Social validity of support group and behavior therapy interventions for families of adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Compared the social validity of behavior therapy vs. support group interventions for reduction of parent-adolescent conflict among families of adolescents with diabetes. Families were randomized to 10 sessions of an Education and Support group (ES) or 10 sessions of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST). We compared participants' social validity ratings of BFST and ES using the Treatment Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ). Mean TEQ scores were significantly more positive for BFST than ES and, for 13 of 20 items, BFST was rated significantly more positively by parents and/or adolescents. Adolescents rated ES less positively than did parents. Fathers' responses reflected fewer differences between ES and BFST. Results extend previous research on BFST and confirm its superiority over ES for targeting family conflict.