Who joins a preventive intervention? How risk status predicts enrollment

The objective of this study was to identify social, psychological, and heal th-related variables that predict mothers' refusals to join a prevention pr ogram for families of children with chronic illnesses. A two-step recruitme nt process was used with 193 families of children with chronic illnesses. F irst, families were recruited for a longitudinal research survey. Then, mot hers were given the opportunity to randomly receive one of two programs. Mo thers who refused the opportunity to participate in either program continue d in the research project. Data were collected through structured interview s at baseline and 12 months later: Compared to mothers who agreed to partic ipate in one of the prog rams, those who refused reported more confidence, more support, and less depression and higher functional status and better a djustment in their child. Mothers who agree to participate in a longitudina l research effort but refuse to participate in an intervention program are likely to be functioning well, and may perceive no need for a program desig ned to prevent mental health problems. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.