Differential Predictors of African American and Hispanic Parent Retention in a Family‐Focused Preventive Intervention*

In: Family relations, Band 55, Heft 2, S. 240-251

Abstract

Abstract: Similarities and differences in predictors of retention/attendance patterns between African American and Hispanic parent participants (N= 143) from a family‐focused preventive intervention were examined. Three broad retention pattern groups, nonattenders, variable attenders, and consistent high attenders, and 2 subgroups of the variable attendance group, decreasing low attenders and decreasing high attenders, were identified. In subgroup analyses, 3 significant discriminant functions were evident: 1 function classified Hispanic parents' retention patterns using sociodemographic indicators (e.g., educational attainment, household income) and 2 functions discriminated Hispanic and African American parents' patterns using family‐level predictors (e.g., multiple caregivers attending the intervention, perceived barriers to participation). Implications are discussed in terms of strategies for improving methods of retaining participants in family‐centered interventions conducted with ethnic minority families.