The effectiveness of Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting for Foster Care (VIPP-FC): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundFoster children are at higher risk of the development of behavior and emotional problems, which can contribute to the development of insecure attachment bonds with their foster parents and (subsequently) to placement breakdown. Sensitive parenting might minimize the adverse effects of the behavior and emotional problems. Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline in Foster Care (VIPP-FC) is an adaptation of the evidence-based Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) and aims at increasing sensitive parenting and the use of sensitive discipline strategies of foster parents. The current study is the first to examine the effectiveness of VIPP-FC.MethodsA randomized controlled trial is used with 60 foster parent-child dyads (intervention group n = 30, control group n = 30). The primary outcomes are parental sensitivity, parental disciplining, and parental attitudes towards parenting. Data about attachment (in)security, behavioral and emotional problems, neurobiological parameters, and possible confounders is additionally collected.DiscussionExamining the effectiveness of VIPP-FC contributes to the knowledge of evidence-based prevention and intervention programs needed in foster care practice.Trial registrationNTR3899.

A meta-analytic review of parenting interventions in foster care and adoption

“…Experiences with sensitive behavior of new caregivers may enable foster and adopted children to adjust their internal working model. In other words, sensitive parenting can help foster and adopted children adjust their expectations of how people around them will respond to them (Bakermans-Kranenburg et al, 2003; Schoemaker et al, 2018). Previous research additionally shows that children with sensitive parents experience less stress when this attachment figure is present during a negative experience (Dozier, Highley, Albus, & Nutter, 2002) and that parenting interventions can reverse the dysregulation of the HPA axis by increasing sensitive parenting (Fisher et al, 2006).…”

Indiscriminate friendliness in foster children: Associations with attachment security, foster parents’ sensitivity, and child inhibitory control

“…The SatD and the IFQ may thus measure different indiscriminate friendly behaviors in foster children. As stated before, whereas the original SatD was conducted at home (Gleason et al, 2011; Gleason et al, 2014), the SatD in the current study was part of a larger sequence of observational measurements during a visit to a laboratory (Schoemaker et al, 2018). In this laboratory setting foster children may have been more expectant of strangers and therefore more willing to go with the stranger than in their home environment.…”

“…The current study used pretest data of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline in Foster Care (VIPP-FC; Schoemaker et al, 2018). Recruitment of foster families was done through nine Dutch foster care organizations.…”

“…If there was more than one foster child living with the foster family, the most recently placed child was included, or in case of sibling placement, the oldest child between 1 and 6 years was included. A detailed study protocol describing the procedure for recruitment (e.g., inclusion and exclusion criteria) has been previously published (Schoemaker et al, 2018). Only data collected at the pretest of the RCT were used in the current study.…”

“…The current study aimed to investigate the associations between children’s attachment security, parental sensitivity, and inhibitory control as a temperamental trait, with IF in foster children. Pre-test data of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline in Foster Care (VIPP-FC; Schoemaker et al, 2018) were used for this study.…”