Effectiveness of Enhancing Intimacy and Family Interactions through Home-Based Training and Facilitations among Selected Families in Mettu Town

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of enhancing intimacy and family interactions through home-based training and facilitations among selected families in Mettu town. The study design was mixed (i.e., Quasi-experimental mainly one-group-pretest-posttest design) coupled by descriptive scheme. The target population was families working in Mettu University on various roles and daily-laborers resided around the university. So, based on convenience, eight families whose total member was 39 were assessed using SCIFF, Family Communication Scale, and unstructured observation guide. Here, procedures that began with diagnosis and package designs followed by implementation and post-intervention assessments were being passed through. Comparison of the observations and self-report communication results were also made through computations of mean, standard deviations and t-test using SPSS. Notes of the observations were also considered for complementarity. So, the results indicated that post-intervention family interactions were better than the pre-intervention ones in that conflicts among the family members were minimized; and positive affect, family cohesion, alliance and communications were improved. Moreover, there were significant differences in family communications across pre-post interventions. This implies that families need to be understood by professionals within various circumstances; and above all, the need for assessing elements of family functioning including interactions, communications and cohesions and designing various intervention programs becomes inevitable. Finally, the need for family strengthening programs and strategies that particularly emphasize family skill training in improving their overall wellbeing can be emphasized as a point of recommendation.