Deanna Linville

A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF PARENTING PRACTICES, COUPLE SATISFACTION, AND CHILD BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between couple relationship satisfaction, parenting practices, parent depression, and child problem behaviors. The study participants (n = 148) were part of a larger experimental study that examined the effectiveness of a brief family-centered intervention, the Family Check-Up model. Regression analysis results indicated that our proposed model accounted for 38% of the variance in child problem behavior at Time 2, with child problem behavior and couple relationship satisfaction at child age 2 years each accounting for a significant portion of the variance in child problem behavior at age 3. Couple relationship satisfaction directly predicted child behavior problems over time. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Eating Disorders and Social Support: Perspectives of Recovered Individuals

Eating disorder researchers have focused more on the etiology and treatment and less on what happens for individuals during the recovery process from an eating disorder. For this qualitative study, we examined how social supports were helpful and hurtful during the eating disorder recovery process and learned about varying experiences with social supports from the perspectives of 22 recovered women. Participants reported that eating disorder recovery is largely influenced by the individuals sense of connection to self and others. In addition, participants shared that the focus of care from providers influenced their recovery process in powerful ways. Clinical implications and future research ideas are presented for clinicians and researchers working in the area of eating disorders.

Outness and relationship satisfaction in same-gender couples

Self-disclosure of sexual orientation, or outness, is a fundamental feature of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) experience, yet little is known about how outness impacts same-gender relationship satisfaction. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with 15 same-gender couples, the complexities of navigating a stigmatized identity in a homonegative society emerged, including (a) characteristics of outness, (b) the influence of coupling on an individuals outness, and (c) the impact of outness on same-gender relationship satisfaction. Findings suggest that for GLB persons, outness is a developmental skill, an expression of identity and values, as well as a resilience strategy for managing discrimination and gay-related stress that influences, though does not singularly determine, relationship satisfaction. Implications for clinical practice and future research suggestions are presented.

Predictive effects of mother and peer influences on increases in adolescent eating disorder risk factors and symptoms: A 3-year longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation of maternal and peer attitudes and behaviors to changes in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms in adolescent females. METHOD We tested whether maternal and peer eating attitudes, behaviors, and deficits in social support at baseline predicted subsequent increases in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms among 483 late adolescent females followed over 3 years. RESULTS Data provide partial support for hypotheses, as eating disorder risk factors and symptoms increased over time and maternal thin ideal internalization significantly predicted a future increases in adolescent bulimic symptoms. There were no significant predictors of adolescent thin ideal internalization or body dissatisfaction. DISCUSSION Findings only partially support the hypothesis that unhealthy attitudes and behaviors of mothers increase risk for eating disorder symptoms in their late adolescent daughters. These results underscore why eating disorder prevention programs should be based on risk factor research that has used prospective and rigorous designs.

A Qualitative Study of Intimate Partner Violence Universal Screening by Family Therapy Interns: Implications for Practice, Research, Training, and Supervision

Although a few family therapy researchers and clinicians have urged universal screening for intimate partner violence (IPV), how screening is implemented-and, in particular, client and therapist response to screening-is vaguely defined and largely untested. This qualitative study examined the dilemmas experienced by couples and family therapy interns when implementing universal screening for IPV in an outpatient clinic setting. Twenty-two graduate students in a COAMFTE-accredited program were interviewed using qualitative research methods grounded in phenomenology. Three domains, 7 main themes, and 26 subthemes were identified. The three domains that emerged in this study include (a) therapist practice of universal screening, (b) client response to universal screening, and (c) therapist response to universal screening. Implications for practice, research, training, and supervision are discussed.

Effectiveness of an eating disorder preventative intervention in primary care medical settings.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a pilot effectiveness trial of a brief dissonance-based eating disorder preventative program, the Body Project, when implemented at primary care medical clinics. METHOD Sixty-six female adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 who reported at least some body image dissatisfaction were recruited at two primary care clinics and randomized to Body Project groups or an educational video control condition; eating disorder risk factors and symptoms were measured at pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS Body Project versus educational video control participants showed significantly greater reductions in thin-ideal internalization, pressure to be thin, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms at posttest, which were medium to large effect sizes. Body Project participants also showed greater decreases in body dissatisfaction and negative affect at posttest, though these moderate sized effects were not significant. Effects persisted through 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION Average pre-post effect sizes (d = 0.58) compare favorably to those observed in past Body Project efficacy (average d = 0.59) and effectiveness trials (average ds of 0.43 and 0.69), suggesting that primary care clinics may represent a novel venue for offering and extending the reach of this eating disorder prevention program.

The Influence of Dating Violence on Adolescent Girls’ Educational Experiences

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of dating violence on adolescent girls’ educational experiences and relationships with peers, family members, and school personnel. We used a constructivist–interpretivist research paradigm and conducted semistructured interviews with 19 adolescent female participants who experienced abuse from a dating partner during the past year. Using grounded theory analytical methods, findings included identification of specific types of abuse girls experienced in different contexts, what strategies girls used to cope with the abuse, how girls made meaning of their abuse experiences, and the subsequent consequences of the abuse on girls’ health, relationships, self-concepts, and school experiences. Implications for school- and family-based interventions and dating violence research are provided.

A National Survey of Family Physicians: Perspectives on Collaboration With Marriage and Family Therapists

Recognizing the fit between family medicine and marriage and family therapy (MFT), members of both fields have made significant advances in collaborative health research and practice. To add to this work, we surveyed a nationwide random sample of 240 family physicians (FPs) and asked about their perspectives and experiences of collaboration with MFTs. We found that FPs frequently perceive a need for their patients to receive MFT-related care, but their referral to and collaboration with MFTs were limited. Through responses to an open-ended question, we gained valuable information as to how MFTs could more effectively initiate collaboration with FPs.

Client Beliefs About a Multicouple Group Service for Intimate Partner Violence A Narrative Analysis

Despite the ongoing debate about intervention best practices for intimate partner violence (IPV), few researchers have elicited the perspectives of clients themselves about what interventions most effectively decrease violence and increase safety. Using qualitative narrative analysis methodology, the researchers conducted 48 client participant interviews and 5 staff interviews to better understand couples’ perspectives of a multicouple conjoint treatment program for IPV. Several recurring themes included (a) group purpose and general service characteristics, (b) motivation for participation, (c) comparison with other services, (d) benefits of, (e) disadvantages of, and (f) suggestions for Couples Achieving Relationship Enrichment. Important research implications for community intervention are discussed.

The effectiveness of a brief eating disorder training programme in medical settings

Objective: To investigate the longitudinal effectiveness of a brief eating disorder training on primary care providers’ self-perceived knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding eating disorder screening and intervention. Method: We trained 45 primary care providers (including nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians) practicing in 10 medical sites and measured their self-perceived knowledge, skills and attitudes on eating disorder screening and intervention using a 23-item questionnaire prior to, 1 week and 6 months after the training. Results: The eating disorder knowledge score and eating disorder skill level score showed pretest to posttest gains that were associated with large effect sizes (d = 1.25 and 1.31, respectively). The significance and magnitude of effects carried over through the 6-month follow-up evaluation. Unlike the eating disorder knowledge and skill scores, there was no significant improvement in eating disorder attitudes from pretest to posttest or from pretest to the 6-month follow-up. Discussion: Findings show support for the effectiveness of a brief eating disorder training on primary care providers’ reported knowledge and skills for addressing eating disorders in their practice. These results underscore the importance of providing information to primary care providers on how they can more adequately screen and intervene with eating disorders, as part of primary care to their patients.