Open Access
The effect of solution-focused versus problem-focused questions: a replication
(Wiley, 2015) Neipp López, María del Carmen; Beyebach, Mark; Núñez, Rosa María; Martínez González, María del Carmen; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
In therapeutic conversations, questions can be considered as interventions in their own right. This study is a cross-cultural replication of Grant´s (2012) study on the effects of different types of questions on various clinically relevant variables. 204 students of a Spanish university described a real-life problem that they wanted to solve and were then randomly assigned to either a solution-focused or a problem-focused questions condition. Before and after answering the questions, they completed a set of measures that assessed positive and negative affect, self-efficacy, and goal attainment. Solution-focused questions produced a significantly greater increase in self-efficacy, goal approach and action steps than problem-focused questions, and a significantly greater decrease in negative affect, providing further empirical support to solution-focused practices.
Open Access
Bibliometric differences between WEIRD and non-WEIRD countries in the outcome research on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
(Frontiers Media, 2021) Beyebach, Mark; Neipp López, María del Carmen; Solanes-Puchol, Ángel; Martín-del-Río, Beatriz; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) developed in parallel to Positive Psychology, as a type of intervention that also emphasizes the strengths and resources of clients. The aim of this study was to examine the development of outcome research on SFBT and to determine whether it is predominantly carried out in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. A literature review was conducted using a bibliometric methodology, identifying: (a) authors and countries, (b) time trends, (c) language of publications; (d) and journals; (e) samples on which they were tested; (f) characteristics of interventions; and (g) main study designs. A total of 365 original outcome research articles published in scientific journals on solution-focused interventions were extracted. The results show that outcome research on SFBT has grown steadily over the last three decades. Although it started in WEIRD countries, the number of outcome research publications generated in non-WEIRD countries is now higher. There is little international collaboration and, although English is the main language of publication in WEIRD countries, English, Chinese and Parsi predominate in non-WEIRD countries. Productivity is low and most authors have only published one paper. The journals that have published the most papers have a very diverse visibility. The tested interventions are conducted both in clinical and non-clinical samples; mostly in individual and group format; face-to-face; and not only in the form of psychotherapy, but also as coaching and school interventions. Almost half of the publications are randomized controlled trials. The results confirm the wide applicability of SFBT as a single or main component of psychosocial interventions. They support the claim that solution-focused interventions are not a WEIRD practice, but a global practice.
Open Access
The impact of training in solution-focused brief therapy on professional beliefs, practices and burnout of child protection workers in Tenerife island
(Taylor & Francis, 2014) Medina Machín, Antonio; Beyebach, Mark; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This paper presents the first results of a large-scale research project on the child protection services in Tenerife, Spain. In Study 1, the professional beliefs and practices of 152 child protection workers, as measured by a Professional Beliefs and Practices Questionnaire (Medina & Beyebach, 2010), were correlated with their scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996). Higher scores in a variety of deficit-based beliefs and practices were associated with higher burnout scores, while strengths-based beliefs and practices correlated negatively with burnout. In Study 2, the workers were assigned either to a control group, or to an experimental group that received 30 hours of training in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) plus 30 hours of supervision. Workers in the experimental group changed their professional practices and beliefs in a more strengths-based direction from pre-test to 6-month follow-up, with large effect sizes for the SFBT training (from d=1.42 to d=2.07). The SFBT training also had a small but significant effect on burnout at follow-up (d= .48). A regression model was able to account for 83. 8% of the variance in burnout scores at 6-month follow-up. Neither time working in child protection nor severity of cases predicted burnout at follow-up. Burnout at follow-up was predicted by burnout at pre-test and by changes in the professional beliefs and practices of workers. Workers who changed in the direction of more strengths-based beliefs showed lower burnout scores at follow-up, whereas those who changed to more deficit-based beliefs increased their burnout. Workers who changed their professional practices in the direction of focusing more on the difficulties of service users showed increased burnout. Changing practice in the direction of becoming more collaborative, “leading families from one step behind”, and of working in a more trans-disciplinary way with team members and other colleagues predicted lower burnout.
Open Access
Solution-focused versus problem-focused questions: differential effects of miracles, exceptions and scales
(Wiley, 2021) Neipp López, María del Carmen; Beyebach, Mark; Sánchez Prada, Andrés; Delgado Álvarez, María del Carmen; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The differential impact of solution-focused brief therapy questions was tested. A total of 246 subjects described a personal problem they wanted to solve and were randomly assigned to one of four interventions that involved answering problem-focused versus solution-focused questions: a problem-focused condition, a miracle condition, a scaling condition or an exception condition. Before and after answering the questions, participants completed measures of positive and negative affect, self-efficacy, goal attainment, action steps and solution-focused thinking. The miracle and exception conditions were more effective than the problem-focused condition in reducing negative affect. The scaling condition generated more action steps than the miracle question or the exception question. These findings support solution-focused ideas on the different effects of solution-focused questions, but also suggest that solution-focused and problem-focused questions might be more similar than different in their immediate impact on clients. Practitioner points: Solution-focused and problem-focused questions are more similar than different in their immediate impact on clients. Among solution-focused questions, the miracle question and the exception question are more effective in reducing negative affect, and scaling questions in generating specific action steps. Integrative therapists could use solution-focused questions not only with clients who seem more optimistic but also with less solution-minded ones.
Open Access
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a solution-focused intervention in child protection services
(Elsevier, 2022) Medina Machín, Antonio; Beyebach, Mark; García, Felipe E.; ; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact on child welfare of introducing solution-focused principles and intervention techniques in the local child protection service of the island of Tenerife, Spain. 152 workers from 34 local child protection teams participated in the study. Goal achievement, parent's and children’s self-reported well-being, and statutory child welfare measures were recorded during one year. Then the child protection teams were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental condition. 73 workers in the experimental condition, serving 271 families, received 30 h of training and 30 h of supervision in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). 79 workers in the control condition, serving 206 families, continued to intervene as usual. The dependent variables were evaluated again in the experimental and in the control group one year after the supervision in SFBT had finished. Results indicate that the experimental and the control group had equivalent outcomes at pre-test. At post-test, the experimental group achieved better outcomes than the control group: workers’ and parents’ goal achievement ratings as well as parents’ and children well-being ratings were higher, fewer cases had been referred to risk teams, fewer children had been removed from their homes and recidivism was lower. The effects were small for goal achievement, medium for recidivism, and large for well-being and child removal. The teams that used SFBT reached these outcomes with fewer sessions and allocating fewer additional resources than the control group.