Parents as Partners: Effectiveness of the Program in a Portuguese Sample

NCT06483841 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2023/07-17
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the "Parents as Partners" program (also named "Supporting Father Involvement"; Cowan et al., 2009) in a sample of Portuguese couples going through the transition to parenthood, i.e., with one child up to the age of 3 years old. The program aims to strengthen the coparenting relationship and consists of 2-hour 8 weekly group sessions attended by couples. Using a mixed-method approach, the researchers will conduct a randomized clinical trial aiming to assess the effectiveness of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes. Lastly, participants' perceptions of the intervention usefulness will be assessed by conducting interviews with couples who participated in the intervention group (Parents as Partners).

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Randomized clinical trial; Transition to parenthood; Father involvement; Group intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Child-Parent Relationship

  Child-Parent Relationship Scale - Short Form: Scale ranges from 1 (definitely does not apply) to 5 (definitively applies); Measures two dimensions: Conflict and Closeness

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

• Coparenting Relationship

  Coparenting Relationship Scale: Scale ranges from 0 (not true about us) to 6 (very much true about us); Measures seven dimensions: Coparenting agreement, closeness, exposure to conflict, coparenting support, undermining, endorsement of partner parenting and division of labor.

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Parental Stress

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

• Parenting Efficacy

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

• Family-Work Conflict

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

• Family-Work Enrichment

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

• Quality of the Couple Relationship

  Change from baseline (pre-test) to follow-up (6 months after the end of the program implementation).

Other Outcomes (1)

• Perceived usefulness of the program

  Post-test (immediately after the program)

Study Arms (2)

Testing the Parents as Partners program

EXPERIMENTAL

Couples (n=51) randomly assigned to this arm will go through 8 weekly group sessions of the Parents as Partners program, facilitated by two trained psychologists. Baseline, post-test and follow-up assessments will entail filling questionnaires collecting data on (co)parental, dyadic and work-family dimensions. At post-test, 6-10 couples will participate in an interview to collect information of their perceived usefulness of the intervention.

Behavioral: Parents as Partners

Wait-list control group

NO INTERVENTION

Couples (n=51) randomly assigned to this arm will not have access to the intervention during the 8 weeks period in which the intervention group is participating in the program. and until their participation in the study is finished, i.e., they have completed all assessments. Baseline, post-test and follow-up assessments will entail filling questionnaires collecting data on (co)parental, dyadic and work-family dimensions. After follow-up, this group will be offered to participate in the intervention if they wish to and if positive outcomes are found.

Interventions

Parents as Partners BEHAVIORAL

The Parents as Partners program consists of 8 weekly group sessions attended by couples and was developed to strengthen the coparental relationship and promote paternal involvement. After consenting to their participation, couples will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: intervention group or waitlist-control group. Participants will be assessed before and after the intervention on (co)parental, dyadic and work-family dimensions. Baseline (before intervention), post-test (2 months after baseline) and a follow-up assessment 6 months after the program will be performed. The intervention group will participate in the program, focusing on 5 family domains: Parents as Individuals; Parent-Child Relationships; Couple Relationship; Family of Origin Patterns; Stressors and Supports. Parents in the waitlist-control group will receive the intervention once their participation in the study is finished and if positive outcomes are found.

Testing the Parents as Partners program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Heterosexual couples
• Both members of a couple accept to participate
• Couples should have only one child who should be up to 3 years of age
• Both members of the couple must have been parents for the first time together, i.e., they cannot have children from previous relationships
• Should live together.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe mental health problems,
• Situations of domestic violence,
• Problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade do Porto: lead
• Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto

Porto, 4200-135, Portugal

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

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  BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Carolina Garraio, MsC

  PhD Candidate

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Carolina Garraio, MsC

CONTACT

000-000-0000; carolinagarraio@fpce.up.pt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The Parents as Partners program consists of 8 weekly group sessions attended by couples and was developed to strengthen the coparental relationship and promote paternal involvement. After consenting to their participation, couples will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: intervention group or waitlist-control group. Participants will be assessed before and after the intervention on (co)parental, dyadic and work-family dimensions. Baseline (before intervention), post-test (2 months after baseline) and a follow-up assessment 6 months after the program will be performed. The intervention group will participate in the program, focusing on 5 family domains: Parents as Individuals; Parent-Child Relationships; Couple Relationship; Family of Origin Patterns; Stressors and Supports. Parents in the waitlist-control group will receive the intervention once their parti

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2024
• First Posted: July 3, 2024
• Study Start: February 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2025
• Study Completion: March 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 3, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)