Brief emotion‐focused family therapy: A 12‐month follow‐up study Article Swipe
YOU?
·
· 2023
· Open Access
·
· DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12628
· OA: W4317708412
This study provides a 12‐month follow‐up evaluation of caregivers after participating in a 2‐day Emotion‐focused family therapy (EFFT) intensive, a brief intervention for caregivers of youth struggling with mental health difficulties. Caregivers ( N = 498) of children ( N = 337) completed measures of caregiver self‐efficacy and child mental health difficulties 1 week before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 4, 8, and 12‐month follow‐ups. Piecewise latent trajectory models revealed that parental self‐efficacy showed a large immediate increase following the intervention, β = 1.61 (1.32, 2.14), and although this effect was attenuated by 4 months, β = −0.77 (−1.31, −0.52), it did not change further by 12 months. Reductions in child mental health difficulties were observed by 4 months, β = −0.54 (−0.77, −0.37), and remained stable through the 12‐month follow‐up. Caregivers reporting more increases in self‐efficacy also reported greater reductions in their children's symptoms at 4 and 12 months.
