Abstract
This study addresses two limitations in the literature on family-centered intervention programs for adolescents: ruling out
nonspecific factors that may explain program effects and engaging parents into prevention programs. The Rural African American
Families Health project is a randomized, attention-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the Strong African American
Families–Teen (SAAF–T) program, a family-centered risk-reduction intervention for rural African American adolescents. Rural
African American families (n = 502) with a 10th-grade student were assigned randomly to receive SAAF–T or a similarly structured, family-centered program
that focused on health and nutrition. Families participated in audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline and 6-month
follow-up. Program implementation procedures yielded a design with equivalent doses, five sessions of family-centered intervention
programming for families in each condition. Of eligible families screened for participation, 76% attended four or five sessions
of the program. Consistent with our primary hypotheses, SAAF–T youth, compared to attention-control youth, demonstrated higher
levels of protective family management skills, a finding that cannot be attributed to nonspecific factors such as aggregating
families in a structured, interactive setting.
nonspecific factors that may explain program effects and engaging parents into prevention programs. The Rural African American
Families Health project is a randomized, attention-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the Strong African American
Families–Teen (SAAF–T) program, a family-centered risk-reduction intervention for rural African American adolescents. Rural
African American families (n = 502) with a 10th-grade student were assigned randomly to receive SAAF–T or a similarly structured, family-centered program
that focused on health and nutrition. Families participated in audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline and 6-month
follow-up. Program implementation procedures yielded a design with equivalent doses, five sessions of family-centered intervention
programming for families in each condition. Of eligible families screened for participation, 76% attended four or five sessions
of the program. Consistent with our primary hypotheses, SAAF–T youth, compared to attention-control youth, demonstrated higher
levels of protective family management skills, a finding that cannot be attributed to nonspecific factors such as aggregating
families in a structured, interactive setting.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-011-0257-y
- Authors
- Steven M. Kogan, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Gene H. Brody, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Virginia K. Molgaard, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Christina M. Grange, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Desirée A. H. Oliver, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Tracy N. Anderson, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Ralph J. DiClemente, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Gina M. Wingood, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Yi-fu Chen, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Megan C. Sperr, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986