Teens and Adults Learning to Communicate

Project TALC was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and is an intervention designed to improve behavior and mental health outcomes among parents with AIDS and their adolescent children. The study sample was comprised of 307 financially-needy, AIDS-infected parents in New York City and 412 adolescent children. The majority (80%) of the parents were mothers. Approximately one-half of the study participants were Latino and over one-third were African American.

Targeted Risk Group: 

AIDS-infected parents and their children

 Intervention model:

Cognitive behavioral intervention comprised of two modules. The first module was for parents only (8 sessions) and focused on coping with the HIV illness and disclosure. The second module was for parents and their adolescents (16 sessions) and focused on ways to plan a legacy, e.g. making custody arrangements.

 Research Methods: 

In a random assignment study, families assigned to take part in Project TALC were compared with families assigned to a control group on mental health and health behaviors, including sexual behavior and substance use. Because participants were followed over time, longitudinal random effect regression models were used to test the efficacy of the intervention.

 Local Significance: 

Over the two-year follow-up period, adolescents assigned to take part in the intervention reported significantly and substantially lower levels of emotional distress, conduct problems, and family-related stressors and higher levels of self-esteem than did control group adolescents.

 International Significance: 

Project TALC provided a behavioral intervention that can be adapted for other countries and cultures to improve behavior and mental health outcomes among parents with AIDS and their adolescent children.

Published Journal Articles:

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Please see TALC LA for the up-to-date intervention manuals.

Surveys and Scales Used: 

  1. Needle Use and Sharing - Survey
  2. Acculturation, Habits, and Interests Multicultural Scale for Adolescents (AHIMSA)
  3. Medication Adherence - Survey
  4. Self Harm: Suicide History - Survey
  5. CDC Sexual Behavior Questions (CSBQ)
  6. Health Belief Model: Self-Efficacy for Sexual Discussion (HBMSD) - Scale
  7. Self-Efficacy to Refuse Sexual Behavior (RSB) - Scale
  8. Self-Efficacy for Limiting Substance Use - Scale
  9. Self-Efficacy for Negotiating Condom Use - Scale
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  11. Detention and Jail History Assessment - Survey
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  13. Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AOD) - Scale
  14. Dealing with Illness - Scale
  15. Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) - Scale
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  17. Parker Parental Bonding Instrument
  18. Network Assessment
  19. Life Events Assessment - Survey
  20. HIV Related Incidents - Survey
  21. Healthcare Utilization, Providers, and General Health Assessment: Including STD and Pregnancy - Survey
  22. HIV Testing Assessment - Survey
  23. Global HIV Competence Assessment - Scale
  24. Getting Services Assessment - Survey
  25. General Medical History Assessment
  26. Multiple Problem Behavior - DSM Conduct Problems (DSMC) - Conduct Disorder
  27. Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)