Substance abuse and violence are among the primary health concerns regarding Brazilian adolescents. This study sought to explore the short-term effects of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10-14), a preventive program for families with adolescents, adapted to Brazil. A pre-experimental design was used, with a pretest and 10-12-month follow-up evaluation. A qualitative study was carried out using in-depth interviews held one to three months after the intervention to examine the use of skills learned. The sample included 126 adolescents (pre-test and follow-up comparison) and 23 adolescents (interviews) between 10 and 14 years of age from low-income families residing in northeastern Brazil. The comparison between pretest and follow-up showed an increase in learning self-efficacy and school absence without parental permission. Null effects were found on the consumption of alcohol in the last month; episodes of binge drinking in the last month; antisocial behavior; parenting practices regarding emotional support factors, intrusiveness, and behavior supervision; future time perspective; doing homework; grade repetition; school grades; school dropout; and satisfaction with one's relationship with school. The majority of the interviewed adolescents reported applying the learned skills during family interaction and with friends. Future studies should examine the contexts and mechanisms linked to such mixed results.
Murta, Sheila GiardiniVinha, Luís Gustavo do AmaralNobre-Sandoval, Larissa de AlmeidaRocha, Viviane Paula SantosDuailibe, Karina DamousGomes, Maria do Socorro MendesFarias, Danielle AranhaFoxcroft, David
Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work
Year of publication: 2020Date of RADAR deposit: 2020-05-18