Psychometric Properties of the Inventory of Parents-Peer Attachment (IPPA) in Adolescents with Behavioural Problems / Propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Apego a Padres-Iguales (IPPA) en adolescentes con problemas de comportamiento

Background: The Inventory of Parental-Peer Attachment (IPPA) is an internationally recognized measure to assess the attachment of adolescents to their parents and peers. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the IPPA in a sample of Spanish adolescents with behavioural problems. Method: The sample was composed of 294 Spanish adolescents (53% girls) with behavioural problems. The IPPA mother, father, and peer versions, along with other related measures, were administered. Results: The 25-item scale, distributed into three factors, was confirmed for both the mother and father versions but not for the peer version. The IPPA showed adequate values of reliability ranging from .79 to .86. Validity was demonstrated through correlations with emotional intelligence, antisocial behaviour, and aggressiveness. Conclusion: The three-factor version of the IPPA is a useful, reliable, and valid scale to assess the attachment of adolescents with problematic behaviours and their parents. (AU)

Antecedentes: El Inventario de Apego a Padres e Iguales (IPPA) es un instrumento reconocido internacionalmente para evaluar el apego de adolescentes hacia padres e iguales. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido examinar las propiedades psicométricas del IPPA en una muestra de adolescentes españoles con problemas de conducta. Método: La muestra estaba compuesta por 294 adolescentes españoles (53% chicas) con problemas de conducta. Se administraron las versiones de IPPA madre, IPPA padre e IPPA iguales, junto con otras medidas relacionadas. Resultados: Se ha confirmado la escala de 25 ítems, distribuida en tres factores, para la versión IPPA madre e IPPA padre, pero no para la versión de iguales. El IPPA ha mostrado valores adecuados de fiabilidad que oscilaban entre .79 y .86. La validez se demostró mediante las correlaciones significativas con las variables inteligencia emocional, conducta antisocial y agresividad. Conclusiones: La versión de tres factores del IPPA es una escala útil, fiable y válida para evaluar el vínculo de adolescentes que muestran conductas problemáticas con sus padres. (AU)

Evaluation of Programmes under the Positive Parenting Initiative in Spain:Introduction to the Special Issue / La evaluación de programas bajo la iniciativa de la parentalidad positiva en España: introducción al número especial

The prevention science has endorsed standards for evidence related to research on programme evaluation. However, some controversies persist regarding its application in the provision of family support under the European Positive Parenting initiative. This Special Issue aims to map the expansion of preventive family support programmes in Spain and to contrast the quality of the evidence against the prevention standards according with the European Family Support Network. Members of the Spanish Family Support Network made up of entities in several sectors identified 57 programmes implemented in Spain and filled in a formative evaluation sheet for each programme. The articles in this issue analysed the results of four main aspects in all programmes: description, implementation, evaluation, and impact/sustainability. The findings will inform the scope and variety of support provided and the quality of programmes in Spain, providing guidelines for improvement and addressing challenges to reinforce quality assurance in child and family services.(AU)

La ciencia de la prevención avala los estándares de evidencia relativos a la investigación en evaluación de programas. Sin embargo, hay aún controversia en cuanto a su aplicación a la prestación de apoyo familiar bajo la iniciativa europea de la parentalidad positiva. El número especial tiene por objeto mapear la extensión de los programas preventivos de apoyo familiar en España y comparar la calidad de las pruebas con los estándares de prevención de la Red Europea de Apoyo Familiar. Los miembros de la Red Española de Apoyo Familiar, formada por entidades de varios sectores, han identificado 57 programas que se utilizan en España y cumplimentado una ficha de evaluación formativa para cada programa. Los artículos de este número analizan los resultados de cuatro aspectos principales de todos los programas: descripción, implementación, evaluación e impacto/sostenibilidad. Los resultados describen el panorama y variedad del apoyo brindado y la calidad de los programas en España, proporcionando orientación sobre mejora y abordando los desafíos para reforzar la garantía de calidad en los servicios para la infancia, adolescencia y familias.(AU)

The Evaluation of Family Support Programmes in Spain. An Analysis of their Quality Standards / La evaluación de los programas de apoyo familiar en España. Un análisis de sus estándares de calidad

Since the well-known publication of the Society for Prevention Research about standards for evidence related to research on prevention interventions, a rigorous evaluation is considered one of the main requirements for evidence-based programmes. Despite their importance, many programmes do not include evaluation designs that meet the most widely agreed quality standards. The aim of this study was to examine the evaluation processes of fifty-seven Spanish programmes identified in the context of the COST European Family Support Network. The obtained results provide a fairly positive picture of the quality of programme evaluation standards, although more designs that include a control group, follow-up evaluations assessing long-term effects, and the evaluation of child and indirect outcomes are needed. The results are discussed from a comprehensive and plural perspective of evaluation which, in addition to methodological rigor, considers the usefulness, feasibility, and ethical rigor of evaluation research.(AU)

A partir de las propuestas de la Society for Prevention Research sobre los estándares de evidencia necesarios para las intervenciones preventivas, contar con una evaluación rigurosa se considera como uno de los principales requisitos de los programas basados en la evidencia. A pesar de su importancia, muchos programas de apoyo familiar no cuentan con diseños de evaluación que cumplan con los estándares de calidad más consensuados. El objetivo de este artículo fue analizar los procesos de evaluación de cincuenta y siete programas españoles identificados en el marco del proyecto COST European Family Support Network. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una imagen bastante positiva de los estándares de calidad que caracterizan la evaluación de los programas, aunque es necesario ampliar el número de diseños que incluyan grupos de comparación, que contemplen medidas de los efectos en el bienestar infantil y que lleven a cabo evaluaciones de seguimiento para medir los efectos a largo plazo de las intervenciones. Se analizan los resultados desde un enfoque plural de la evaluación, que además del rigor metodológico considera la necesidad de tener en cuenta la utilidad, la viabilidad y el rigor ético de las investigaciones de evaluación.(AU)

Sistematización del programa preventivo para menores en situación de conflictividad en el ámbito familiar en la comunidad de Andalucía: Programa NAYFA / Systematization of the preventive program for minors in conflict situations in the family environment in the community of Andalusia: NAYFA Program

En este artículo se describe el proceso de investigación-acción llevado a cabo para la redefinición y el diseño de un programa destinado a niños, niñas y adolescentes con dificultades y/o situaciones conflictivas en el ámbito familiar. El diseño del nuevo programa NAYFA se ha realizado siguiendo los estándares de calidad de los programas basados en la evidencia y mediante un proceso colaborativo entre responsables políticos, profesionales e investigadores. Se utilizó la técnica DAFO para identificar las principales fortalezas y debilidades de las actuaciones previas desarrolladas en diferentes provincias andaluzas. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto una importante falta de sistematización que se ha tratado de solventar definiendo, mediante un proceso colaborativo y de acuerdo con los criterios de calidad más consensuados, los componentes clave del nuevo programa: fundamentación teórica y metodológica, destinatarios, objetivos, contenidos, condiciones de implementación y diseño de la evaluación. El alto grado de acuerdo de profesionales y responsables con las características propuestas puede contribuir a que la implementación del programa se lleve a cabo con fidelidad al diseño original y, con ello, favorecer su efectividad (AU)

This article describes the action-research process carried out to redefine and design a program for children and adolescents with difficulties and/or conflictive situations in the family. The design of the NAYFA program has been carried out following the quality standards of evidence-based programs and through a collaborative process between policymakers, professionals and researchers. The SWOT technique was used to identify the main strengths and weak-nesses of the previous actions carried out in different Andalucía provinces. The results revealed an important lack of systematization that an attempt has been made to solve by defining, through a collaborative process and in accordance with the most agreed quality criteria, the key components of the new program: theoretical and methodological founda-tions, recipients, objectives, contents, implementation conditions and evaluation design. The high degree of agreement of professionals and managers with the proposed characteristics can contribute to the implementation of the program being carried out with fidelity to the original design and, thus, favor its effectiveness. (AU)

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy With Troubled Adolescents and Parents: A Pilot Study.

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) is an innovative treatment used with troubled adolescents and their parents to improve family relationships and reduce adolescents' problematic behavior. It integrates the principles of family therapy, psychodrama, and multiple-family group methodology. This research is a pilot study to obtain empirical evidence on the SB-PFT therapeutic process by gauging the perception of change of troubled adolescents and their parents, and assess the perceived helpfulness of its methodology and techniques. Ten multiple-family intervention groups were drawn up, with 110 participants (63 adolescents and 47 parents), and we adopted a qualitative methodology with focus groups, using an inductive analysis of 290 active constructions of participant narratives. Concerning perception of change, the adolescents reported mainly gaining in social support, prosocial attitudes, keys to problem solving, and expression of emotions due to the treatment. The parents perceived improvement in social support, keys for educational practices, emotional well-being, and expression of emotions due to the treatment. Regarding the perceived helpfulness of methodology and techniques, both adolescents and parents highlighted the usefulness of the group methodology for gaining social support, relativizing the problem, and expressing emotions. Additionally, participants referred to role-playing and mirror techniques as the most useful techniques. In conclusion, this first study on SB-PFT presents and describes its treatment for troubled adolescents and their parents. The participants' positive perception of their personal and relational change after treatment should serve to promote further studies with quantitative methodology in order to verify the effectiveness of SB-PFT treatment.

La terapia familiar psicodramática basada en escenas (SB-PFT, por sus siglas en inglés) es un tratamiento innovador usado con adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres para mejorar las relaciones familiares y disminuir el comportamiento problemático de los adolescentes. Integra los principios de la terapia familiar, del psicodrama y de la metodología grupal multifamiliar. Esta investigación es un estudio piloto para obtener conocimiento empírico sobre el proceso terapéutico de la SB-PFT mediante la medición de la percepción de cambio de los adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres, y para evaluar la utilidad percibida de esta metodología y técnica. Se formaron diez grupos multifamiliares de intervención con 110 participantes (63 adolescentes y 47 padres), y adoptamos una metodología cualitativa con grupos focales utilizando un análisis inductivo de 290 construcciones activas de historias de los participantes. Con respecto a la percepción de cambio, los adolescentes informaron un aumento pricipalmente del apoyo social, de las actitudes prosociales, de las claves para resolver problemas y de la expresión de emociones debido al tratamiento. Los padres percibieron una mejora del apoyo social, de las claves para las prácticas educativas, del bienestar emocional y de la expresión de emociones debido al tratamiento. Con respecto a la utilidad percibida de la metodología y las técnicas, tanto los adolescentes como los padres destacaron la utilidad de la metodología de grupo para obtener apoyo social, relativizar el problema y expresar emociones. Además, los participantes se refirieron al juego de roles y a las técnicas del espejo como las más útiles. En resumen, este primer estudio sobre la SB-PFT presenta y describe su tratamiento para adolescentes conflictivos y sus padres. La percepción positiva de los participantes de su cambio personal y relacional después del tratamiento debería servir para promover más estudios con una metodología cuantitativa a fin de verificar la eficacia del tratamiento con la SB-PFT.

Effectiveness of Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) in adolescents with behavioural problems.

Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT) is a multiple-family intervention for adolescents with behavioural problems implemented by Child Welfare Services in Spain. This intervention is aimed at promoting adolescent well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SB-PFT in 17 trials, measuring its impact on the emotional intelligence, parental attachment, peer attachment and antisocial behaviour of 216 adolescents (109 participating in the intervention and 107 in the control group). Repeated measures ANOVAs for pretest/posttest differences and long-term growth models were estimated. In the short term, the intervention had a positive impact on emotional intelligence and had a stabilising effect on parental attachment, whereas the long-term results showed significant logarithmic growth in emotional intelligence and exponential growth in parental attachment and a decrease in antisocial behaviour. However, no changes in peer attachment were shown. This study demonstrates SB-PFT to be a potentially effective intervention for adolescents with behavioural problems and emphasises the importance of fostering emotional intelligence.

The Role of Parenting Styles on Behavior Problem Profiles of Adolescents.

Parental behavior is one of the most influential factors on the development of adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. These behavioral problems are closely related and often co-occur. The objectives of this work were: (i) to identify adolescents profiles according to their behavior problems; (ii) to explore individual, family, and social characteristics associated with these profiles; and (iii) to analyze the potential role of parenting styles in belonging to adolescents' profiles. A total of 449 Spanish adolescents (223 from families declared at-risk and enrolled in Child Welfare Services and 226 from families from the general population) participated in this study. The analyses revealed three profiles of adolescents based on external and internal behavior problems (adjusted, external maladjustment, and internal maladjustment). Parenting styles explained the adolescents' belonging to different profiles, in which the indulgent style was the most favorable in general terms. The distinctive role of parenting styles on two types of maladjustment profiles was confirmed. The relationship between parenting styles and adolescent adjustment is a key component that should be included in interventions according to adolescents' behavior problem profiles. Furthermore, the results shed light on the need that family interventions are complemented with individualized interventions with adolescents that accumulate stressful life events.

Effectiveness of Structural⁻Strategic Family Therapy in the Treatment of Adolescents with Mental Health Problems and Their Families.

Mental health problems during adolescence constitute a major public health concern today for both families and stakeholders. Accordingly, different family-based interventions have emerged as an effective treatment for adolescents with certain disorders. Specifically, there is evidence of the effectiveness of concrete approaches of systemic family therapy on the symptoms of adolescents and family functioning in general. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of other relevant approaches, such as structural and strategic family therapy, incorporating parent⁻child or parental dyadic measurement. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a structural⁻strategic family therapy with adolescents involved in mental health services and their families. For this purpose, 41 parents and adolescents who participated in this treatment were interviewed at pre-test and post-test, providing information on adolescent behavior problems, parental sense of competence, parental practices, parenting alliance, and family functioning. Regardless of participants' gender, adolescents exhibited fewer internalizing and externalizing problems after the treatment. Parents reported higher family cohesion, higher satisfaction and perceived efficacy as a parent, and healthier parental practices (less authoritarian and permissive practices, as well as more authoritative ones). An interaction effect between parenting alliance and gender was found, with more favorable results for the mothers. In conclusion, this paper provides evidence of the usefulness of structural⁻strategic family therapy for improving family, dyadic, and individual facets in families with adolescents exhibiting mental health problems.

Family education and support for families at psychosocial risk in Europe: Evidence from a survey of international experts.

There is overwhelming consensus among policy makers, academics, and professionals about the need to support families in their childrearing tasks. Consequently, European countries have been encouraged to develop family support interventions aimed at guaranteeing children's rights, targeting particularly those children in situations of psychosocial risk. While a certain amount of evidence exists regarding how family support is generally delivered in certain European countries, with a particular focus on parenting initiatives, this paper aims to take existing evidence one step further by providing an updated review focusing on two core components of the Council of Europe's Recommendation on Positive Parenting: families at psychosocial risk as the target population, and family education and support initiatives as the delivery format. The scope of the study was therefore broad, in both geographical and conceptual terms. An online survey was conducted with experts from 19 European countries to gather information regarding how they perceive family education and support initiatives for families at psychosocial risk. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analysed by computing frequencies/percentages and by following a thematic synthesis method, respectively. The results revealed both similarities and disparities as regards provider profiles, intervention characteristics, and quality standards. Practical implications are discussed, such as the need to diversify initiatives for at-risk families in accordance with the tenets of progressive universalism, the ongoing need for an evidence-based, pluralistic approach to programmes, and the skills and qualifications required in the family support workforce. This study constitutes a first step towards building a common family support framework at a European level, which would encompass family support and parenting policies aimed at families at psychosocial risk.

Factor Analysis of EMA-Scale on Adolescent Adjustment From a Developmental Perspective: A Short Form.

Many published instruments for assessing adolescent adjustment can be implemented in the school context. However, most of them fail to include a comprehensive and positive theoretical perspective of adolescent development and, even when they do, priority is often given to the clinical perspective, or problems with ecological validity and cost-effectiveness emerge. The Magallanes Adaptation Scale is a 90-item Likert-instrument designed for Spanish-speaking adolescents in order to screen several adjustment areas from a holistic and positive perspective of development. Although some evidence of its psychometric robustness has been tested, no confirmatory analysis of its structure has been published. This paper analyzes the items and the factor structure (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, using the split-half method) of the scales. Participants were 948 Spanish adolescents (49.84% girls) aged between 11 and 17 and stratified sampled. Thirty-six items were removed from the item analysis. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors, excluding mother's adaptation. Several models were tested during the confirmatory factor analyses, with a 24-item second-order four-factor solution being found to have the best adjustment indicators. The short version proposed in this paper can constitute a helpful tool with screening purposes to help school teachers to assess students' overall development beyond mere academic performance, although further validity research is needed.

The Role of Psychosocial Stress on a Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents with Problematic Behaviors.

The stressful life events experienced by adolescents with problematic behaviors, should be considered for implementing effective interventions. This study aimed to examine the adjustment of adolescents with problematic behaviors, and to assess the effectiveness of a family-based treatment, namely Scene-Based Psychodramatic Family Therapy (SB-PFT), according to different stress profiles. Ten SB-PFT sessions, over 17 trials were implemented. Stressful life events and adolescent adjustment were evaluated at pretest and posttest, for the SB-PFT participants (n = 104 adolescents) and a control group (n = 106). The adolescents were categorized into three profiles depending on the nature of the stressors: family stress profile, individual and family stress profile, and low stress profile. The individual and family stress group showed worse adjustment. Effectiveness analyses revealed improvements in SB-PFT participants' emotional intelligence, but not in anger and hostility. Furthermore, adolescents with low and family-related stress profiles showed enhancements in parent attachment. In conclusion, interventions involving adolescents with problematic behaviors must be tailored to the stressful life events experienced. Specific treatments should be used alongside SB-PFT, when adolescents are met with individual-related stress. Nevertheless, SB-PFT seemed to promote emotional intelligence and parent attachment, particularly in adolescents with problematic behaviors that experienced only family stressors.

Análisis factorial de las escalas FACES (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales) con familias en situación de riesgo psicosocial / Factor analysis of FACES (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales) with Families at Psychosocial Risk

Resumen En este artículo se presenta un análisis factorial de las escalas FACES III con una muestra de familias en situación de riesgo psicosocial (N= 324). Los resultados no replican la estructura bidimensional original de la prueba, e indican que solo la escala de cohesión (prescindiendo de tres ítems) obtiene propiedades psicométricas aceptables en esta muestra. Las significativas relaciones de las puntuaciones de esta escala con las de otras dimensiones relevantes del microsistema familiar ofrecen algunas evidencias de la validez de esta solución. Se discute la necesidad de revisar la escala de adaptabilidad propuesta por los autores y reformularla para poder evaluar empíricamente este constructo formulado teóricamente desde el modelo circumplejo del funcionamiento familiar.

Abstract In this article a factor analysis of FACES III with a sample of families at psychosocial risk (N= 324) is presented. The original two-factor structure is not found, and only the cohesion scale (deleting three items) shows adequate psychometric properties with this sample. Significant correlations between the obtained scale and other dimensions of family dynamics (i.e., family self-esteem, parenting alliance and marital satisfaction) evidence validity. The need for reviewing and reformulating the adaptability scale proposed by the authors is discussed, in order to empirically evaluate this theoretical construct from the circumplex model of family functioning.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Antisocial Process Screening Device.

The main aim of the present study was to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and some additional psychometric properties of the Antisocial Process Screening Device-Self-Report (APSD-SR) among a large forensic sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders ( N = 438). The results, based on this forensic sample, support the use of the APSD-SR in terms of its factor structure, and internal consistency despite the fact an item had to be removed from the callous-unemotional (CU) dimension. Statistically significant positive associations were found with measures of psychopathic traits, CU traits, narcissism, and aggression, as well as negative associations with a measure of empathy. Findings provide support for the use of the APSD-SR among the incarcerated male juvenile offender population.

The DSM-5 Limited Prosocial Emotions subtype of Conduct Disorder in incarcerated male and female juvenile delinquents.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relevance of the DSM-5's Conduct Disorder new Limited Prosocial Emotions (CD LPE) specifier in incarcerated juvenile delinquents. A sample of 201 males and 98 females from the Juvenile Detention Centers managed by the Portuguese Ministry of Justice diagnosed with Conduct Disorder (CD) was used. Results showed that male juvenile delinquents with the CD LPE specifier scored higher on callous-unemotional traits (CU), general psychopathic traits, psychopathy taxon membership, self-reported delinquency, and crime seriousness, and lower on prosocial behavior and social desirability, while female juvenile delinquents with the CD LPE specifier scored higher on callous-unemotional traits (CU) and general psychopathic traits, and lower on prosocial behavior. Significant associations for both genders were found between the CD LPE specifier and age of crime onset and first problems with the law.