Family Conflict Intervention for Parents and Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities
Author Information
Author(s): Yang Vevette J. H., Bergman Kathleen N., Cummings E. Mark, Shek Daniel T.L.
Primary Institution: Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
Hypothesis
Can a brief family intervention improve knowledge of family conflict and adjustment problems in typically developing adolescents with siblings who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities?
Conclusion
The study found that the family intervention significantly improved parents' knowledge of marital conflict and reduced adjustment problems in adolescents as reported by fathers.
Supporting Evidence
- Parents in the treatment group reported significantly better knowledge of marital conflict compared to the control group.
- Fathers reported significant reductions in internalizing and externalizing problems in their typically developing adolescents.
- TD adolescents in the treatment group showed improved knowledge of family-wide conflict.
Takeaway
This study shows that families can learn to communicate better and handle conflicts, which helps both parents and their kids feel better.
Methodology
The study involved a 4-week family intervention program with both treatment and control groups, assessing knowledge of conflict and adjustment problems before and after the intervention.
Potential Biases
The sample was predominantly White and from middle to upper-class backgrounds, limiting generalizability.
Limitations
The study had a notable attrition rate and focused only on immediate post-test effects without long-term follow-up.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 141 families with typically developing adolescents aged 10-19 and children with various intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for mothers' knowledge improvement; p=0.001 for fathers' knowledge improvement; p=0.042 for fathers' reports on adolescents' adjustment problems.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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