substance Abusing Parents: Realist Review and Program Evaluation Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Usher
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Implementation Fidelity ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Substance Abusing ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Family Based Interventions ◽  
Children's Program

Substance abuse is a pervasive issue affecting Canadian families, and a substantial number of children are impacted by alcohol or drug abusing parents. Children exposed to parental substance misuse are at increased risk for negative psychological, emotional, developmental, and behavioural outcomes, and a substantial proportion will go on to experience substance use issues later in life. Early intervention is key to providing support for these children and ultimately disrupting the family cycle of addiction. However, few family-based programs for children of substance abusing families are reported in the literature and information on program theory is lacking. A 2-study dissertation was conducted in order to address these gaps. First, a realist review study was undertaken to systematically review existing evaluations of family-based interventions aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes for children of substance abusing parents. A systematic search of academic and grey literature uncovered over 30 documents spanning 7 different intervention programs. Data were extracted on contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes for each program. Four demi-regularities, or patterns of program functioning, were found to account for the effectiveness of programs included in this review: 1) opportunities for positive parent-child interactions, 2) supportive peer-to-peer relationships, 3) the power of knowledge, and 4) engaging hard to reach families using strategies that are responsive to socio-economic needs and matching services to client lived experience. Second, a program evaluation of the Renascent Children’s Program was conducted in order to determine effective implementation and program outcomes for participating children and parents. A repeated measures, mixed methods design was used with 19 families (26 parents and 26 children) who enrolled in the program over a 16 month period. Results indicate that the Children’s Program yields significant improvements in child emotional and depressive symptoms, child conduct behaviours, parenting skills, parent emotion regulation, family functioning, and family communication. High levels of implementation fidelity were also found. These two dissertation studies shed light on theoretical process of family-based interventions for children of substance abusing parents and provide preliminary evidence of effectiveness of the Children’s Program.

scholarly journals Intervention Programs For Children of Substance Abusing Parents: Realist Review and Program Evaluation Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Usher
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Implementation Fidelity ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Substance Abusing ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Family Based Interventions ◽  
Children's Program

Substance abuse is a pervasive issue affecting Canadian families, and a substantial number of children are impacted by alcohol or drug abusing parents. Children exposed to parental substance misuse are at increased risk for negative psychological, emotional, developmental, and behavioural outcomes, and a substantial proportion will go on to experience substance use issues later in life. Early intervention is key to providing support for these children and ultimately disrupting the family cycle of addiction. However, few family-based programs for children of substance abusing families are reported in the literature and information on program theory is lacking. A 2-study dissertation was conducted in order to address these gaps. First, a realist review study was undertaken to systematically review existing evaluations of family-based interventions aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes for children of substance abusing parents. A systematic search of academic and grey literature uncovered over 30 documents spanning 7 different intervention programs. Data were extracted on contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes for each program. Four demi-regularities, or patterns of program functioning, were found to account for the effectiveness of programs included in this review: 1) opportunities for positive parent-child interactions, 2) supportive peer-to-peer relationships, 3) the power of knowledge, and 4) engaging hard to reach families using strategies that are responsive to socio-economic needs and matching services to client lived experience. Second, a program evaluation of the Renascent Children’s Program was conducted in order to determine effective implementation and program outcomes for participating children and parents. A repeated measures, mixed methods design was used with 19 families (26 parents and 26 children) who enrolled in the program over a 16 month period. Results indicate that the Children’s Program yields significant improvements in child emotional and depressive symptoms, child conduct behaviours, parenting skills, parent emotion regulation, family functioning, and family communication. High levels of implementation fidelity were also found. These two dissertation studies shed light on theoretical process of family-based interventions for children of substance abusing parents and provide preliminary evidence of effectiveness of the Children’s Program.

scholarly journals A realistic review of family-based interventions for children of substance abusing parents.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Usher ◽  
Kelly E. McShane ◽  
Candice Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Program Theory ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Substance Abusing ◽  
The Family ◽  
Prevention Model ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Family Based Interventions

Background Millions of children across North America and Europe live in families with alcohol or drug abusing parents. These children are at risk for a number of negative social, emotional and developmental outcomes, including an increased likelihood of developing a substance use disorder later in life. Family-based intervention programs for children with substance abusing parents can yield positive outcomes. This study is a realist review of evaluations of family-based interventions aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes for children of substance abusing parents (COSAPs). The primary objectives were to uncover patterns of contextual factors and mechanisms that generate program outcomes, and advance program theory in this field. Methods Realist review methodology was chosen as the most appropriate method of systematic review because it is a theory-driven approach that seeks to explore mechanisms underlying program effectiveness (or lack thereof). A systematic and comprehensive search of academic and grey literature uncovered 32 documents spanning 7 different intervention programs. Data was extracted from the included documents using abstraction templates designed to code for contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of each program. Two candidate program theories of family addiction were used to guide data analysis: the family disease model and the family prevention model. Data analysis was undertaken by a research team using an iterative process of comparison and checking with original documents to determine patterns within the data. Results Programs originating in both the family disease model and the family prevention model were uncovered, along with hybrid programs that successfully included components from each candidate program theory. Four demi-regularities were found to account for the effectiveness of programs included in this review: (1) opportunities for positive parent-child interactions, (2) supportive peer-to-peer relationships, (3) the power of knowledge, and (4) engaging hard to reach families using strategies that are responsive to socio-economic needs and matching services to client lived experience. Conclusions This review yielded new findings that had not otherwise been explored in COSAP program research and are discussed in order to help expand program theory. Implications for practice and evaluation are further discussed.

scholarly journals A realistic review of family-based interventions for children of substance abusing parents.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Usher ◽  
Kelly E. McShane ◽  
Candice Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Program Theory ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Substance Abusing ◽  
The Family ◽  
Prevention Model ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Family Based Interventions

Background Millions of children across North America and Europe live in families with alcohol or drug abusing parents. These children are at risk for a number of negative social, emotional and developmental outcomes, including an increased likelihood of developing a substance use disorder later in life. Family-based intervention programs for children with substance abusing parents can yield positive outcomes. This study is a realist review of evaluations of family-based interventions aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes for children of substance abusing parents (COSAPs). The primary objectives were to uncover patterns of contextual factors and mechanisms that generate program outcomes, and advance program theory in this field. Methods Realist review methodology was chosen as the most appropriate method of systematic review because it is a theory-driven approach that seeks to explore mechanisms underlying program effectiveness (or lack thereof). A systematic and comprehensive search of academic and grey literature uncovered 32 documents spanning 7 different intervention programs. Data was extracted from the included documents using abstraction templates designed to code for contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of each program. Two candidate program theories of family addiction were used to guide data analysis: the family disease model and the family prevention model. Data analysis was undertaken by a research team using an iterative process of comparison and checking with original documents to determine patterns within the data. Results Programs originating in both the family disease model and the family prevention model were uncovered, along with hybrid programs that successfully included components from each candidate program theory. Four demi-regularities were found to account for the effectiveness of programs included in this review: (1) opportunities for positive parent-child interactions, (2) supportive peer-to-peer relationships, (3) the power of knowledge, and (4) engaging hard to reach families using strategies that are responsive to socio-economic needs and matching services to client lived experience. Conclusions This review yielded new findings that had not otherwise been explored in COSAP program research and are discussed in order to help expand program theory. Implications for practice and evaluation are further discussed.

Siblings of children with chronic disorders: Family and relational factors as predictors of mental health

2021 ◽  
pp. 136749352110521
Author(s):  
Trude Fredriksen ◽  
Torun Marie Vatne ◽  
Yngvild Bjartveit Haukeland ◽  
Megan Tudor ◽  
Krister Weatlye Fjermestad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Relational Factors ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Better Than

Siblings of children with chronic disorders are at increased risk of mental health problems. Predictors of siblings’ mental health require further study to identify children in need of interventions and to design effective intervention programs. Siblings of children with chronic disorders ( n = 107; M age = 11.5 years; SD = 2.1, 54.6% girls) and their parents ( n = 199; 50.3% mothers) were included in a survey study. Siblings and parents completed questionnaires on mental health. Siblings completed questionnaires on parent–child communication, relationships with parents, and an adjustment measure on the sibling situation. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of siblings’ mental health. Sibling-reported relationship with parents was a significant predictor of sibling mental health reported by siblings, fathers, and mothers ( R 2 = 0.26 - R 2 = 0.46). Siblings’ adjustment was significantly associated with fathers’ report of siblings’ mental health ( r = .36), but not mothers’ report ( r = .17). Siblings’ relationships ( d = 0.26) and communication ( d = 0.33) with mothers were significantly better than with fathers. We conclude that the sibling–parent relationship is a significant factor in identifying siblings at risk and that family-based intervention programs should be developed.

scholarly journals Rapid Realist Review of School-Based Physical Activity Interventions in 7- to 11-Year-Old Children

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Defever ◽  
Michelle Jones
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Implementation Fidelity ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
School Level ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Rapid Realist Review

Meta-analysis of physical activity interventions in school settings have revealed low efficacy and that there is a need to explore implementation fidelity. The aim of this rapid realist review was to determine, what physical activity interventions in school settings for children aged 7- to 11-years-old works, for whom, and in what circumstances. The realist synthesis was conducted following RAMESES guidelines. Relevant studies were identified following a systematic search process and data from 28 studies was extracted for evidence to form context-mechanism-outcome configurations that were clustered and refined. Using the five-level socioecological model, the program theories were classified into the levels of intrapersonal (child), interpersonal (teachers), institutional (program content, school administration, and school environment), community (home and neighborhood), and policy. The school level led to most context-mechanism-outcome configurations related to school leadership and policy, workforce structure, program characteristics, and school environment. At each level, we identified features of interventions, alongside implementation considerations that might work to promote efficacy and sustainability. The need to recognize the school environment as part of a complex system with multi-level interaction and influences was a key finding. In line with realist philosophy, the researchers encouraged primary research to confirm, refute, and refine the program theories presented.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document