Family Support Program for Parent-Child Relationships in Palestine
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Disqualifiers: Significant mental, physical impairments
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?Few evidence-based programs exist to support children and families affected by sociopolitical conflict, despite documented evidence of their heightened risk for emotional and behavioral adjustment problems associated with exposure to conflict and violence at multiple levels of the social ecology (e.g., political, community, and family). Thus, a critical need exists for an evidence-based program to ameliorate the impact of political violence on the overall well-being of children and families. The current study will conduct a rigorous evaluation of a theoretically-driven, family-based intervention program in Palestine, including both the West Bank and Gaza. Firmly grounded in the cultural context of Palestine but with broad implications for individuals exposed to sociopolitical violence, the long-term goal of this project is to provide a family-focused intervention program (Promoting Positive Family Futures; PPFF) that may facilitate individuals' sense of safety and support in the context of chronic adversity. The objective is to evaluate this intervention program in the context of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) in the West Bank and Gaza (N=300). The central hypothesis is that the program will have direct positive effects on family conflict, parent psychopathology and parental security in the family as well as on adolescent emotional security in the family, with cascading effects on adolescent adjustment. Consistent with family systems theory, we further hypothesize that treatment effects on parents will mediate on the effects of the treatment on adolescent adjustment. The rationale is that bolstering resilience in family systems is a key approach to promoting positive functioning in families exposed to chronic violence. The hypothesis will be evaluated with three specific aims: 1) evaluate the efficacy of an evidence-based family support program; 2) examine process models of treatment change, and 3) examine interrelations between parent and child functioning. To achieve these aims, the study will be an RCT employing a longitudinal design (N=300) with multi-method assessments at baseline (T1), post-test (T2), 6-month follow-up (T3) and 12-month follow-up (T4). Families included in the study will be evenly divided between the West Bank (n=150) and Gaza Strip (n=150). Families will be randomized into the intervention condition (PPFF) or treatment as usual (TAU). Each territory will have an implementing partner, and implementing partners and investigators will work together to ensure the study procedures are implemented in parallel across sites. Data collection will be conducted by trained research staff from a third-party survey and policy research organization. The proposal seeks to shift current research and clinical paradigms in these contexts by employing novel theoretical concepts, approaches, and methodologies. The contribution will be significant by 1) further developing new directions for empirically-based interventions in these high-risk contexts, and 2) advancing a relatively brief, cost-effective program that can be readily implemented to help children and families exposed to continuing conflict in Palestine, with the potential to be brought to scale in other contexts.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) in the Family Support Program for Parent-Child Relationships in Palestine?
Research shows that the Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) program in Gaza led to improvements in parental depression, emotion regulation, and family emotional security, with effects comparable to a longer, well-established program. Fathers and mothers in the PPFF group reported better emotion regulation and lower depression, indicating the program's positive impact on family dynamics.
12345How does the Promoting Positive Family Futures treatment differ from other treatments for improving parent-child relationships in Palestine?
The Promoting Positive Family Futures treatment is unique because it is specifically designed to enhance family support and parent-child relationships in the Palestinian context, focusing on cultural relevance and community-based approaches, unlike other general parenting programs.
23467Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for families in Palestine with an adolescent aged 13-16. Both parents and the child must be willing to participate, and they should live within the service area of implementing organizations. Families cannot join if anyone has significant mental or physical impairments that prevent group participation.Inclusion Criteria
Assuming a two-parent family, a mother and father willing to participate
I am a teenager aged between 13 and 16 and willing to participate.
Within the service area of implementing organizations
Exclusion Criteria
Families with individuals with significant mental or physical impairments precluding their ability to participate in groups
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Baseline Assessment
Initial assessments conducted to establish baseline measures for family conflict, parental depression, anxiety, and other psychological metrics
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
Treatment
Participants receive the Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) intervention or treatment as usual (TAU)
10 weeks
Weekly sessions (in-person or virtual)
Post-test Assessment
Assessments conducted to evaluate immediate effects of the intervention on family conflict, parental psychopathology, and adolescent adjustment
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
6-month Follow-up
Participants are monitored for sustained effects of the intervention on family dynamics and individual psychological outcomes
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
12-month Follow-up
Final assessments to evaluate long-term effects of the intervention on family and individual outcomes
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
Participant Groups
The study tests a family support program called Promoting Positive Family Futures against usual treatment practices. It aims to improve family conflict, parental psychopathology, security within the family, and adolescent adjustment through a randomized controlled trial with follow-ups over one year.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Promoting Positive Family FuturesExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Treatment as UsualActive Control1 Intervention
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of NotreDameNotre Dame, IN
Loading ...
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Notre DameLead Sponsor
References
Supporting Youth and Families in Gaza: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Family-Based Intervention Program. [2022]Background: A total of 450 million children are now living in active conflict zones. The negative consequences for children are significant and long lasting. In response to the urgent need for sustainable interventions for children and families, the current study evaluated a brief (12 hr, 8 session) family-based coping and support program, Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF), in Gaza. Methods: Families (n = 68, mother/father/adolescent triads) were randomized into the PPFF intervention or another lengthier (50 hr, 25 session) locally well-established psychosocial support program (treatment as usual; TAU). Results: Improvements were found for both conditions for paternal and maternal depression, emotion regulation using cognitive reappraisal, family-wide emotional security, and adolescent adjustment. Effect sizes were medium to large (d = 0.35-1.27). Fathers in the PPFF condition reported lower depression and higher emotion regulation using cognitive reappraisal at post-test than did fathers in the TAU condition. Mothers in the PPFF condition reported higher levels of emotion regulation using cognitive reappraisal at post-test than did mothers in the TAU condition. PPFF was also indirectly associated with improved depression at post-test for both mothers and fathers via improvements in emotion regulation using cognitive reappraisal and with adolescent adjustment at six months via improvements in maternal emotion regulation using cognitive reappraisal. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PPFF intervention has many benefits comparable with a longer and locally well-established program. PPFF was also associated with unique positive implications for family-wide adjustment over time. Support was also identified for transdiagnostic processes of improvement associated with the PPPF intervention consistent with the theoretical models informing the approach.
The Multi-Family Approach to facilitate a family support network for Palestinian parents of children with a disability: a descriptive study. [2019]Families with a child who has a disability have extra difficulties, particularly when services are hard to reach or less available. In a collaborative project, the Institute of Community and Public Health, the Palestinian community-based rehabilitation programme, and international non-governmental organisations cooperated to share and develop expertise and knowledge on increasing families' resilience through establishing family groups. This contribution focuses on the use of the Multi-Family Approach (MFA) in a Palestinian context. MFA is a family-oriented method provided in a group setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementing the intervention and the experiences gained by introducing the MFA in the West Bank.
Before we begin. The importance of antenatal education. [2012]A review of the impact of universal antenatal education found that group based programmes which promote the transition to parenthood by focusing on relationships (between the couple and with the baby), and which are participative and build social support, are most likely to be effective (McMillan et al 2009). An Expert Reference Group convened by the Department of Health has designed a Preparation for Birth and Beyond programme to incorporate the evidence about what works and which draws on neurology, sociology and psychology including theories about fetal programming, social capital, self-efficacy, adult learning and health promotion. Learning from the Family Nurse Partnership, the PBB programme builds on parents' strengths and their intrinsic motivation to be the best parents they can for their children.
The implementation of a culturally tailored parenting support programme for Somali immigrant parents living in Sweden-A process evaluation. [2022]Parental support programmes aim to strengthen family functioning and the parent-child relationship and to promote the mental health of children and parents. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how parenting support programmes can be implemented for newly arrived immigrant parents. This process evaluation describes the implementation of a successful parenting programme for immigrant parents from Somalia and identifies key components of the implementation process with a focus on Reach, Adaptation, and Fidelity of Ladnaan intervention.
[Evaluation a parenting skills pilot programme from a public health perspective]. [2017]To evaluate the process and the results of the pilot phase of the Parenting skills development programme for families (PSP), an evidence-based strategy to promote positive parenting skills in socio-educational and community settings.
Parental Child Rearing Practices in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study. [2021]The objectives of this study were to explore parenting practices from the perspectives of Palestinian parents and their children, and concordance between parents and children in their reports of parenting practices, in a culture that is underrepresented in the literature. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) was administered to 120 parents and 120 children drawn from 4 districts in Palestine. Children had higher scores on parental involvement, positive parenting, poor monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment. Three significant parent-child relationships were obtained1: parental involvement (r = .276, P = .003), positive parenting (r = .0301, P = .001), and poor parental monitoring (r = -.241, P = .008). The findings of this study might be used by Palestinian authorities and policy-makers to formulate guidelines and training to aid parental decision-making about child rearing.
Caregiving for children through conflict and displacement: a pilot study testing the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a light touch parenting intervention for caregivers in the West Bank. [2020]A child's adjustment to wartime stress is reliant not only on individual responses and qualities, but very significantly on the availability of support that they may receive from their parent or caregivers and quality of relationships. Strengthening parental support has the potential to be valuable. A pilot two-arm randomised controlled trial investigated the feasibility of delivering and evaluating the "Caring for Children Through Conflict and Displacement" intervention with caregivers in the West Bank. Feasibility to recruit and train non-specialist staff on-the-ground to screen families for eligibility, collect outcome data, deliver the intervention and to recruit and retain families in the study were examined. Research staff and intervention facilitators were successfully appointed in the field, screened participants and delivered the intervention to 120 caregivers, collecting outcome measures pre-and post-delivery. All families completed the outcome measures, with very little missing data. This indicated that the intervention can be delivered feasibly and evaluated with families in this humanitarian context. Preliminary outcome data showed promise that the intervention may have the potential to both improve family functioning and reduce children's problem behaviour. Implications of family-focused initiatives, particularly within a conflict/post-conflict context for the prevention of several negative health and social outcomes directions, are discussed.