IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v170y2025ics0190740925000039.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Use of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to explore combinations of family factors that could have an impact on the outcome of a parent training program

Author

Listed:
  • Ljungstrom, Britt-Marie
  • Denk, Thomas
  • Sarenmalm, Elisabeth Kenne
  • Axberg, Ulf

Abstract

Parent training programs (PT) have consistently been shown to be effective for families with children displaying disruptive behavior problems (DBP). However, not all families seem to benefit equally from these programs and the effects are small to moderate. Several studies have examined single factors that might explain variations in outcomes with inconclusive results, and there seems to be a need for a deeper understanding of complex pattern of factors. This generally requires large sample sizes which might be difficult to obtain. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a method, rarely used in mental health research, that originally was developed for use in research with small and medium sample sizes for understanding and exploring complex real-world situations. The aim of this study was to generate a deeper understanding about combinations of factors that may have an impact on the outcome of PT programs. In addition, we also wanted to introduce QCA in research on mental health interventions and to explore the usefulness of QCA as a bridge between the quantitative and qualitative phases in an explanatory sequential mixed methods study. There were three different pathways, with unique combinations, showing different ways to maintain DBPs after PT and four different combinations of conditions associated with a positive outcome after PT. We also found that QCA was well suited for this type of analysis and that it might be a useful method to generate specific hypothesis that can be tested in future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Ljungstrom, Britt-Marie & Denk, Thomas & Sarenmalm, Elisabeth Kenne & Axberg, Ulf, 2025. "Use of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to explore combinations of family factors that could have an impact on the outcome of a parent training ," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:170:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925000039
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108120
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740925000039
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108120?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kanykey Jailobaeva & Rebecca Horn & Abdulai Jawo Bah & Giulia Loffreda & Alastair Ager, 2021. "Understanding perceptions of recovery from psychological distress in Sierra Leone through qualitative comparative analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Andershed, Anna-Karin & Gibson, Chris L. & Andershed, Henrik, 2016. "The role of cumulative risk and protection for violent offending," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 78-84.
    3. Stav Fainshmidt & Michael A Witt & Ruth V Aguilera & Alain Verbeke, 2020. "The contributions of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 455-466, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mostafiz, Md Imtiaz & Ahmed, Farhad Uddin & Tardios, Janja & Hughes, Paul & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2025. "Configuring international entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic internationalization capability to predict international performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2).
    2. Richter, Nicole Franziska & Hauff, Sven, 2022. "Necessary conditions in international business research–Advancing the field with a new perspective on causality and data analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(5).
    3. Macro, Samantha & Ott, Ursula F., 2024. "The evolution of the ability to effectively innovate in a transnational organization – A configurational analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(6).
    4. Olga Rataj & Serdar Türkeli, 2024. "Success Factors for Scaling Up and Raising Investment by Circular Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1021-1046, June.
    5. Jin, Zhizhou & Zeng, Saixing & Chen, Hongquan & Shi, Jonathan Jingsheng, 2022. "Explaining the expansion performance in technological capability of participants in megaprojects: A configurational approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    6. Fortwengel, Johann & Gutierrez Huerter O, Gabriela & Kostova, Tatiana, 2023. "Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    7. Catherine Welch & Eriikka Paavilainen-Mäntymäki & Rebecca Piekkari & Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki, 2022. "Reconciling theory and context: How the case study can set a new agenda for international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 4-26, February.
    8. Lawton, Thomas C. & De Villa, Maria Andrea & Santamaria-Alvarez, Sandra Milena, 2024. "Making Sense of Socio-Political Risks in International Business: A Configurational Approach to Embracing Complexity," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2).
    9. Arregle, Jean-Luc & Calabrò, Andrea & Hitt, Michael A. & Kano, Liena & Schwens, Christian, 2024. "Family business and international business: Breaking silos and establishing a rigorous way forward," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    10. O'Higgins, Ciara & Andreeva, Tatiana & Goya, Nekane Aramburu, 2022. "The hows and whys of foreign operation mode combinations: The role of knowledge processes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    11. Anh Thi Nguyen & Alrence S. Halibas & Robert McClelland & Nguyen Hoang Thuan, 2024. "Configurational analysis of conditions influencing customers’ channel switching intention in omnichannel retailing: a fuzzy-set analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 141-178, February.
    12. Lin Zou & Yiwen Zhu, 2024. "What mode is conducive to an effective regional IP regime? Evidence from intellectual property courts in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Kosmidou, Vasiliki & Holt, Daniel T., 2022. "The relationship between family management and performance: A configurational approach in exploring the role of socioemotional wealth and generational stage," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).
    14. Shilei Hu & Xiaohong Wang, 2021. "The Origin of Proactive Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) of Large Firms: Institutional Embeddedness—Driven, Family Involvement-Promoted, or Resource-Dependent?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    15. Shuangjin Wang & Lili Dang & John Downs & Maggie Foley, 2024. "How to deter earnings manipulation in Chinese banks? A study from the combined effects of corporate governance, enterprise resources, and supervisory mechanisms," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(4), pages 689-707, September.
    16. Zahoor, Nadia & Khan, Zaheer & Shenkar, Oded, 2023. "International vertical alliances within the international business field: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(1).
    17. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, 2022. "Capitalizing on the uniqueness of international business: Towards a theory of place, space, and organization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(9), pages 2050-2067, December.
    18. Ayse Saka-Helmhout & Maryse M. H. Chappin & Suzana B. Rodrigues, 2022. "Corporate Social Innovation in Developing Countries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(3), pages 589-605, December.
    19. Yu, Tiffany Hui-Kuang & Huarng, Kun-Huang & Lai, Yun Ting, 2021. "Configural analysis of innovation for exploring economic growth," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    20. Dongsheng Zhang & Hongwei Wang & Xiangshan Jin, 2022. "Element Matching and Configuration Path of Corporate Social Responsibility Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:170:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925000039. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.