title: The family bereavement program: efficacy evaluation of a theory-based prevention program for parentally bereaved children and adolescents.
abstract: This article presents an experimental evaluation of the Family Bereavement Program (FBP), a 2-component group intervention for parentally bereaved children ages 8-16. The program involved separate groups for caregivers, adolescents, and children, which were designed to change potentially modifiable risk and protective factors for bereaved children. The evaluation involved random assignment of 156 families (244 children and adolescents) to the FBP or a self-study condition. Families participated in assessments at pretest, posttest, and 11-month follow-up. Results indicated that the FBP led to improved parenting, coping, and caregiver mental health and to reductions in stressful events at posttest. At follow-up, the FBP led to reduced internalizing and externalizing problems, but only for girls and those who had higher problem scores at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1104, USA. irwin.sandler@asu.edu
authors.forename: Irwin N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: Tim S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: Sharlene A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolchik
authors.forename: Jenn-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.forename: Oi-Man
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Haine
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Twohey-Jacobs
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padgett-Jones
authors.forename: Janelle L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weyer
authors.forename: Eloise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kriege
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D010290:Parents; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011897:Random Allocation