An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations
Background/Objectives: Parent–child attachment and family relationships have been identified as risk factors for childhood internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the feasibility of a recently developed attachment-based family interventi...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1552 |
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| author | Kim Lee Kho Andrew J. Lewis Renita A. Almeida |
| author_facet | Kim Lee Kho Andrew J. Lewis Renita A. Almeida |
| author_sort | Kim Lee Kho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Parent–child attachment and family relationships have been identified as risk factors for childhood internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the feasibility of a recently developed attachment-based family intervention, Behaviour Exchange Systems Therapy-Foundations (BEST-F), delivering 16 h of therapy over 8 weeks to treat internalising symptoms in children aged between 3 and 11 years. Methods: The quantitative outcomes of this uncontrolled study of 17 families were based on the parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) measure, completed at four-timepoints (baseline, pre-, post-intervention, and follow-up), while qualitative data were collected from interviews with participants at follow-up. Results: Pre- and post-BEST-F intervention results demonstrated a significant change in internalising symptoms from the borderline and clinical range to the normal range, with a large effect size (<i>d</i> = 0.85). Notably, additional reductions in internalising symptoms were reported two months after cessation of treatment, with a very large effect size (<i>d</i> = 1.85). Furthermore, there were substantial reductions in child externalising symptoms and parental mental health symptoms, with large effect sizes ranging from <i>d</i> = 0.80 to 1.12. Qualitative reports were consistent with these quantitative findings. Conclusions: These pilot results suggest that children presenting with clinical-range internalising symptoms may benefit from family-based approaches where the parent–child relationship is a focus. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2923d179935d41d0ab7ea11dbe8db668 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-2923d179935d41d0ab7ea11dbe8db6682025-08-20T02:55:49ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-12-011112155210.3390/children11121552An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-FoundationsKim Lee Kho0Andrew J. Lewis1Renita A. Almeida2School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaInstitute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Berwick, Melbourne, VIC 3805, AustraliaSchool of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaBackground/Objectives: Parent–child attachment and family relationships have been identified as risk factors for childhood internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the feasibility of a recently developed attachment-based family intervention, Behaviour Exchange Systems Therapy-Foundations (BEST-F), delivering 16 h of therapy over 8 weeks to treat internalising symptoms in children aged between 3 and 11 years. Methods: The quantitative outcomes of this uncontrolled study of 17 families were based on the parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) measure, completed at four-timepoints (baseline, pre-, post-intervention, and follow-up), while qualitative data were collected from interviews with participants at follow-up. Results: Pre- and post-BEST-F intervention results demonstrated a significant change in internalising symptoms from the borderline and clinical range to the normal range, with a large effect size (<i>d</i> = 0.85). Notably, additional reductions in internalising symptoms were reported two months after cessation of treatment, with a very large effect size (<i>d</i> = 1.85). Furthermore, there were substantial reductions in child externalising symptoms and parental mental health symptoms, with large effect sizes ranging from <i>d</i> = 0.80 to 1.12. Qualitative reports were consistent with these quantitative findings. Conclusions: These pilot results suggest that children presenting with clinical-range internalising symptoms may benefit from family-based approaches where the parent–child relationship is a focus.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1552attachmentattachment-based family interventionfamily therapyattachment-based interventioninternalising symptomschildhood depressive symptoms |
| spellingShingle | Kim Lee Kho Andrew J. Lewis Renita A. Almeida An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations Children attachment attachment-based family intervention family therapy attachment-based intervention internalising symptoms childhood depressive symptoms |
| title | An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations |
| title_full | An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations |
| title_fullStr | An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations |
| title_short | An Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Children: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of BEST-Foundations |
| title_sort | attachment based family therapy for anxiety and depression in children a mixed methods evaluation of best foundations |
| topic | attachment attachment-based family intervention family therapy attachment-based intervention internalising symptoms childhood depressive symptoms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/12/1552 |
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