Dataset Information

Family-Based Mental Health Promotion for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: Feasibility and Acceptability Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

There are disparities in mental health of refugee youth compared with the general U.S.

Population

We conducted a pilot feasibility and acceptability trial of the home-visiting Family Strengthening Intervention for refugees (FSI-R) using a community-based participatory research approach. The FSI-R aims to promote youth mental health and family relationships. We hypothesized that FSI-R families would have better psychosocial outcomes and family functioning postintervention compared with care-as-usual (CAU) families. We hypothesized that FSI-R would be feasible to implement and accepted by communities.

Methods

A total of 40 Somali Bantu (n = 103 children, 58.40% female; n = 43 caregivers, 79.00% female) and 40 Bhutanese (n = 49 children, 55.30% female; n = 62 caregivers, 54.00% female) families were randomized to receive FSI-R or CAU. Refugee research assistants conducted psychosocial assessments pre- and post-intervention, and home visitors delivered the preventive intervention. Multilevel modeling assessed the effects of FSI-R. Feasibility was measured from retention, and acceptability was measured from satisfaction surveys.

Results

The retention rate of 82.50% indicates high feasibility, and high reports of satisfaction (81.50%) indicate community acceptance. Across communities, FSI-R children reported reduced traumatic stress reactions, and caregivers reported fewer child depression symptoms compared with CAU families (? = -.42; p = .03; ? = -.34; p = .001). Bhutanese FSI-R children reported reduced family arguing (? = -1.32; p = .04) and showed fewer depression symptoms and conduct problems by parent report (? = -9.20; p = .04; ? = -.92; p = .01) compared with CAU. There were no significant differences by group on other measures.

Conclusions

A family-based home-visiting preventive intervention can be feasible and acceptable and has promise for promoting mental health and family functioning among refugees.

SUBMITTER: Betancourt TS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7007860 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Family-Based Mental Health Promotion for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: Feasibility and Acceptability Trial.

Betancourt Theresa S TS Berent Jenna M JM Freeman Jordan J Frounfelker Rochelle L RL Brennan Robert T RT Abdi Saida S Maalim Ali A Abdi Abdirahman A Mishra Tej T Gautam Bhuwan B Creswell John W JW Beardslee William R WR

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 20191105 3

<h4>Purpose</h4>There are disparities in mental health of refugee youth compared with the general U.S.<h4>Population</h4>We conducted a pilot feasibility and acceptability trial of the home-visiting Family Strengthening Intervention for refugees (FSI-R) using a community-based participatory research approach. The FSI-R aims to promote youth mental health and family relationships. We hypothesized that FSI-R families would have better psychosocial outcomes and family functioning postintervention c ...[more]

PMID: 31699604

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Dataset Information

Family-Based Mental Health Promotion for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: Feasibility and Acceptability Trial.

Purpose

Population

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Family-Based Mental Health Promotion for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: Feasibility and Acceptability Trial.

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