Abstract

Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) has been promoted as beneficial for vulnerable patient populations. However, there is a need for MedFT effectiveness studies with longitudinal randomized control trials. Thus, this pilot study investigated the results of a brief single session of MedFT over a one-week period with low-income primary care patients. Effectiveness in this study was defined as increasing a sense agency and communion and decreasing psychological distress. Results suggested that over time, MedFT may increase some sense of agency for lower-income patients, increase patient satisfaction with care, increase family support for patients with higher education, and decrease depression symptoms for various ethnic groups. Limitations, implications, and future research were also discussed.

LLU Discipline

Marital and Family Therapy

Department

Counseling and Family Sciences

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Distelberg, Brian

Second Advisor

Baker, Winetta

Third Advisor

Knudson-Martin, Carmen

Fourth Advisor

McDaniel, Susan H.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

January 2013

Date (Title Page)

9-1-2013

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Family psychotherapy; Family medicine; Sick - Family relationships;

Subject - Local

Single-session therapy; Medical Family therapy; Low-income patients; Agency and communion; Psychological distress

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

153 p.

Digital Format

Application/PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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