Family Support Program for Parent-Child Relationships in Palestine
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) in the Family Support Program for Parent-Child Relationships in Palestine?
Research shows that the Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) program in Gaza led to improvements in parental depression, emotion regulation, and family emotional security, with effects comparable to a longer, well-established program. Fathers and mothers in the PPFF group reported better emotion regulation and lower depression, indicating the program's positive impact on family dynamics.12345
How does the Promoting Positive Family Futures treatment differ from other treatments for improving parent-child relationships in Palestine?
What is the purpose of this trial?
Few evidence-based programs exist to support children and families affected by sociopolitical conflict, despite documented evidence of their heightened risk for emotional and behavioral adjustment problems associated with exposure to conflict and violence at multiple levels of the social ecology (e.g., political, community, and family). Thus, a critical need exists for an evidence-based program to ameliorate the impact of political violence on the overall well-being of children and families. The current study will conduct a rigorous evaluation of a theoretically-driven, family-based intervention program in Palestine, including both the West Bank and Gaza. Firmly grounded in the cultural context of Palestine but with broad implications for individuals exposed to sociopolitical violence, the long-term goal of this project is to provide a family-focused intervention program (Promoting Positive Family Futures; PPFF) that may facilitate individuals' sense of safety and support in the context of chronic adversity. The objective is to evaluate this intervention program in the context of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) in the West Bank and Gaza (N=300). The central hypothesis is that the program will have direct positive effects on family conflict, parent psychopathology and parental security in the family as well as on adolescent emotional security in the family, with cascading effects on adolescent adjustment. Consistent with family systems theory, we further hypothesize that treatment effects on parents will mediate on the effects of the treatment on adolescent adjustment. The rationale is that bolstering resilience in family systems is a key approach to promoting positive functioning in families exposed to chronic violence. The hypothesis will be evaluated with three specific aims: 1) evaluate the efficacy of an evidence-based family support program; 2) examine process models of treatment change, and 3) examine interrelations between parent and child functioning. To achieve these aims, the study will be an RCT employing a longitudinal design (N=300) with multi-method assessments at baseline (T1), post-test (T2), 6-month follow-up (T3) and 12-month follow-up (T4). Families included in the study will be evenly divided between the West Bank (n=150) and Gaza Strip (n=150). Families will be randomized into the intervention condition (PPFF) or treatment as usual (TAU). Each territory will have an implementing partner, and implementing partners and investigators will work together to ensure the study procedures are implemented in parallel across sites. Data collection will be conducted by trained research staff from a third-party survey and policy research organization. The proposal seeks to shift current research and clinical paradigms in these contexts by employing novel theoretical concepts, approaches, and methodologies. The contribution will be significant by 1) further developing new directions for empirically-based interventions in these high-risk contexts, and 2) advancing a relatively brief, cost-effective program that can be readily implemented to help children and families exposed to continuing conflict in Palestine, with the potential to be brought to scale in other contexts.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for families in Palestine with an adolescent aged 13-16. Both parents and the child must be willing to participate, and they should live within the service area of implementing organizations. Families cannot join if anyone has significant mental or physical impairments that prevent group participation.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Baseline Assessment
Initial assessments conducted to establish baseline measures for family conflict, parental depression, anxiety, and other psychological metrics
Treatment
Participants receive the Promoting Positive Family Futures (PPFF) intervention or treatment as usual (TAU)
Post-test Assessment
Assessments conducted to evaluate immediate effects of the intervention on family conflict, parental psychopathology, and adolescent adjustment
6-month Follow-up
Participants are monitored for sustained effects of the intervention on family dynamics and individual psychological outcomes
12-month Follow-up
Final assessments to evaluate long-term effects of the intervention on family and individual outcomes
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Promoting Positive Family Futures
- Treatment as Usual
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Notre Dame
Lead Sponsor