Families preparing a new generation: Adaptation of an adolescent substance use intervention for Burmese refugee families

Year Published:

Abstract

Refugees frequently experience histories of trauma and stress of acculturation, which place them at a high risk for mental health and substance use problems. Although recently arrived foreign-born youths report lower rates of substance use than their American peers, substance use rates for children in refugee families often increase as acculturation occurs. We describe the adaptation of the Familias: Preparando a la Nueva Generación (Families: Preparing the New Generation; FPNG) parenting skills curriculum to prevent adolescent substance use among Burmese refugee families. The adapted curriculum introduces parents of newly acculturating adolescents to the problem of substance use and teaches them how to effectively communicate with their children to target specific adolescent risk factors. We conducted a pilot study of 10 FPNG sessions with 14 Burmese mothers at an urban community center. Pretest and posttest data and fidelity measures were collected to assess the effects of the adapted curriculum and the pilot study. We describe these measures and present a 3-phase cultural adaptation process model that details the study’s background and plans for future intervention adaptations. We also discuss challenges in adaptation and implementation of the FPNG intervention with Burmese refugee communities.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What works to prevent or reduce substance use among newcomer populations?

Very strong evidence suggests that culturally adapted and family-centered substance use programs can be effective in immigrant and minority adolescents. Incorporating some level of cultural adaptation into a substance use program (even just translating materials) is associated with more positive outcomes in minority adolescents than maintaining the original format of a program. Programs that either…

About this study

AGE: Adolescents and/or Youth

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: No evidence about impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: United States

POPULATION: Refugees

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: No evidence about impact

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2018

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