A1 Journal article (refereed)
Perheterapeuttisen muutoksen moniulotteisuus ja sen tunnistamisen menetelmälliset haasteet (2022)
The multidimensional therapeutic change within family therapy and methodological challenges relating to its identification

Heikkinen, I., Järviniemi, A., Laitila, A., & Kumpulainen, K. (2022). Perheterapeuttisen muutoksen moniulotteisuus ja sen tunnistamisen menetelmälliset haasteet. Psykologia, 57(1), 4-21.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Heikkinen, Iida; Järviniemi, Annamari; Laitila, Aarno; Kumpulainen, Kirsti

Journal or series: Psykologia

ISSN: 0355-1067

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 57

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 4-21

Publisher: Suomen psykologinen seura

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Additional information: Tieteelliset artikkelit

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the change that occurred in the well-being of a child and his family during their family therapy process. The child had been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Asperger syndrome. The process of change in psychotherapy is often affected by both specific within-therapy factors and nontherapy factors. Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design (HSCED) is a research method utilizing methods for data collection that are often familiar to clinicians which provides an opportunity to bridge the research-practice gap. In this study' we addressed the standard HSCED research questions of whether a change has occurred in the well-being of the child and his family during their family therapy process and whether this possible change was due to the family therapy. In addition, the specific within-therapy factors and nontherapy factors that may have affected this change process were addressed. In this study, the collection of data consisted of video tapes of the family therapy sessions that were conducted both at the family's home and outside of the family's house, background information of the family members, and quantitative measurements. The results of this study indicated that positive change occurred in the well-being of the investigated child and his family during the family therapy process, which was very likely substantially due to the effect of the therapy. The within-therapy factors that were possibly affecting the process of change consisted of the adaptable implementation of the therapy both inside and outside of the home of the family, as well as watching the video tapes of the therapy sessions together with the therapists. The nontherapy factors that were possibly affecting the Process of change consisted of the birth of the youngest child of the family, the separate psychological treatment of the mother and the father's commitment towards his career. The outcomes of this study demonstrated the multidimensional nature of the change processes within the framework of psychotherapy as well as the challenges in its identification. A research method that includes both quantitative and qualitative data makes it possible to detect the change that has happened.

Keywords: psychotherapy; family therapy; oppositional defiant disorder; Asperger's syndrome; families; mental well-being; parent-child relationship; change; efficacy

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2