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Journal article
An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations
Children (Basel), Vol.11(12), 1552
2024
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Parent–child attachment and family relationships have been identified as risk factors for childhood internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the feasibility of a recently developed attachment-based family intervention, Behaviour Exchange Systems Therapy-Foundations (BEST-F), delivering 16 h of therapy over 8 weeks to treat internalising symptoms in children aged between 3 and 11 years.
Methods: The quantitative outcomes of this uncontrolled study of 17 families were based on the parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) measure, completed at four-timepoints (baseline, pre-, post-intervention, and follow-up), while qualitative data were collected from interviews with participants at follow-up.
Results: Pre- and post-BEST-F intervention results demonstrated a significant change in internalising symptoms from the borderline and clinical range to the normal range, with a large effect size (d = 0.85). Notably, additional reductions in internalising symptoms were reported two months after cessation of treatment, with a very large effect size (d = 1.85). Furthermore, there were substantial reductions in child externalising symptoms and parental mental health symptoms, with large effect sizes ranging from d = 0.80 to 1.12. Qualitative reports were consistent with these quantitative findings.
Conclusions: These pilot results suggest that children presenting with clinical-range internalising symptoms may benefit from family-based approaches where the parent–child relationship is a focus.
Details
- Title
- An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations
- Authors/Creators
- Kim Lee Kho - Murdoch UniversityAndrew J. Lewis - Murdoch UniversityRenita A. Almeida
- Publication Details
- Children (Basel), Vol.11(12), 1552
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- Western Australia Anxiety Disorders FoundationMurdoch UniversityBEST from Beyondblue and an ARC Linkage grant
Components of this research was funded by Western Australia Anxiety Disorders Foundation and Murdoch University and previous funding of BEST from Beyondblue and an ARC Linkage grant.
- Identifiers
- 991005726577807891
- Copyright
- © 2024 by the authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
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- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.24 Psychiatry & Psychology
- 6.24.15 Parenting and Child Development
- Web Of Science research areas
- Pediatrics
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine