A Family-Based Healthy Lifestyle Intervention: Crossover Effects on Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors

This study examined the efficacy of a healthy lifestyle family-based intervention in reducing substance use and sexual risk behaviors compared with prevention as usual over 24 months in Hispanic adolescents. Participants were overweight/obese Hispanic adolescents (N = 280; M age 13.01; SD = .82) in the 7th/8th grade and their primary caregivers. Participants were randomized to either the healthy lifestyle family-based intervention or to the control condition (i.e., referral to community services offered for overweight and/or obese adolescents and their families). Outcomes included adolescent substance use and sexual risk behaviors among adolescents. Intervention effects were found for adolescent alcohol (b = − 0.37, 95% CI = [− 0.49, − 0.26]), marijuana (b = − 1.00, CI = [− 1.22, − 0.78]), and non-prescription drug use (b = − 3.77, CI = [− 6.49, − 1.05]) over 24 months. No significant intervention effects were found for adolescent sexual risk behaviors. Findings suggest that Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness reduces adolescent alcohol, marijuana, and non-prescription drug use across time. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03943628