Family Versus Individual Therapy: Impact On Discrepancies Between Parents’ And Adolescents’ Perceptions Over Time

Abstract

This study examined the degree of disagreement between runaway adolescents and their primary caretakers, defined as informant discrepancies, on their view of their family. How these discrepancies changed over time and whether family therapy or individual therapy could impact that change were also explored. The current sample (N = 179 dyads) included adolescent substance abusers residing in a runaway shelter and their primary caretakers. Adolescent gender was examined as a correlate of change, and treatment attendance was controlled. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to measure discrepancies between the individuals within a dyad. Results showed that among those receiving family therapy, but not individual therapy, informant discrepancies decreased significantly over time. Additionally, dyads with a male adolescent showed a significantly slower rate of improvement in discrepancy scores across time compared with dyads with a female adolescent. Previous research indicates that lower levels of discrepant perceptions are associated with better individual and relationship functioning. Therefore, this study’s findings support family therapy as superior to individual therapy for addressing parent–child discrepancies––possibly through its focus on improving family communication, perspective taking, and understanding.

Co‐Occurring Trajectory of Mothers’ Substance Use and Psychological Control and Children's Behavior Problems: The Effects of a Family Systems Intervention

“…In addition, while mothers in this study received substance use treatment as usual through the community treatment center, those who also received the family systems therapy were more likely to exhibit a decline in both substance use and psychological control compared to those receiving the non-family-based attention control, WHE. This finding is consistent with previous literature on the effectiveness of this family systems intervention (Guo & Slesnick, 2013; Slesnick & Prestopnik, 2005, 2009) and family therapy for substance users (Liddle et al, 2001; Stanton & Shadish, 1997). In general, family systems therapies have the power to interrupt substance use and improve family interaction, but to date have not been tested with substance using mothers and their children.…”

Condoms and Connection: Parents, Gay and Bisexual Youth, andHIVRisk

“…Family therapy can be effective in resolving the discrepancies in perceptions between youth and their families (Guo & Slesnick, ). Initiating and supporting dialogue during enactments could diminish the differing perceptions around family discussions found in this sample, and also ensure that they are productive.…”

Discrepancies in Autonomy and Relatedness Promoting Behaviors of Substance Using Mothers and Their Children: The Effects of a Family Systems Intervention

“…Grounded in an ecological systems perspective (Bronfenbrenner 1979), EBFT is a family systems intervention that aims to disrupt the development and maintenance of problem behaviors within a family through improving social interactions within and across different systems. Prior research has shown the effectiveness of EBFT in disrupting dysfunctional family interactions and improving behavioral and health outcomes in families stressed by substance use problems (Guo and Slesnick 2013; Slesnick et al 2013). Among mothers and children participating in EBFT, it was expected that mother–child discrepancies would decrease over time, and mothers and children would improve in their individual autonomy and relatedness behaviors.…”

“…There is growing evidence that family-based interventions can improve parent–child interaction (Guo and Slesnick 2013), protecting children from negative behavioral outcomes. Families stressed by parental substance are usually characterized by severely disrupted family interactions.…”