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Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Puffer, ES; Healy, EF; Green, EP; Giusto, AM; Kaiser, BN; Patel, P; Ayuku, D
Published in: Journal of child and family studies
December 2020

Family-based interventions offer a promising avenue for addressing chronic negative family interactions that contribute to lasting consequences, including family violence and the onset and maintenance of mental health disorders. The purpose of this study was to conduct a mixed-methods, single group pre-post pilot trial of a family therapy intervention (N = 10) delivered by lay counselors in Kenya. Results show that both caregivers and children reported reductions in family dysfunction and improved mental health after the intervention. Point estimates represent change of more than two standard deviations from baseline for the majority of primary outcomes. Treated families also reported a decrease in harsh discipline, intimate partner violence, and alcohol-related problems. These results were corroborated by findings from an observational measure of family functioning and in-depth qualitative interviews. This study presents preliminary evidence of pre-post improvements following a family therapy intervention consisting of streamlined, evidence-informed family therapy strategies to target family dysfunction and mental health.

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Published In

Journal of child and family studies

DOI

EISSN

1573-2843

ISSN

1062-1024

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

29

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3493 / 3508

Related Subject Headings

  • Family Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 2004 Linguistics
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
 

Citation

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Chicago
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Puffer, E. S., Healy, E. F., Green, E. P., Giusto, A. M., Kaiser, B. N., Patel, P., & Ayuku, D. (2020). Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(12), 3493–3508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01816-z
Puffer, Eve S., Elsa Friis Healy, Eric P. Green, Ali M. Giusto, Bonnie N. Kaiser, Puja Patel, and David Ayuku. “Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial.Journal of Child and Family Studies 29, no. 12 (December 2020): 3493–3508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01816-z.
Puffer ES, Healy EF, Green EP, Giusto AM, Kaiser BN, Patel P, et al. Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial. Journal of child and family studies. 2020 Dec;29(12):3493–508.
Puffer, Eve S., et al. “Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial.Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 29, no. 12, Dec. 2020, pp. 3493–508. Epmc, doi:10.1007/s10826-020-01816-z.
Puffer ES, Healy EF, Green EP, Giusto AM, Kaiser BN, Patel P, Ayuku D. Family Functioning and Mental Health Changes Following a Family Therapy Intervention in Kenya: a Pilot Trial. Journal of child and family studies. 2020 Dec;29(12):3493–3508.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of child and family studies

DOI

EISSN

1573-2843

ISSN

1062-1024

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

29

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3493 / 3508

Related Subject Headings

  • Family Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 2004 Linguistics
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services