(PS12-B27) Outcomes from a Community Implementation of a Virtual UP-C Group: Parental Self-efficacy

Background: The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotion Disorders in Children (UP-C; Ehrenreich-May et al., 2018) is a transdiagnostic, CBT-based, emotion-focused group intervention designed to address both the core underlying features of emotional disorders in youth (e.g., anxiety, depression), as well as parenting characteristics and behaviors that may exacerbate or maintain youth emotional disorders.  Previous research has found that participation in youth focus-ed transdiagnostic treatment led to significant improvements in parent psychopathology and distress tolerance and significant decreases in unsupportive parent responses to youth negative emotions (Tonarely et al., 2021).  However less is known about the impact of UP-C group participation on parenting self-efficacy (i.e., an individual’s belief that he or she can integrate and execute knowledge, skills, and actions necessary to parent their child (Sims et al., 2018)). Increased parental self-efficacy is associated with increased satisfaction in the parenting role, increased parental well-being, positive parenting skills, and beneficial health outcomes for children (Angley, Divney, Magriples, & Kershaw, 2015; Dekovic et al., 2010; Lindsay et al., 2011). Therefore purpose of this study was to assess of the impact of community implementation of the UP-C on parenting self-efficacy.

Methods: UP-C groups for children (grades 4-6) and their parents were run via a telehealth from January 2022 – December 2022 as part of routine clinical practice. Parents completed questionnaires, including The Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (BPSES, Wooglar et al, nd) and the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale- Parent report (RCADS-P, Chorpita et al 2005), prior to the first group session and immediately following group completion. Paired t-tests were used to compare baseline and post-group scores. 9 parents with complete baseline and post data were included in this sample.

Results: Parents reported high satisfaction with the UP-C group at the last group session (CSQ-8 mean = 26.5 SD = 2.8). RCADS-P t-scores decreased between but this change was not significant (p > .7). BPSES scores significantly increased between baseline and post group participation (t(8)=2.6, p = .03).

Conclusion: A community-based virtually implemented UP-C group was acceptable for families and group completion was associated with improved ratings of parental self-efficacy.