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Brief Family Therapy for Refugee Children

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare refugee children’s psychological well-being before and after brief family therapy. Families from Bosnia-Herzegovina with one child aged 5-12 years received three family therapy sessions. Psychological assessments using the Erica play-diagnostic method and parental interviews were made before and after the intervention. The main finding was that more children built normal sandboxes (showing no pathological findings)after the intervention than before, indicating that the rather short intervention had a positive effect on the children’s psychological well-being. To conclude, it might be valuable to offer refugee families a few family therapy sessions even if the children do not have psychiatric symptoms with the aim of helping them adapt to a new system of society.

Citation

  • Björn, G. J., Bodén, C., Sydsjö, G., & Gustafsson, P. (2013). Brief family therapy for refugee children. The Family Journal, 21(3), 272–278.
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Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

How do family interventions impact functioning of newcomer household dynamics?

One strong source of evidence and several smaller moderate and suggestive studies show that interventions on intergenerational relationships can help decrease negative mental health symptoms and increase positive parenting practices. Multiple studies reported significant improvements in the overall mental health of both child and caregiver participants. Caregivers reported high levels of satisfaction with several different…

About this study

AGE: Children

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

HOST COUNTRY: Sweden

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: 3 sessions

INTERVENTION: Family therapy

OUTCOME AREA: Children, Youth, and Family

OUTCOME: Mental Health

POPULATION: Refugees

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Europe – East

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2013

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