The effectiveness of family interventions for harmful sexual behaviour in young people: a systematic review

Research into the harmful sexual behaviour of young people often cites the importance of family involvement in therapeutic interventions. However, there is little consensus on the nature and effectiveness of this. This systematic review explored the role and effectiveness of family involvement in interventions targeting harmful sexual behaviour. Fifteen studies, published between 2001 and 2021, were identified, and information on research design, theoretical approach, the specific family involvement and measures of effectiveness was extracted and synthesised. Mixed evidence was found to indicate the efficacy of family interventions for this behaviour. For younger children, effective interventions were time-limited to 12 weeks and used an approach of psychoeducation, behavioural, and cognitive-behavioural interventions. For the adolescent samples, the most effective studies employed a multisystemic approach inclusive of some cognitive-behavioural elements. However, studies varied substantially in their quality, outcome measures, and follow-up periods. Implications for the treatment delivery and recommendations for future are presented.PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENTThis review identified a small number of studies which have investigated the effectiveness of family interventions for harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people. This is despite family involvement being highlighted as a key component of the work with young people who display these behaviours. Some promising elements of interventions have been identified which could be effective when working with young people who display harmful sexual behaviour and their families.