A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of the Project Support Positive Parenting Module

Abstract

Purpose: Parental support is theorized to promote healthy child development and is a frequent target of brief parenting programs. However, evaluations of these brief programs often rely on parents’ self-reports. This randomized controlled trial uses mothers’ self-reports and observational methods to evaluate the Project Support Positive Parenting module—a brief parenting program designed to enhance parental support. Method: After completing a pretreatment assessment, 73 mothers and their children (40 girls; aged 6–12 years) were randomized to the Project Support module or to a wait-list control group. Families also completed posttreatment and follow-up assessments. Results: Results of multilevel modeling analyses showed that mothers randomized to the Project Support module demonstrated greater improvements over time in mothers’ self-reports of parent–child communication and observed respect for their child's views, compared to mothers in the control condition. Discussion: Results suggest that the Project Support Positive Parenting module can result in changes in parental support.