Effectiveness of Family Interventions for Chinese Families in the U.S.: An Analysis of the Cultural Adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) 12-16 Years

Background and Significance. There has been a dramatic drop in parenting involvement by parents who are working many more hours because of the economic recession worldwide leaving less time for parenting their children. This trend is very evidence in immigrant Chinese Americans, who are working often more than one low paid job to make enough money for their families. In addition, US Chinese immigrants’ experience of significant parent-child acculturation discrepancy is a well-known risk factor for increased family conflict and  youth adjustment and development issues.

This study examined the risk and protective factors associated with youth behavior outcomes of high risk immigrant Chinese youth and families who participated in the cultural adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in San Francisco, as well as the program effectiveness.

Methods. This paper reports on an analysis for a cultural adaptation conducted on Strengthening Families Program (SFP) which is one of the most effective prevention programs.  Statistical analyses employing 3 x 2 ANOVAs compared the 18 outcomes (including five parenting, five family, and eight youth risk and protective scales) for the target Chinese SFP group, and for the comparison groups of non-Chinese San Francisco group, and the archival SFP 12-16 (n = 1,917), including tables for pre- and post-test means, SDs, mean changes, F-values, p-values and Cohen’s d effect sizes.

Results. Of the 18 outcomes measured, 17 were statistically significant for the Chinese sample; however, mean changes and effect sizes for at least half of the improvements in the Chinese sample were larger than for the San Francisco non-Chinese families (56%), and the non-Chinese families in SFP database (75%). For example, the effect size of positive parenting was larger than both of the comparison groups (d. = .73 for the Chinese sample vs. .66 for San Francisco non-Chinese families vs. .50 for the SFP norms).

Discussion. Study results indicated high demand and promising preventive effects of evidence-based parenting program for Chinese families on promoting youth positive emotional and behavioral development. The effectiveness of the Chinese culturally adapted version of SFP can potentially have a large influence in benefiting Chinese immigrant families in other areas or even Chinese families in China.