Parental relationship and child development: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial for strengthening couples and children from pregnancy until four years after birth

Abstract

Background The transition to parenthood is a critical phase for couples and often relationship relational well-being (i.e., relationship satisfaction) deteriorates. As parents’ relationship well-being is a significant predictor of children’s well-being, this decrease is also critical for children. Thus, strengthening couples during the transition to parenthood seems particularly important. Different intervention programmes targeting the transition to parenthood reported positive effects on relationship satisfaction, communication and child adjustment. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial for two couple-focused interventions, targeting the enhancement of partners’ relational skills (communication, dyadic coping, problem-solving, self-regulation in relationships) with the aim to improve relational well-being, partners’ well-being, coparenting and, consequently, foster healthy child development.Methods/design We randomly assigned mixed-sex couples to a high or low dose intervention or a waiting list control condition. The high dose intervention consists of a training of relational skills, whereas in the low dose condition participants receive a psychoeducational movie. Outcomes are assessed over 11 time points from the third trimester of pregnancy until four years after birth assessing self-report and home observations of couple- and parent-child interactions. Primary outcomes include relational skills, individual and relational well-being and coparenting; a secondary outcome is healthy child development. Statistical analyses include multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling as well as standard statistics.Discussion The aim of this study is to support families with couple-focused interventions and thus improve relational skills, relationship well-being, coparenting, individual well-being, and healthy child development. If the intervention reveals to be effective, we will target a broader dissemination.

Parental stress mediates the effects of parental risk factors on dysfunctional parenting in first-time parents: A dyadic longitudinal study

“…Data were collected within a longitudinal, prospective study in Switzerland to examine parental relationships and child development from pregnancy up to 4 years after birth in first-time parents ( Bodenmann et al, 2019 ). Data for the present study were drawn from the measurement timepoint when children were 10 months (T1), 36 months (T2), and 48 months (T3) old.…”

“…Enhancing and maintaining effective parenting practices could be promoted directly but also through appropriate individual and dyadic coping as well as communication skills. The Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET; Bodenmann & Shantinath, 2004) represents a preventive intervention that fosters communication and coping skills and might increase effective parenting. Previous results illustrated that such interventions could help parents to better handle parental tasks during the first year after a child's birth (Halford et al, 2010) and that children exhibit less externalizing behavior post-intervention (Bodenmann et al, 2008b;Zemp et al, 2016).…”

A Family Systems Perspective on Attachment Security and Dependency to Mother and Father in Preschool: Differential and Reciprocal Effects on Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems

“…Data from the "Parental Relationship and Child Development" study, a longitudinal study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation were used [72]. The study had eleven waves of data assessment.…”

Spillover Effects When Taking Turns in Dyadic Coping: How Lingering Negative Affect and Perceived Partner Responsiveness Shape Subsequent Support Provision

“…The data of Study 1 were part of a longitudinal study including 11 waves ( Bodenmann et al, 2019 ). This research project examines couples’ transition to parenthood and included a randomized controlled trial for two couple-focused interventions.…”