Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial of the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions Intervention for Highly Dependent Adult Children

Uri Berger, Wendy K. Silverman, Eli R. Lebowitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Adults who do not work, pursue higher education, or live independently from their parents despite the absence of a diagnosed physical, neurodevelopmental, or intellectual disability are often referred to as having ‘failure to launch’ (FTL). This preliminary randomized controlled trial evaluated a new parent-based intervention for FTL: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions for FTL (SPACE-FTL). Parents of adults with FTL were assigned to SPACE-FTL or a waitlist. Primary outcomes included feasibility, acceptability, treatment satisfaction, and the change in FTL status and symptoms. Secondary and exploratory assessments included parental burden, family accommodation, cost-of-illness, and the adult child’s anxiety and depression symptom severity. Trial completers’ satisfaction score was 28 (87.5% of the maximal score). Post-treatment, FTL was absent in 60% of cases; no change was noted in the waitlist. Symptom severity, parental burden, and family accommodation were significantly reduced. The study provides preliminary evidence that SPACE-FTL can address FTL.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)807-819
Number of pages13
JournalEmerging Adulthood
Volume12
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2024
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and SAGE Publishing.

Keywords

  • accordion family
  • anxiety
  • boomerang kids
  • depression
  • failure to launch
  • family accommodation
  • hikikomori
  • parental burden
  • parenting
  • young adult

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