Effectiveness of the Strengthening Families Program 6-11 Years Among US Portuguese Immigrant Families and Families in Portugal

Introduction and Objectives. A Cochrane Collaboration review (Foxcroft, et al., 2003; 2012) concluded that the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is the most effective school-based substance abuse prevention programme and also cost effective (Miller & Hendrie, 2008). Culturally adapted versions of SFP 6-11 Years have been developed and tested by many countries and found to be equally effective while increasing recruitment and retention of families by  40% (Kumpfer, Magalhães & Xie, 2012).  Hence a culturally-adapted version was also developed for Portuguese families. The aim was to determine if the Portuguese culturally-adapted SFP is as effective for Portuguese families in Portugal and the USA as the original SFP is for families.

Methods.  The outcomes were compared using SFP 6-11 Years data with Portuguese families (n = 23) in the USA and in Portugal (n = 41) with SFP 6-11 Years international norms  using a quasi-experimental 2 repeated measures (pre- to posttest) by 3 group design. Standardized test scales from the Kellam POCA, BASC, and Moos Family Environment Scale (FES), CES-D and NIDA 30-day ATOD were used and measured 21 risk and protective factors such as child overt and covert aggression, depression, social skills, family cohesion, bonding, conflict, parenting skills and parental alcohol and drug use. Data analysis included a between-groups and within-groups ANOVA for main effects with p-values and effect sizes. Effect sizes were compared on 21 standardized substance use risk or protective outcomes including 30-day substance use with families per condition.

Results.  Statistically significant positive results (p. <.05) were found for 76.2% of the 21 outcomes measured for Portuguese families, and 80.1% of the 21 outcomes for USA Portuguese families, including child overt and covert aggression, concentration, depression, social skills, family cohesion, bonding, conflict, organization, family resilience, parenting skills and parental substance use.  In addition, 57.1% of the USA Portuguese and 42.9% of the Portuguese outcomes had effect sizes over Cohen´s d. >.50. The amount of positive changes for parent, family and child outcomes in USA Portuguese group was larger than SFP norms, probably because of being higher risk at pre-test.

 

Conclusion.  Families can benefit substantially from SFP participation to improve parenting skills, family relations and children’s behaviours. Recent SFP studies also found SFP  reduced by 50% substance use in genetically at-risk youth (Brody, et al., 2012) and days in foster care for children of addicted parents (Brook, et al., 2012). Hence, SFP reduces health and social costs.