Date of Defense

4-25-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Amy Damashek

Second Advisor

Morgan Palmer

Third Advisor

Geraldine Granados Todd

Abstract

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Caregivers play a critical role in reducing children’s risk of injury by adopting appropriate supervision behaviors and engaging in safety-proofing practices. The Supervising for Home Safety (SHS) program is a video-based intervention developed to increase caregiver supervision for children ages 2–5 by targeting beliefs about injury vulnerability, injury preventability, and self-efficacy for implementing safety precautions. While SHS has demonstrated effectiveness in English-speaking populations, no research has examined its adaptation and impact among Spanish-speaking caregivers. This study aimed to examine caregivers perceived cultural sensitivity and satisfaction with a culturally adapted version of the SHS program tailored for Spanish-speaking Latino families. Following initial and follow-up focus groups conducted in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, the SHS program was modified linguistically and culturally. A randomized controlled trial was then conducted with 25 participants, randomly assigned to either the modified SHS intervention (n =12) or a control group that received information about managing common child behavior problems (n = 13). Participants attended four sessions and completed questionnaires assessing satisfaction with the program (Client Satisfaction Scale, CSS) and perceived cultural sensitivity (Multicultural Therapy Competency Inventory–Client Version, MTCI-CV). Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests were used to analyze the data. Both groups reported high ratings on both measures, indicating overall satisfaction and perceived cultural sensitivity of the modified intervention (satisfaction: control M = 34.31, treatment M = 33.50; cultural sensitivity: control M = 34.77, treatment M = 32.92). There were no significant differences between the treatment or control group on perceived cultural sensitivity or satisfaction with the intervention. On open-ended questions asking about what participants liked about the intervention, participants in both groups had very positive responses, noting increased awareness of safety risks and appreciation for tools and guidance provided during the sessions. These findings suggest that the modified SHS program is perceived as culturally sensitive and satisfactory among Spanish-speaking caregivers. These results support the value of culturally tailored interventions. This study underscores the importance of adapting evidence-based injury prevention programs to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of diverse communities to promote equitable health outcomes.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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