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Treatment Outcome for Low Socioeconomic Status African American Families in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Pilot Study |
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| Authors: | Melanie A. Fernandez PhD Ashley M. Butler PhD Sheila M. Eyberg PhD |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , New York University , New York, New York, USA Melanie.Fernandez@childmind.org;3. Department of Pediatrics , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA;4. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA |
| Abstract: | The course and efficacy of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) were examined in 18 socioeconomically disadvantaged African American families of preschoolers with disruptive behavior disorders. Mothers reported significant improvements in child disruptive behavior but not in maternal depressive symptoms or parenting stress. Attrition was 56%, most often occurring after pre-treatment assessment but before treatment began. Results suggest that PCIT may lead to positive behavior changes for disadvantaged young African American children when families complete treatment. Recruitment, engagement, and retention remain significant problems requiring further study. Reduction of parenting stress also requires study in this population. |
| Keywords: | African American families disruptive behavior disorders oppositional defiant disorder parent training parent-child interaction therapy preschool-age children socioeconomic disadvantage treatment outcome |