Efficacy of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline in Twin Families (VIPP-Twins): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundIntervention programs with the aim of enhancing parenting quality have been found to be differentially effective in decreasing negative child outcomes such as externalizing behavioral problems, resulting in modest overall effect sizes. Here we present the protocol for a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline for Twin Families (VIPP-Twins) on parenting quality and children’s behavioral control and social competence. In addition, we aim to test the differential susceptibility theory; we examine differential efficacy of the intervention based on genetic make-up or temperament for both parents and children. Lastly, we explore neurobiological mechanisms underlying intervention effects on children’s developmental outcomes.Methods/designThe original VIPP-SD was adapted for use in families with twins. The VIPP-Twins consists of five biweekly sessions in which the families are visited at home, parent-child interactions are videotaped and parents receive positive feedback on selected video fragments. Families (N = 225) with a same sex twin (mean age = 3.6 years) were recruited to participate in the study. The study consists of four assessments. After two baseline assessments in year 1 and year 2, a random 40 % of the sample will receive the VIPP-Twins program. The first post-test assessment will be carried out one month after the intervention and there will be a long term follow-up assessment two years after the intervention. Measures include observational assessments of parenting and children’s social competence and behavioral control, and neurobiological assessments (i.e., hormonal functioning and neural (re-)activity).DiscussionResults of the study will provide insights in the efficacy of the VIPP-Twins and reveal moderators and mediators of program efficacy. Overall the randomized controlled trial is an experimental test of the differential susceptibility theory.Trial registrationDutch Trial Register: NTR5312; Date registered: July 20, 2015.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0139-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Heritability of aggression following social evaluation in middle childhood: An fMRI study

“…However, test–retest reliability studies on task‐based fMRI in developmental samples have shown higher interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for lateral PFC regions than for subcortical regions (Peters, Van Duijvenvoorde, Koolschijn, & Crone, ; van den Bulk et al, ), indicating that the DLPFC might indeed reflect trait‐like genetic influences. An important next step would be to reveal which environmental and genetic factors play a role in explaining the variance in brain activation and aggression following social evaluation, and test whether specific environmental influences (e.g., supportive parenting) might moderate the influence of specific genetic factors (for example, see the study protocol of Euser et al, ).…”

“…indicating that the DLPFC might indeed reflect trait-like genetic influences. An important next step would be to reveal which environmental and genetic factors play a role in explaining the variance in brain activation and aggression following social evaluation, and test whether specific environmental influences (e.g., supportive parenting) might moderate the influence of specific genetic factors (for example, see the study protocol of Euser et al, 2016).…”

“…However, prior studies in children used relatively small samples, which might have been underpowered, specifically since neuroimaging data in developmental samples are more prone to data loss and artifacts due to movement (O'Shaughnessy, Berl, Moore, & Gaillard, 2008). This study therefore sets out to include over 500 participants, thereby asserting sufficient sample size and statistical power, even after data loss due to excessive motion (Euser et al, 2016).…”

Effects of the Video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting and sensitive discipline on mothers’ neural responses to child faces: A randomized controlled ERP study including pre- and post-intervention measures

“…The current study is part of the Leiden Consortium on Individual Development project (L-CID), a longitudinal intervention study in which families with same-sex twins participate (Euser et al, 2016). Within the L-CID study, 40% of the sample was randomly assigned to the VIPP-SD and 60% to the control condition by using a computer-generated blocked randomization sequence with a ratio of 2:3 stratified on gender of the parents.…”

Behavioral genetics of temperament and frontal asymmetry in early childhood

“…Participants took part in a larger longitudinal intervention study of the Leiden Consortium on Individual Development (L-CID; Euser et al, 2016). We recruited families with same-sex twins born between 2010 and 2013 via municipal authorities in the western part of The Netherlands.…”