Program engagement in sibling-focused preventive interventions with Latinx families

• In Event: Interventions with Latinx families: the role of family, culture, and policy.

Abstract

Family-focused programs that build on the strengths of Latinx families are a promising avenue of prevention research to support children’s health and well-being, given the strong family-oriented values prioritizing support, cohesion, and harmony in this sociocultural context (Cahill et al., 2021). Successfully engaging Latinx children and parents in prevention programs is an important step toward identifying effective programs to support them, a priority that has been elevated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on Latinxs (Hillis et al., 2021; National Center for Health Statistics, 2020). This paper examines children’s and parents’ engagement in a family-focused prevention program targeting sibling relationships and parenting in Latinx families (Feinberg et al., 2013). Our first goal was to provide descriptive information on Latinx children’s and caregivers’ program engagement (i.e., attendance, program satisfaction and effectiveness ratings). In addition, we examined potential barriers and family-based strengths (e.g., cultural orientations, familism) that may explain why some families engaged in the program more than others (Carpentier et al., 2007).
Data came from the pre- and post-program phases of a randomized clinical trial of a sibling-focused program targeting Latinx families in low-income elementary schools (author citation). Participants were 232 Latinx children in 116 sibling dyads and their primary caregivers (95% biological mothers) in a southwest metropolitan area. Mothers were predominantly Mexican (86.5%), born outside the U.S. (68.9%), and reported an average annual household income of $31,309. Older and younger siblings averaged 10.61 years (SD = 0.37) and 8.27 years of age (SD = 1.09), respectively. Mothers reported on demographics (i.e., income, economic hardship) and family and cultural processes at pre-test and provided program ratings at post-test. Attendance data were recorded by group leaders at each child session (N = 12) and family night (N = 3).
Beginning with program engagement, children attended an average of 10 sessions, with 90% of children attending at least 75% of the sessions (i.e., 9 of 12). Regarding family nights, 93.5% of parents attended at least one, 83.2% attended two, and 53.3% attended all three family nights. Parents’ program ratings also were high, including for program satisfaction and expectations and their children’s enjoyment. Bivariate correlations revealed that some family (e.g., income, family economic hardship) and cultural (e.g., familism) characteristics predicted program engagement (Table 1). Regression models further revealed that family economic strain and parent familism values predicted program attendance and family ethnic socialization predicted parents’ program engagement ratings (Table 2). Discussion will focus on the role of cultural processes in promoting participant engagement in family-focused preventive intervention programs and strategies for addressing barriers to participation.

Authors

• Karina Cahill, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Kimberly Updegraff, Arizona State University

• Susan McHale, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

• Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Harvard University

• Mark E. Feinberg, Pennsylvania State University, University Park