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The need to expand knowledge of family-based intervention for people with ASD has been observed. However, there is a lack of study in Chinese context such as Hong Kong exploring the use of multifamily therapy (MFT) for adults with ASD. The primary aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of a process-oriented MFT in promoting family relationships for young adults with high functioning-ASD (HF-ASD) and their parents. We also sought to explore the therapeutic process factors of MFT that were deemed helpful by the family participants in our study. Two types of MFT—one online, the other face-to-face—were conducted from March to August 2021 for families with adults with HF-ASD in Hong Kong. In total, 13 families participated in our multi-method study. Among the results, cross-family therapeutic alliance and treatment engagement were positively associated with enhanced family relationships among participants. Significant differences emerged in changes in the cross-family therapeutic alliance and family relationships between the online and face-to-face MFTs. Two themes regarding the helpful aspects of MFT emerged: first, having a cross-family interactional context and, second, the authentic engagement of people with HF-ASD. Overall, our results imply that MFT, in either online or face-to-face mode, could be a feasible family group psychotherapy for adults with HF-ASD and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This participatory research project highlighted the views and experiences of young people who are the brothers and sisters of children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse. By working with young people who had experienced sexual abuse and their siblings, this practitioner research sought to give these young people a voice. The research involved a group process with young people who have experienced sexual abuse and have siblings, and one‐to‐one online consultations with the brothers and sisters of young people who have experienced abuse. All the young people spoke of their sibling and family relationships as unique and requiring unique responses to these relationships by services and health‐care professionals. Siblings' needs in the aftermath of a child sexual abuse discovery are often overlooked. This research describes how just as children who have experienced sexual abuse may feel anger, fear, guilt, shame, anxiety, and confusion, so do their siblings. Brothers and sisters of young people who have experienced sexual abuse describe significant relational trauma with intense emotional experiences of isolation, confusion, sadness, and anger. There is a real need to support young people and families to find words and develop capacities to talk about child sexual abuse ‐‐ a need to find supportive ways to speak about what has occurred and understand its impact on all. The study clearly demonstrated the significant level of need and impact on brothers and sisters of young people who have experienced sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most models that analyse risk and protective factors during adolescence include the family system and family functionality as key elements. For this reason, Family Counselling Services play an important role in addressing adolescent problems. These services require quick and easy-to-apply assessment tools that integrate different dimensions of family functioning. To develop and validate a brief scale for use in Family Counselling Services, exploring and confirming its factorial structure and testing its psychometric properties. Confirmatory Factor Analysis using structural equation modeling. 441 family members in seven units. Results: A 5-factor structure was confirmed, with a good fit. All the Average Variance Extracted values were higher than the Maximum Shared Squared Variance values. The results confirm the structure of the Family Functioning Scale-Madrid. In addition, the scale demonstrates adequate psychometric properties and stable structure during two evaluation periods with different samples. The instrument is considered reliable and consistent for of assessing family intervention carried out in Family Counselling Services. Highlights: What is known so far? Family system and functionality has a relevant role as a risk and/or protective factor with respect to maladaptive behaviours. One common demand of Family Counselling Services is to be able to count on assessment protocols and instruments adapted to their target population. Available evidence provides few instruments that assess family functioning in an agile way. What does this article contribute? This study provides a brief, reliable instrument with optimal psychometric properties. Family Functioning Scale-Madrid assesses specific dimensions of family change in counseling. Theoretical structure of Family Functioning Scale-Madrid aligns with the Circumplex and Family Stress models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]