Increasing parental self-efficacy with emotion-focused family therapy for eating disorders: a process model. (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strahan, Erin J.; Stillar, Amanda; Files, Natasha; Nash, Patricia; Scarborough, Jennifer; Connors, Laura; Gusella, Joanne; Henderson, Katherine; Mayman, Shari; Marchand, Patricia; Orr, Emily S.; Dolhanty, Joanne; Lafrance, Adèle
• Is Part Of: Person-centered & experiential psychotherapies. Volume 16:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Eating disorders -- self-efficacy -- emotion-focused family therapy -- process model; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Experiential psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Client-centered psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.8914
• DOI: 10.1080/14779757.2017.1330703
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9757

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A process model was tested whereby parental fear and self-blame were targeted in order to enhance parental self-efficacy and supportive efforts in the context of emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) for eating disorders (ED). A 2-day EFFT group intervention was delivered to parents of adolescent and adult children with ED. Data were collected from eight treatment sites ( N = 124). Data were analyzed using t -tests, regression analyses and structural equation modeling. The findings supported the proposed process model. Through the processing of parents' maladaptive fear and self-blame, parents felt more empowered to support their child's recovery. This increase in self-efficacy led to an increase in parents' intentions to engage in recovery-focused behaviors. This study is the first to test a method for clinicians to increase supportive efforts by targeting and enhancing caregiver self-efficacy via the processing of emotion.