An Internet Based Adaptation of a Divorce Intervention Beginnings Program for Divorced Parents

Family Transitions

Status: Completed

Conditions: Divorce

Treatments: Behavioral: Online New Beginnings Program (eNBP)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT05209932

R44HD082967

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a two-armed randomized controlled trial of the eNew Beginnings Program (eNBP)'s effects on children's mental health problems as well as interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline. The eNBP is an asynchronous, fully web-based program that was based on the in-person, group NBP, which has been found to strengthen parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline and reduce children's mental health problems in three randomized controlled trials of the NBP involving over 1,800 children. The investigators hypothesized that parents in the eNBP intervention condition would have less interparental conflict and higher parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline than those in the wait-list control condition. The investigators also expected the children whose parents were in the eNBP intervention condition would have fewer internalizing problems and externalizing problems and higher prosocial skills than those with parents in the wait-list control.

Full description

This study is a two-armed intervention randomized controlled trial of the eNew Beginnings Program (eNBP)'s effects on children's mental health problems as well as interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline. The eNBP is an asynchronous, fully web-based program that was based on the in-person, group-based NBP. Three randomized controlled trials of the NBP involving over 1,800 children found positive effects to strengthen parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline and reduce children's mental health problems. The eNBP teaches all the skills in the 10-session NBP. The investigators hypothesized that parents in the eNBP would have less interparental conflict and higher parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline than those in the wait-list control condition following the intervention. The investigators also expected the children whose parents were in the eNBP would have fewer internalizing problems and externalizing problems and higher prosocial skills than those with parents in the wait-list control following the intervention.

Parents and their offspring were recruited using Qualtrics, a leading-edge sample acquisition technology that partners with 20 online panel providers and recruits nationally. Initial sampling criteria were parent was divorced, separated but never married, divorcing, or separating; had one or more children aged 6 to 18; and spoke English. Parents who met these criteria were sent an email with information about the study and a web-based survey that assessed contact with child/ren, access to a computer with high-speed internet or a smart phone and demographics. Interested parents were provided additional information about the study and screened for eligibility by phone. To be eligible, parents had to be divorced, separated but never married, divorcing or separating; have one or more child between 6 and 18; be English speaking; spend at least three hours/week or at least one overnight every other week with their child(ren); and have access to a computer with high-speed internet or a smart phone. The sample consisted of 131 parents randomized to eNBP (N = 81) or wait-list condition (N = 50) and 102 of their adolescent offspring.

Primary outcome measures were measures of interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality, effective discipline and children's internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial behavior.

Enrollment: 131 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents divorced, divorcing or separated
• Parents separated but never married
• One or more children aged 6 to 18
• Parents spoke English
• Parents spend at least 3 hours a week with children or have one overnight every other week with their children
• Parents have access to a computer with high speed internet access of a smart phone

Exclusion criteria

* Parents who do not meet all of the inclusion criteria

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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131 participants in 2 patient groups

Online New Beginnings Program (eNBP)

Experimental group

Description:

The eNBP is a five-hour, asynchronous, fully web-based adaptation of the group NBP. Separate versions for fathers and mothers consist of the same didactic content and interactive exercises, with gender appropriate references, testimonials and video skills demonstrations. Units are highly interactive. Sessions began with a check-in in which parents responded to questions about use of the program skills and were provided with ways to address the challenges they experienced. The skill was then taught using modeling videos, interactive exercises, and testimonials from prior participants. The program then prompted parents to set times to use the skill, identify barriers to using it and select strategies to reduce these barriers. Parents were provided with tip sheets to address challenges in using the skill, downloadable sheets to record use of and competence in using the skill and a downloadable handbook that summarized what was covered in the unit.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Online New Beginnings Program (eNBP)

wait-list control condition

No Intervention group

Description:

Parents in the waitlist-control condition were told that they would have access to the eNBP 12 weeks after they completed the pre-test. Twelve weeks after assignment to condition, parents and children were sent links to the posttest