Timothy F. Piehler

Substance Use Progression from Adolescence to Early Adulthood: Effortful Control in the Context of Friendship Influence and Early-Onset Use.

In a sample of 998 ethnically diverse adolescents, a multiagent, multimethod approach to the measurement of adolescent effortful control, adolescent substance use, and friendship influence was used to predict escalations to early-adult tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use by ages 22–23. Structural equation modeling revealed that adolescent substance use and friends’ substance use tended to be highly correlated and together were robust predictors of a problematic pattern of usage for all substances in early adulthood. In addition, the adolescent effortful control construct directly predicted progressions to problematic use of tobacco and marijuana, but not for alcohol. In the alcohol model, effortful control interacted with the construct of substance use lifestyle (based on adolescent alcohol use and friends’ substance use) when predicting problematic alcohol use in early adulthood. Results held when comparing across genders and across ethnic groups. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing adolescent self-regulation in interventions designed to treat and prevent early-adult substance abuse.

Being “SMART” About Adolescent Conduct Problems Prevention: Executing a SMART Pilot Study in a Juvenile Diversion Agency

The development of adaptive treatment strategies (ATS) represents the next step in innovating conduct problems prevention programs within a juvenile diversion context. Toward this goal, we present the theoretical rationale, associated methods, and anticipated challenges for a feasibility pilot study in preparation for implementing a full-scale SMART (i.e., sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial) for conduct problems prevention. The role of a SMART design in constructing ATS is presented. The SMART feasibility pilot study includes a sample of 100 youth (13–17 years of age) identified by law enforcement as early stage offenders and referred for precourt juvenile diversion programming. Prior data on the sample population detail a high level of ethnic diversity and approximately equal representations of both genders. Within the SMART, youth and their families are first randomly assigned to one of two different brief-type evidence-based prevention programs, featuring parent-focused behavioral management or youth-focused strengths-building components. Youth who do not respond sufficiently to brief first-stage programming will be randomly assigned a second time to either an extended parent- or youth-focused second-stage programming. Measures of proximal intervention response and measures of potential candidate tailoring variables for developing ATS within this sample are detailed. Results of the described pilot study will include information regarding feasibility and acceptability of the SMART design. This information will be used to refine a subsequent full-scale SMART. The use of a SMART to develop ATS for prevention will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of prevention programing for youth with developing conduct problems.

Dyadic Coregulation and Deviant Talk in Adolescent Friendships: Interaction Patterns Associated With Problematic Substance Use in Early Adulthood

In a sample of 711 ethnically diverse adolescents, the observed interpersonal dynamics of dyadic adolescent friendship interactions were coded to predict early adulthood tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use. Deviant discussion content within the interactions was coded along with dyadic coregulation (i.e., interpersonal coordination, attention synchrony). Structural equation modeling revealed that, as expected, deviant content in adolescent interactions at age 16-17 years was strongly predictive of problematic use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana at ages 22 and 23. Although dyadic coregulation was not directly predictive of early adulthood substance use, it did moderate the impact of deviant talk within the dyad on future alcohol and marijuana use. For these substances, high levels of dyadic coregulation increased the risk associated with high levels of deviant talk for problematic use in early adulthood. Results held when comparing across genders and across ethnic groups. The results suggest that these interpersonal dynamics are associated with developmental trajectories of risk for or resilience to peer influence processes.

Peer dynamics in the development and change of child and adolescent problem behavior

Contents: Preface. M. Rutter, Gene-Environment Interplay and Developmental Psychopathology. D.R. Hanson, I.I. Gottesman, Choreographing Genetic, Epigenetic, and Stochastic Steps in the Dances of Developmental Psychopathlogy. W.T. Boyce, A Biology of Misfortune: Stress Reactivity, Social Context, and the Ontogeny of Psychopathology in Early Life. B. Egeland, Understanding Developmental Processes of Resilience and Psychology: Implications for Policy and Practice. B.H. Fiese, M. Spagnola, The Interior Life of the Family: Looking From the Inside Out and the Outside In. T.J. Dishion, T.F. Piehler, Peer Dynamics in the Development and Change of Child and Adolescent Problem Behavior. J. Garber, Depression in Youth: A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective. D. Cicchetti, K. Valentino, Toward the Application of a Multiple-Levels-of-Analysis Perspective to Research. L.A. Sroufe, Commentary: The Place of Development in Developmental Psychopathology.

Improving Child Peer Adjustment in Military Families Through Parent Training The Mediational Role of Parental Locus of Control

The present study investigated the mechanisms through which a parenting intervention for military families fosters positive peer adjustment in children. A sample of 336 families with a history of parental deployment enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of the After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT) preventive intervention. ADAPT is a 14-week preventive intervention designed to strengthen parenting in military families. The intervention was associated with improvements in mother’s and father’s parental locus of control (i.e., a more internal locus of control) at a 6-month follow-up assessment while controlling for baseline levels. Mothers’ parental locus of control was positively associated with improvements in children’s peer adjustment 12 months following the intervention while controlling for baseline peer adjustment. A significant indirect effect revealed that participation in ADAPT resulted in improved 12-month peer adjustment by improving mothers’ parental locus of control. Implications for supporting youth resilience to stressors associated with deployment are discussed.

Observed Parenting in Families Exposed to Homelessness: Child and Parent Characteristics as Predictors of Response to the Early Risers Intervention

Efforts to support positive parenting among homeless families are critical for promoting the mental health and developmental needs of children exposed to homelessness. Psychosocial preventive interventions seeking to improve parenting practices and child outcomes can make an important contribution in this regard, yet further research is needed to investigate the effects of such programs. In particular, little is known about which subgroups are most likely to benefit from intervention programming. The purpose of this study was to identify which child and parent characteristics predict differential responses to the Early Risers intervention among formerly homeless families residing in supportive housing. Data were derived from a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial in which supportive housing sites were randomized to the Early Risers intervention condition or treatment as usual. Child behavior problems, parental depression, parenting self-efficacy, and parent–child attachment were each examined as moderators influencing change in observed ineffective discipline practices across four waves of longitudinal data. Multilevel latent growth modeling revealed significant interaction effects for both child behavior problems and parental depression. For parents in the intervention condition, those reporting more child behavior problems at baseline showed greater reductions in ineffective discipline over the course of the study than parents reporting less child behavior problems. Similarly, parents with higher initial levels of depression showed greater parenting improvements in response to the intervention condition than did less depressed parents. These findings could have important implications for targeting families most likely to benefit from intervention participation.

Getting “SMART” about implementing multi-tiered systems of support to promote school mental health

With the growing adoption and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) in school settings, there is increasing need for rigorous evaluations of adaptive-sequential interventions. That is, MTSS specify universal, selected, and indicated interventions to be delivered at each tier of support, yet few investigations have empirically examined the continuum of supports that are provided to students both within and across tiers. This need is compounded by a variety of prevention approaches that have been developed with distinct theoretical foundations (e.g., Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Social-Emotional Learning) that are available within and across tiers. As evidence-based interventions continue to flourish, school-based practitioners greatly need evaluations regarding optimal treatment sequencing. To this end, we describe adaptive treatment strategies as a natural fit within the MTSS framework. Specifically, sequential multiple assignment randomized trials (SMART) offer a promising empirical approach to rigorously develop and compare adaptive treatment regimens within this framework.

Parental Involvement in Brief Interventions for Adolescent Marijuana Use

Adolescents (aged 12-18 years) identified in a school setting as abusing marijuana and other drugs were randomly assigned to complete 1 of 2 brief interventions (BIs). Adolescents and their parent (N = 259) were randomly assigned to receive either a 2-session adolescent only (BI-A) or a 2-session adolescent and additional parent session (BI-AP). Interventions were manualized and delivered in a school setting by trained counselors. Adolescents were assessed at intake and at 6 months following the completion of the intervention. Using a latent construct representing 6-month marijuana use outcomes, current findings supported previous research that BI-AP resulted in superior outcomes when compared to BI-A. The presence of a marijuana dependence diagnosis at baseline predicted poorer outcomes when compared to youth without a diagnosis. Both baseline diagnostic status and co-occurring conduct problems interacted with intervention condition in predicting marijuana use outcomes. A marijuana dependence diagnosis resulted in poorer marijuana use outcomes within the BI-A condition when compared to BI-AP. Co-occurring conduct problems were associated with poorer marijuana use outcomes within the BI-AP intervention when compared to BI-A. Implications for implementing BIs given diagnostic status, parent involvement, and co-occurring conduct problems are discussed.

Adaptive Recruitment and Parenting Interventions for Immigrant Latino Families with Adolescents

Parenting programs are an effective strategy to prevent multiple risky outcomes during adolescence. However, these programs usually enroll one caregiver and have low attendance. This study evaluated the preliminary results, cost, and satisfaction of adaptive recruitment and parenting interventions for immigrant Latino families. A mixed methods study was conducted integrating a pre-post design with embedded qualitative and process evaluations. Fifteen immigrant Latino families with an adolescent child aged 10–14 were recruited. Two-caregiver families received a home visit to increase enrollment of both caregivers. All families participated in an adaptive parenting program that included group sessions and a one-to-one component (online videos plus follow-up telephone calls) for those who did not attend the group sessions. The intervention addressed positive parenting practices using a strengths-based framework. Primary outcomes were the proportion of two-parent families recruited and intervention participation. Secondary outcomes were change in parenting self-efficacy, practices, fidelity, costs, and satisfaction. Participants completed questionnaires and interaction tasks before and after participating in the intervention. In addition, participants and program facilitators completed individual interviews to assess satisfaction with the program components. Overall, 23 parents participated in the intervention; 73% of two-parent families enrolled with both parents. Most participants completed 75% or more of the intervention. Fathers were more likely to use the one-to-one component of the intervention than mothers (p = .038). Participants were satisfied with program modifications. In sum, adaptive recruitment and parenting interventions achieved high father enrollment and high participation. These findings warrant further evaluation in randomized trials.

PTSD as a moderator of a parenting intervention for military families

The stress of multiple deployments and exposure to combat places service members at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may detrimentally affect parenting. Evidence-based parenting programs have been successful in promoting adaptive parenting practices among families exposed to stress. However, the effects of preventive interventions on parenting may vary by military parent’s PTSD. The current study includes families who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a parenting intervention for military families known as After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT). Families were randomized to either a 14-week, group-based parenting program or a comparison group. Participants included families with 4- to 12-year-old children in which at least 1 parent deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (N = 336; 945 individuals). Structural equation modeling was used to examine parent self-reported PTSD as a potential moderator of the relationship between intent-to-treat status and effective parenting practices 12 months postbaseline while accounting for baseline effective parenting, length and number of deployments, and family demographics. Father PTSD was a significant moderator, such that the intervention was less effective for fathers who met clinical levels of PTSD. No significant moderation effects were found among mothers. These findings may have important implications for the development of future evidence-based parenting programs.