Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Efficacy of Family Programs for Improving Child and Family Health and Development
Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Summary
The proposed research is relevant to public health because of the critical importance of infant attachment and early experiences to the lifetime trajectory of mental health and socio-emotional functioning. This Randomized Clinical Trial addresses major gaps in available family-wide programs that can promote healthy development that best serve infants, mothers, fathers, and inter-parental relationships in cost-effective ways. This study also systematically tests for which families the interventions are most effective and rigorously tests the theoretical processes that link changes in mother-infant, father-infant, and mother-father interactions with infant and parent outcomes.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Months - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
1005
Start Date
2017-01-11
Completion Date
2026-06-30
Last Updated
2025-06-22
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Control
Parents receive 8 phone contacts (1 per week) that do not focus on material in the sensitivity and couples communication intervention.
Sensitivity Intervention
4 home visits take place. Mothers and fathers are video recorded with their infant (separately) for approximate 10-15 minutes at the beginning of each visit. The recorded situations are natural (e.g., playing together, bathing the baby, mealtime, etc.) and the family coach (interventionist) is not actively involved in the parent-child interaction. A different theme is covered across the four intervention sessions. For each parent-infant interaction recording, the family coach reviews the recordings between visits and provides feedback to parents in the following intervention session. The exception to this is that video of parent-child interactions during the lab pre-test is used for material at the first home visit. Each session takes approximately 90 minutes. Visits occur over an 8 week period with phone contacts between each session. Because of COVID-19, we now conduct remote visits using Zoom.
Couples' Intervention
The psycho-educational inter-parental conflict prevention curriculum is a 4-session program that takes place in the families' homes. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and involves discussion and practice of four themes pertinent to improving conflict process, communication, and emotional security in the family: Conflict Overview, Interparental Conflict and Children, Stresses of Parenting, and Emotional Security. The family coach scaffolds and supports the couples' development of constructive conflict behaviors. Visits occur over an 8 week period with phone contacts between each session. Because of COVID-19, we now conduct remote visits using Zoom.
Sensitivity and Couples' Intervention
This group receives both the Sensitivity and Couples' Intervention in their home. There are 8 home visits (4 for Sensitivity and 4 for Couples Intervention). Because of COVID-19, we now conduct remote visits using Zoom.
Locations (2)
Fort Wayne Center for Children and Families
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families
South Bend, Indiana, United States