Family experiences of systemic family therapy (SFT) in older adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Systemic family therapy (SFT) in older adults: exploring its impact on the (re-)construction of family narratives around mental health and family relationships.
IRAS ID
319032
Contact name
Jessa Enriquez
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 15 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore older adults’ and their families’ experiences of systemic family therapy (SFT). The rationale for this study came from several literature reviews which have consistently highlighted gaps in research exploring the effectiveness of SFT in older adults, particularly when their difficulties are more functional rather than organic (e.g. dementia) in nature. Addressing this gap in research can help provide clinicians with a more nuanced understanding of the potential effectiveness of SFT for this client group, by exploring whether SFT’s aims of influencing change in family dynamics and understanding of mental health difficulties have been achieved. Participants will be older adults and their families who have completed SFT over the past 12 months within the Community Mental Health Services for Older People (CMHSOP) in Secondary Care Mental Health Trusts. Families where the main presenting problem is dementia or other cognitive/memory difficulties will be excluded from this study. Participants who have consented to take part in this research will be interviewed individually face to face in their own home. The interview will be audio recorded and transcribed and will last approximately between 60-90 minutes. Participants will be invited to share as much as they feel comfortable to share regarding their experience of SFT and follow up questions might be asked to clarify any points they shared. The interview transcripts will then be analysed using narrative analysis to develop an understanding of how the participants made sense of their experiences in the context of their lives.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
23/IEC08/0017
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion