Session: The Effects of a Family-Based Preventive Intervention On Multiple Health Outcomes (Society for Prevention Research 21st Annual Meeting)

SESSION INTRODUCTION: In their 2009 report on Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, the Institute of Medicine called for an increased focus on examining the impact of preventive interventions on multiple health outcomes. Yet, few investigators have examined the impact of the same intervention on multiple health outcomes. The goal of this symposium session is to present findings from three randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy or effectiveness Familias Unidas, a Hispanic-specific, family-based preventive intervention on multiple health outcomes including: substance use, HIV sexual risk behaviors, externalizing disorders, internalizing symptoms, and physical activity.  Presenters will also highlight common mediators across all intervention outcomes as well as discuss moderators of intervention efficacy/effectiveness.

The first paper, "Main and Moderating Effects of Familias Unidas in Preventing Adolescent Substance use, HIV Risk Behaviors, and Externalizing Disorders," reports on the findings of an efficacy trial of Familias Unidas using a selected sample of Hispanic youth. It shows that Familias Unidas was efficacious, relative to a Community Practice control condition, in reducing substance use, HIV sexual risk behaviors, and externalizing disorders. Findings also demonstrate the family functioning mediated the intervention effects on the outcomes and that the intervention was most efficacious for families with the highest contextual risk (e.g., poor parent-adolescent communication).

The second paper, "Effects of Familias Unidas in Preventing Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms," demonstrates that Familias Unidas had an impact on internalizing symptoms even though the Familias Unidas intervention did not target youth internalizing symptoms directly. Baseline family communication and parental alcohol misuse moderated the intervention’s effects on youth internalizing symptoms.

The third and final paper, “The Moderating Role of Parental Involvement on Adolescent Physical Activity” shows that intervention effects of Familias Unidas on physical activity are influenced by the moderating effects of parental involvement. Youth with low parental involvement at baseline reported significantly greater levels of physical activity six months later, indicating the significant importance of parental involvement on youth health. Youth with high parental involvement at baseline did not show any significant changes on physical activity.

At the conclusion of the three presentations, the discussant, who participated in the committee responsible for drafting the 2009 IOM Report, will make some summary remarks and moderate a discussion between the presenters and the symposium attendees.