Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Latinx Families

• In Event: Poster Session 05
  In Poster Session: PS 05 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment (EBT) developed for children with behavioral difficulties aged 2-7 (McNeil & Hembree-Kigin 2010). The current study seeks to identify barriers to treatment faced by Latinx families with young children with defiant, aggressive, and hyperactive behaviors when seeking . This study also aims to examine treatment outcomes for Latinx families compared to non-Latinx families undergoing PCIT. Regarding barriers, it is hypothesized that Latinx families will endorse treatment cost and parental stress more often than to non-Latinx families. Regarding treatment outcomes, it is hypothesized that Latinx families will report lower treatment outcomes on the CBCL compared to non-Latinx families, but this relationship will be moderated by the two barriers (e.g., treatment cost, parental stress). It is also hypothesized that attitudes about comfortability with the ethnicity of therapist, and acceptance of treatment skills by community, will also moderate the relationship between ethnicity and outcomes. For each, it is expected that families who endorse cost and stress as barriers, and who report lower comfortability with therapy and lower treatment acceptability from community, will report lower treatment outcomes.
Participants in the current study were N = 82 families participating in PCIT with children between ages 2 and 7 years. Most children participating in the study were boys (67%) with a mean age of 3.74 (SD = 1.08), and the majority were Latinx (61%). Caregivers completed the Barriers to Treatment Participation Scale (BTPS) and Therapy Attitudes Inventory (TAI) during treatment and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) post-treatment.
Two chi-square analyses will be conducted to examine the proportion of Latinx and non-Latinx families endorsing each barrier. Two separate two-way ANOVAs will be conducted to examine the relationship between ethnicity (Latinx/non-Latinx) and post-treatment CBCL scores, each ANOVA testing either the two barriers as moderators, or the two treatment attitudes as moderators.
The current study contributes to a larger discussion regarding the necessity of adapting EBTs to be culturally competent and sensitive. Some researchers believe that it is not necessary to adapt EBTs for cultural minorities and that doing so harms the fidelity of the treatment (Castro et al. 2004). By examining the treatment completion rates and outcomes of a cultural minority group participating in an EBT, this study contributes to the literature regarding the effectiveness of a non-culturally adapted EBT.
It is feasible to complete this study by the conference date as this data has already been collected and data analysis is projected to be completed by early December.

Authors

• Amy Hendricks, University of Arkansas
  Presenting Author

• Ayla Mapes, University of Arkansas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren Quetsch, West Virginia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emma Girard
  Non-Presenting Author

• Cheryl McNeil, West Virginia University
  Non-Presenting Author