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Examining Intervention Component Dosage Effects on Substance Use Initiation in the Strengthening Families Program: for Parents and Youth Ages 10–14

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Abstract

Family-based prevention programs increasingly are being disseminated and can be effective for an array of adolescent problem behaviors, including substance use initiation. Yet, we continue to have little understanding of how and why these programs work. Increased specificity in our understanding of what components drive program effects can facilitate refinement of programs, with potential for greater impact at a lower cost. Using attendance data, previously coded intervention components, and a previously developed propensity model to adjust for potential bias, this study evaluated content component-specific dosage effects of the Strengthening Families Program: for Parents and Youth Ages 10–14 on three substance use initiation outcomes by grade 12. Results indicated that greater dosages of program content related to (a) parental monitoring and behavior management strategies and (b) promoting positive family relationships had potent and robust effects on reduction of risk for initiating drunkenness and marijuana use and (c) self-regulation and stress management had potent and robust effects on reduction of risk for initiating cigarette and marijuana use. Results indicate potential critical components within SFP 10–14 and offer a path forward for continuing work in efforts to optimize this widely disseminated program.

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Funding

This research was supported by grant R01-DA013709 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and co-funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This project was supported by the Prevention and Methodology Training Program (T32 DA017629; PI: L.M. Collins) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 119 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Emily J. LoBraico, Gregory M. Fosco & Daniel Max Crowley

  2. Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Gregory M. Fosco, Daniel Max Crowley & Mark E. Feinberg

  3. Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Cleve Redmond & Richard L. Spoth

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  1. Emily J. LoBraico
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  2. Gregory M. Fosco
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  3. Daniel Max Crowley
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  4. Cleve Redmond
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  5. Richard L. Spoth
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  6. Mark E. Feinberg
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Correspondence to Emily J. LoBraico.

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Table 3 Potential confounders included in propensity model
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LoBraico, E.J., Fosco, G.M., Crowley, D.M. et al. Examining Intervention Component Dosage Effects on Substance Use Initiation in the Strengthening Families Program: for Parents and Youth Ages 10–14. Prev Sci 20, 852–862 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-00994-7

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