Parent-adolescent relationships: the influence of multi-family group therapy on communication and closeness

This research measured the perceived change in communication and closeness between adolescents and their parents after four weeks in an adolescent residential chemical dependency treatment program. Each of the adolescents was involved in an adolescent residential chemical dependency treatment program and met diagnostic criteria for substance dependence prior to admittance into the treatment program. The adolescents participated in this research study by completing questionnaires before and after the treatment program. Before the treatment program, the adolescents completed questionnaires measuring their perception of their parent-adolescent communication, parent-adolescent closeness, a demographic questionnaire, and an open-ended question. During the second testing, four weeks later after the treatment program, the adolescents again completed the questionnaires measuring parent-adolescent communication and closeness and the open-ended question along with a questionnaire measuring the perceived changes in the quality of their parent-adolescent relationship after four weeks of treatment. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare pre-test responses to post-test responses. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare mean scores for those who completed the post-test with those who did not complete the post-test and to compare pre-test and post-test mean scores of the participants who completed the post-test based on their parents\u27 attendance in the weekly multi-family therapy group. Although there was a significant loss of participants from the pre-test to the post-test, much of the data indicated a positive change after four weeks. When comparing the pre-test responses to post-test responses, significant changes were reported based on the parents attendance in the weekly multi-family therapy group. By gathering information about the changes within the parent-adolescent relationship, researchers, therapists, and social service workers will better understand the substance dependent adolescent population and their families. Additionally, areas of treatment programs that are not effective may be altered and funding sources will recognize the importance of family therapy and place more emphasis on funding family therapy within chemical dependency treatment