Fathers' influence on family therapy outcome

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between fathers' perceptions of their family's functioning at the onset of therapy with the outcome of family therapy. This research used the Family Assessment Measure (Skinner, et al., 1983) to explore fathers' perceptions of their family's functioning at the beginning of family therapy; two raters assessed treatment outcome. Statistical analysis was used to determine whether scores on the F2M between "good outcome" and "poor outcome" groups differed significantly. The study also explored the influence of the following factors on Family Assessment Measure scores (Skinner, et al., 1983): father's age, the identified patient' s age and, and whether the father was the identified patient's biological father or stepfather. The results of the study suggest there are no particular perceptions of family functioning held by the father at the onset of therapy that are associated with the outcome of family therapy. However, the 'analysis of the possible mitigating factors revealed significant results.