title: Gender and ethnicity as moderators: Integrative data analysis of multidimensional family therapy randomized clinical trials.
abstract: This study examined gender and ethnicity as moderators of Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) effectiveness for adolescent drug abuse and illustrated the utility of integrative data analysis (IDA; Bauer & Hussong, 2009) for assessing moderation. By pooling participant data from 5 independent MDFT randomized clinical trials (RCTs), IDA increased power to test moderation. Participants were 646 adolescents receiving treatment for drug use, aged 11 to 17 years (M = 15.31, SD = 1.30), with 19% female (n = 126), 14% (n = 92) European American, 35% (n = 225) Hispanic, and 51% (n = 329) African American. Participants were randomized to MDFT or active comparison treatments, which varied by study. Drug use involvement (i.e., frequency and consequences) was measured at study entry, 6-, and 12-months by a 4-indicator latent variable. Growth curve change parameters from multiple calibration samples were regressed on treatment effects overall and by moderator subgroups. MDFT reduced drug use involvement (p < .05) for all participant groups. Pooled comparison groups reduced drug use involvement only for females and Hispanics (ps < .05). MDFT was more effective than comparisons for males, African Americans, and European Americans (ps <.05; Cohen's d = 1.17, 1.95, and 1.75, respectively). For females and Hispanics, there were no significant differences between MDFT and pooled comparison treatments, Cohen's d = 0.63 and 0.19, respectively. MDFT is an effective treatment for drug use among adolescents of both genders and varied ethnicity with males, African American, and European American non-Hispanic adolescents benefitting most from MDFT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Science, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Greenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Gayle A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dakof
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Liddle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome