Treatment Efficacy of Multiple Family Narrative Therapy for Chinese Families of Children With Dyslexia: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Dyslexia
- Sponsor
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- Enrollment
- 123
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to develop and to implement a multiple family narrative therapy (MFNT) intervention consisting of parent-child relationships training among Chinese families of children with Dyslexia (CFCDs). The intervention aims to reduce the psychological distress of parents and their child, thus improving parent-child relationships, and the trial aims to assess the effectiveness of MFNT among them. A RCT design supplemented by qualitative interviews will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of MFNT on family welfare.
Detailed Description
Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes problems with reading, writing, sequential learning, and phonological processing. It is a diagnosable disorder that commonly coexist with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The estimated percentage of dyslexia in Hong Kong ranges from 9.7 to 12.6%. From 2016 to 2019, the number of students with special learning difficulties in both primary and secondary schools increased by 8.3%. These current statistics project that the number of children with dyslexia will continue to rise in the near future. International studies indicated that dyslexia impacts the whole family. There are three common problems experienced by families of children with dyslexia: 1) problematic parent-child relationship; 2) parental and psychological distress; and 3) lack of social support. Statistics in Hong Kong also show that Chinese families of children with dyslexia experience similar problems. With daily academic demands, parents are constantly looking for effective ways to manage problems faced by their children with dyslexia even though they do not fully understand their child's dyslexia conditions. In Hong Kong, few studies of psychoeducational models have focused on parent-child relationships, parental stress, and social support for families of children with learning disabilities. The psychological approaches mainly address the behavioural changes of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). To offset this research gap, it is important to adopt a psychoeducational model and evaluate the effects of the model's intervention on both parents and their children with SEN. This study addresses a need in the Hong Kong Chinese community and has four expected outcomes: 1) it tests the effectiveness of Multiple Family Narrative Therapy (MFNT) as a brief-targeted intervention model; 2) it facilitates a participatory approach that engages both parents and children; 3) it designs a practice manual that is culturally applicable in the Chinese context; and 4) it encourages the use of the practice manual that outlines a tested model in school and integrative family services. This study is an evidence-informed and knowledge-building study that aims to test the effectiveness of a brief-targeted MFNT integrative family therapy in Hong Kong compared to a "Treatment as Usual" school-focused approach to work with Chinese family of children with Dyslexia (CFCDs). This approach will target the importance of shifting from academic achievement driven approach, which intensify conflictual parent-child relationship to a collaborative model where family members can review one's identity and re-choose the pattern of interaction among the family members. The first objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of a brief-targeted Multiple Family Narrative Therapy (MFNT) for Chinese families of children with dyslexia (CFCDs) in Hong Kong, in reducing psychological distress of parents and children, building healthy parent-child relationships, and promoting the use of social support. The second objective is to examine the process of change in attitudes and interactions among family members participating in MFNT.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Participants 7-13 years old and their parents
- •Dyslexia diagnosis (by psychiatrist or educational psychologist or clinical psychologist)
- •Diagnosis with comorbidity of other learning disabilities
- •Cantonese speaking participants (child and parents)
- •At least one of the parents, but not siblings nor grandparents, can commit to all four sessions
- •Participants able to comply with all testing and study requirements
Exclusion Criteria
- •Formal current diagnosis of psychosis
- •Limitation in daily communication
- •Previous service recipients of Narrative Therapy or Multiple Family Group
- •Non-Cantonese speaking child or parent
- •Parents or children who refuse to give written consent for their participation in the study
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI)
Time Frame: 1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention
Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI) is a 25-item instrument assessing levels of parental care and overprotection perceived by the child. It consisted of two subscales termed 'care' and 'overprotection/control'. The measure is to be completed for both mothers and fathers separately, with each parent being scored on a 4-point Likert scale (Very unlike = 0, Moderately unlike = 1, Moderately like = 2, Very like = 3). Changes in the scores in "care" and "overprotection/control" subscales in both father and mother will be evaluated before, after the intervention as well as at a follow-up assessment (3 months after the end of the intervention).
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (KPDS)
Time Frame: 1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale is a 10-item scale completed by the child and the child's parent. It assesses the frequency of distress-related feelings in the past month on a 5-point Likert Scale (1=None of the time; 2=A little of the time; 3=Some of the time; 4=Most of the time; 5=All of the time). The scale is reliable and valid for the local context, given it will be delivered in Chinese. Changes in scores of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale will be evaluated before, after the intervention as well as at a follow-up assessment (3 months after the end of the intervention).
Parent-Child Relationship Scale
Time Frame: 1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention
Parent-Child Relationship Scale is a scale that assesses subjects' perceptions of their current relationship with their children. It consists of 17 items based on 5-point scale, ranging from 1 = never to 5 = always. The scale uses mean score, and a higher score indicates a more positive parent-child relationship. Changes in its mean score will be evaluated before, after the intervention as well as at a follow-up assessment (3 months after the end of the intervention).
Parental Stress Scale (PSS)
Time Frame: 1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention
Parental Stress Scale (PSS) consists of 17 items on a 6-point scale (1 = strongly disagree; 2 = disagree; 3= somewhat disagree; 4 = somewhat agree; 5 = agree; 6 = strongly agree) measuring parents' perception of parental stress. Seven items require reverse scoring. A total score is calculated, with higher scores indicating higher levels of parental stress. The Chinese version of the scale has been translated and validated. Changes in its total score will be evaluated before, after the intervention as well as at a follow-up assessment (3 months after the end of the intervention).
Secondary Outcomes
- Satisfaction With Family Life Scale (SWFL)(1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention)
- Guilt and Shame Questionnaire (GSQ)(1 week prior intervention, Intervention week 4, and 3 months post-intervention)