A Web-Based Group Course Intervention for 15-25 Year Olds Whose Parents Have Substance Use or Mental Health Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Depending on how the problem is defined, between 5-20% of all Swedish children grow up with parents having substance use and/or mental health problems, which puts the children at risk for many negative consequences. Most municipalities therefore provide support for these children, but less than 2% are reached, mainly due to difficulties in the identification and recruitment process. Delivering digital interventions to this high-risk target group via the Internet is a promising strategy. We have therefore translated a Dutch web-based selective prevention intervention and are currently evaluating the effects of this program.

Methods: This study uses a two-armed RCT including at least 140 15–25 year olds allocated into an intervention or control group. This program is an online chat-program where participants during eight 90 minutes sessions discuss with peers different topics such as roles in the family, social networks, and substance use and mental illness. Each session is moderated by 1-2 professionals. Participants are recruited via ads on Facebook and Instagram. Inclusion criteria comprise having a parent with substance use and/or mental health problems. Assessment consists of a baseline measurement (t0) and three follow-ups after six (t1), 12 (t2), and 24 months (t3). Measures include the validated instruments YSR, CES-DC, Brief-COPE, WHOQOL-BREF, and AUDIT-C.

Results: The study was initiated during April 2016 and so far about 900 individuals have completed the screening (mean age 17.1 (SD=2.0), 63.3% females). Almost half (45.7%) of the respondents report having parents with substance use problems and/or mental health problems. The study is ongoing and to date, a total of 52 participants have completed the t0-assessment. Qualitative data reveal that participants appreciate the intervention for being an easily accessible program, that they can be anonymous and that they can chat with peers in the same situation. Results from the first follow-up assessment will be available during Spring 2017.

Conclusions: There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate web-based prevention interventions targeting adolescents having parents with substance use and/or mental health problems. Digital interventions are particularly promising to reach out with support to this high-risk group.