A Pilot Study of the Coping Together Virtual Family Intervention: Exploring Changes in Family Functioning and Individual Well-Being.

Abstract

In this pilot study, we tested a virtual family strengthening and mental health promotion intervention, Coping Together (CT), during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored changes at the family and individual levels, as well as mechanisms of change. Participants included 18 families (24 caregivers, 24 youth) with children aged 7 to 18 years. Community health workers delivered the 8-session CT intervention using videoconferencing software. We used qualitative semi-structured interviews with 14 of the families to explore changes and mechanisms of change using a thematic content analysis approach. We also administered pre-post surveys with the 18 families to explore the direction of changes, using only descriptive statistics in this small sample. Qualitative findings supported positive changes across family and individual level outcomes including family functioning, relationship quality, and individual psychosocial well-being. Results also confirmed several hypothesized mechanisms of change with improved communication providing the foundation for increased hope and improved problem solving and coping. Pre-post survey results were mixed, showing positive, but very small, changes in family closeness, caregiver-child communication, and levels of hope; almost no change was observed on measures of caregiver and child mental health. Families reported few problems at baseline quantitatively despite qualitative descriptions of pre-intervention difficulties. Results provide preliminary support for benefits of CT with the most consistent improvements seen across family relationships. Findings were mixed related to individual-level mental health benefits. Results have implications for revising content on mental health coping strategies and suggest the need to revise the quantitative measurement strategy for this non-clinical sample.