Mental health problems during adolescence constitute a major public health concern today for both families and stakeholders. Accordingly, different family-based interventions have emerged as an effective treatment for adolescents with certain disorders. Specifically, there is evidence of the effectiveness of concrete approaches of systemic family therapy on the symptoms of adolescents and family functioning in general. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of other relevant approaches, such as structural and strategic family therapy, incorporating parent–child or parental dyadic measurement. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a structural–strategic family therapy with adolescents involved in mental health services and their families. For this purpose, 41 parents and adolescents who participated in this treatment were interviewed at pre-test and post-test, providing information on adolescent behavior problems, parental sense of competence, parental practices, parenting alliance, and family functioning. Regardless of participants’ gender, adolescents exhibited fewer internalizing and externalizing problems after the treatment. Parents reported higher family cohesion, higher satisfaction and perceived efficacy as a parent, and healthier parental practices (less authoritarian and permissive practices, as well as more authoritative ones). An interaction effect between parenting alliance and gender was found, with more favorable results for the mothers. In conclusion, this paper provides evidence of the usefulness of structural–strategic family therapy for improving family, dyadic, and individual facets in families with adolescents exhibiting mental health problems.

Parental behavior is one of the most influential factors on the development of adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. These behavioral problems are closely related and often co-occur. The objectives of this work were: (i) to identify adolescents profiles according to their behavior problems; (ii) to explore individual, family, and social characteristics associated with these profiles; and (iii) to analyze the potential role of parenting styles in belonging to adolescents’ profiles. A total of 449 Spanish adolescents (223 from families declared at-risk and enrolled in Child Welfare Services and 226 from families from the general population) participated in this study. The analyses revealed three profiles of adolescents based on external and internal behavior problems (adjusted, external maladjustment, and internal maladjustment). Parenting styles explained the adolescents’ belonging to different profiles, in which the indulgent style was the most favorable in general terms. The distinctive role of parenting styles on two types of maladjustment profiles was confirmed. The relationship between parenting styles and adolescent adjustment is a key component that should be included in interventions according to adolescents’ behavior problem profiles. Furthermore, the results shed light on the need that family interventions are complemented with individualized interventions with adolescents that accumulate stressful life events.

La violencia filio-parental es un fenómeno de marcada prevalencia con consecuencias negativas a nivel individual, familiar y social. El objetivo de este estudio de alcance fue identificar los factores explicativos y la fundamentación teórica del fenómeno. Se revisaron estudios en inglés y español desde el año 2000, de las bases: Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Eric y Dialnet Plus, identificando 57 estudios relevantes. Se encontraron como factores explicativos recurrentes: la monoparentalidad, la cohesión, el estrés y disciplina familiar, el historial de violencia, problemas escolares, trastornos clínicos y la relación con iguales violentos. Se destaca la concurrencia con la violencia escolar, entre hermanos y en las relaciones de noviazgo. Los fundamentos teóricos utilizados se pueden clasificar en psicológicos, comunicacionales, criminológicos, sociológicos y modelos integrativos más amplios (Ecosistémicos, Fenomenológicos y Constructivistas). La revisión realizada no arrojó datos sobre patrones de interacción, estrategias de afrontamiento y percepciones sociales alrededor de la VFP que puedan influir en las familias implicadas en estas situaciones. Child-to-parent violence is a phenomenon with a fairly high prevalence rate and negative consequences at an individual, family and social level. The aim of this scoping review was to identify the theoretical frameworks and explanatory factors for this phenomenon. The review comprised studies written in English and Spanish since the year 2000, from the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC and Dialnet Plus. A total of 57 relevant studies were identified. The recurrent explanatory factors were: single parenthood, cohesion, stress, family discipline, history of violence, problems at school, clinical disorders and violent peer relationships. The concurrence of school, sibling and dating violence was particularly noteworthy. The theoretical frameworks referred to can be grouped into psychological, communicational, criminological, sociological and broader integrative models (Ecosystemic, Phenomenological and Constructivist). No data was found on interaction patterns, coping strategies or social perceptions of CPV which may influence families immersed in these kinds of situations.

The main aim of the present study was to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and some additional psychometric properties of the Antisocial Process Screening Device–Self-Report (APSD-SR) among a large forensic sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders (N = 438). The results, based on this forensic sample, support the use of the APSD-SR in terms of its factor structure, and internal consistency despite the fact an item had to be removed from the callous-unemotional (CU) dimension. Statistically significant positive associations were found with measures of psychopathic traits, CU traits, narcissism, and aggression, as well as negative associations with a measure of empathy. Findings provide support for the use of the APSD-SR among the incarcerated male juvenile offender population.

The aim of this study was to carry out a scoping review to analyze the available evidence regarding parenting skills, family functioning and social support in situations of CPV. When violent behavior occurs, roles, communication and emotional expression are affected, impacting both parenting skills and family functioning. The confluence of these variables could explain the perpetuation of violent behavior over time. The scoping review encompassed peer-reviewed articles published in English and Spanish from 2000 to 2019, located through searches carried out in relevant international databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, ERIC, Dialnet Plus). 22 relevant studies were identified. The collected data showed that, in situations of CPV, parents have low levels of perceived self-efficacy and difficulties regulating their emotions, and they display submissive behavior in parent–child interactions. The analyzed articles also described the presence of a negative family climate and a tendency to relativize violent acts perpetrated by children. Lastly, the evidence shows that social relations are altered by mistrust of formal support resources and a certain level of social isolation. The discussion of the obtained results highlights the need for interventions aimed at fostering parenting skills and improving formal support resources to enhance family functioning in situations of CPV.