This application outlines a randomized trial of a universal preventive intervention delivered to couples at the transition to parenthood, aimed at enhancing co-parental support and problem solving, decreasing interparental conflict and parental depression, and strengthening warm, engaged parenting among first-time parents. Following on an initial NIMD and NICHD funded pilot study that investigated the potential of the 8-session Family Foundations program, the proposed research will examine intervention effects of Family Foundations when integrated with a typical childbirth education curriculum in a large field trial (total N=440 families). The intervention is to be delivered to the 220 couples randomly assigned to the intervention condition through existing childbirth education departments of local hospitals in two communities. The differing and diverse socio-economic and ethnic/racial background of the two families within the two sites will facilitate examination of the generalization of effects across contexts and family characteristics. Three waves of data will be collected through home visits (pre, post, and follow-up). This project will examine the degree to which the prevention strategy implemented is able to reduce the public health burden of post-natal depression, and to enhance parenting competence and early child adjustment.

Public Health Relevance

This project seeks to test an innovative family-focused intervention for first time parents, which aims to enhance co-parental support and problem solving, decrease interparental conflict and parental depression, and strengthen warm, engaged parenting among first- time parents. The transition to parenthood is a stressful period for many couples. Developing and disseminating new, effective preventive programs such as the one proposed would have substantial public health benefits for couples and their children. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD058529-01A1
Application #
7461318
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Evans, V Jeffrey
Project Start
2008-06-12
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2008-06-12
Budget End
2009-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$712,473
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
003403953
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802
Jones, Damon; Feinberg, Mark; Hostetler, Michelle et al. (2018) Family and Child Outcomes 2 Years After a Transition to Parenthood Intervention. Fam Relat 67:270-286
Marshall, Amy D; Roettger, Michael E; Mattern, Alexandra C et al. (2018) Trauma exposure and aggression toward partners and children: Contextual influences of fear and anger. J Fam Psychol 32:710-721
Feinberg, Mark E; Xia, Mengya; Fosco, Gregory M et al. (2017) Dynamical Systems Modeling of Couple Interaction: a New Method for Assessing Intervention Impact Across the Transition to Parenthood. Prev Sci 18:887-898
Marshall, Amy D; Feinberg, Mark E; Jones, Damon E et al. (2017) The Children, Intimate Relationships, and Conflictual Life Events (CIRCLE) interview for simultaneous measurement of intimate partner and parent to child aggression. Psychol Assess 29:978-989
Fredman, Steffany J; Le, Yunying; Marshall, Amy D et al. (2017) A Dyadic Perspective on PTSD Symptoms' Associations with Couple Functioning and Parenting Stress in First-Time Parents. Couple Family Psychol 6:117-132
Feinberg, Mark E; Jones, Damon E; Hostetler, Michelle L et al. (2016) Couple-Focused Prevention at the Transition to Parenthood, a Randomized Trial: Effects on Coparenting, Parenting, Family Violence, and Parent and Child Adjustment. Prev Sci 17:751-64
Feinberg, Mark E; Jones, Damon E; Roettger, Michael E et al. (2016) Preventive Effects on Birth Outcomes: Buffering Impact of Maternal Stress, Depression, and Anxiety. Matern Child Health J 20:56-65
Le, Yunying; McDaniel, Brandon T; Leavitt, Chelom E et al. (2016) Longitudinal associations between relationship quality and coparenting across the transition to parenthood: A dyadic perspective. J Fam Psychol 30:918-926
Jones, Damon E; Feinberg, Mark E; Hostetler, Michelle L (2014) Costs to implement an effective transition-to-parenthood program for couples: analysis of the Family Foundations program. Eval Program Plann 44:59-67