Does the Brazilian version of the strengthening families program (Familias Fortes) reduce adolescent…

Randomized trialBMC public health· Mar 2025

Does the Brazilian version of the strengthening families program (Familias Fortes) reduce adolescent substance use and change parental behavior? Evidence from a 2-year follow-up study.

Zila M Sanchez, Sheila C Caetano, Patrícia P O Galvão … Juliana Y Valente

Adolescent MedicineRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 4.6

Family strengthening program lowered odds of negligent parenting style over 2 years

Does the Brazilian version of the strengthening families program (Familias Fortes) reduce adolescent substance use and change parental behavior? Evidence from a 2-year follow-up study.

Zila M Sanchez … Juliana Y Valente

BMC public health · Mar 2025

Background

The Brazilian adaptation of the Strengthening Families Program (Strengthening Families Program), known as Famílias Fortes (FF-BR 10-14), has demonstrated positive short-term effects on parental behavior.

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the 12- and 24-month follow-ups of the FF-BR 10-14, focusing on parental outcomes and substance use prevention.

Methods

This is a parallel-cluster randomized controlled trial (randomized controlled trial) involving 1610 participants (805 adolescents aged 10-14 and 805 caregivers).

n = 1610 participants

Results

program participation nearly halved odds of negligent parenting

aOR 0.46 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.97)

null 1

0.22

0.97

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

The results reveal no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of adolescent drug use after either follow-up.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

The Famílias Fortes program shows positive effects on mediators, such as parenting practices and adolescent coping skills, but not on the primary outcomes of adolescent substance use.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings highlight the program's role in improving the family environment and supporting prevention efforts through intermediary behaviors.

Does the Brazilian version of the strengthening families program (Familias Fortes) reduce adolescent substance use and change parental behavior? Evidence from a 2-year follow-up study.

Does the Brazilian version of the strengthening families program (Familias Fortes) reduce adolescent substance use and change parental behavior? Evidence from a 2-year follow-up study.

Related papers