Unintended Effects of an Intervention Supporting Mexican-Heritage Youth

Abstract

Objective To assess the impact of a parenting intervention, Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG), intended to support children, on parents heavy drinking. We hypothesized that parent participants of FPNG would reduce their heavy drinking at 1-year follow-up. Methods Parents (N = 281) of middle school children from a large, low-income metropolitan area in the Southwest United States participated in a randomized control trial over 2 years. Results A logistic regression analysis using the maximum likelihood test determined that at Wave 3, parents receiving FPNG reduced heavy drinking behaviors compared to parents in the youth-only condition (odds ratio = .86, p < .05). Conclusions Participating in the parenting program can effectively curb heavy drinking behaviors in parents—an important mechanism through which one may expect changes in youth risk behavior. The practice, policy, and research implications of these unintended findings are promising to the overall effectiveness of a parenting intervention for Mexican-heritage families.

Changing Latino Adolescents’ Substance Use Norms and Behaviors: the Effects of Synchronized Youth and Parent Drug Use Prevention Interventions

“…When parents maintain healthy communication and model appropriate substance use behaviors, adolescent pro-social norms are strengthened (Oetting & Donnermeyre, 1998). Prior studies examining the efficacy of FPNG have found that parents participating in the intervention strengthened their positive parenting practices (Marsiglia et al, 2013), enhanced their open family communication (Williams et al, 2012), and reduced heavy alcohol drinking (Williams et al, 2014), indicating that “known parenting practices relevant to reducing adolescent risk behavior are malleable to change.” (Williams et al, 2012, p. 302). The results presented in this article contribute to the existing knowledge by providing further evidence that a parenting intervention can strengthen anti-drug norms in Latino adolescents.…”

“…Initial efficacy results have been noted on strengthening open communication (Williams, Ayers, Garvey, Marsiglia, & Castro, 2012), improving positive parenting practices (Marsiglia, Williams, Ayers, & Booth, 2013), and decreasing heavy episodic drinking in parents when compared to the control group (Williams, Marsiglia, Baldwin, & Ayers, 2014). This article presents the results of the longer term (18 months) effects on youth’s substance use through changing anti-drug norms.…”

The Role of Culture of Origin on the Effectiveness of a Parents-Involved Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Among Latino Middle School Youth: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Both kiR and FPNG have shown to be efficacious and also effective in preventing substance use for both youth (Williams, Ayers, Baldwin, & Marsiglia 2016;Marsiglia, Ayers, & Kiehne in press;Kulis et al 2005) and their parents (Williams, Marsiglia, Baldwin, & Ayers 2015).…”

The Initial Assessment of a Community‐based Intervention With Mexican‐heritage Parents in Boosting the Effects of a Substance Use Prevention Intervention With Youth

“…The effect of FPNG on parenting behaviors has been noted in the immediate effects of strengthening open communication (Williams, Ayers, Garvey, Marsiglia, & Castro, 2012) and improving positive parenting practices (Marsiglia, Williams, Ayers, & Booth, 2014), as well as in reducing parents' heavy drinking in the long term (Williams, Marsiglia, Baldwin, & Ayers, 2015). There is also anecdotal evidence from the schools that parents continued their involvement at school after the sessions ended.…”