title: A randomized controlled trial of Familias Unidas for Hispanic adolescents with behavior problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of Familias Unidas, a Hispanic-specific, parent-centered intervention, in preventing/reducing adolescent substance use, unsafe sexual behavior, and externalizing disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 213 8th grade Hispanic adolescents with behavior problems and their primary caregivers were assigned randomly to one of two conditions: Familias Unidas or Community Control. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6, 18, and 30 months post baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that, relative to a Community Control condition, Familias Unidas was efficacious in preventing or reducing externalizing disorders, preventing and reducing substance use, and in reducing unsafe sexual behavior. The effects of Familias Unidas on these outcomes were partially mediated by improvements in family functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that parent-centered intervention is an efficacious strategy for preventing/reducing specific health risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents with behavior problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1425 N.W. 10 Ave., 3 floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA. hpantin@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pantin
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: Seth J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sabillon
authors.forename: C Hendricks
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Branchini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology