How to effectively support couples in parenting? The Parents as Partners (Rodzice jako Partnerzy) program as an effective model of group work with parental couples

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and dynamics of the impact on participants of the Parents as Partners program, adapted from Great Britain to Polish conditions. A three-fold questionnaire measurement was used - at the stage of preliminary consultations, in the middle of the program and at the last meeting of the group. The study group consisted of parental couples participating in the program. Each couple had at least one child under the age of 11. The research hypotheses assumed the occurrence of changes in the scope of (I) improvement of anxiety-depressive symptomatology, (II) improvement of communication and the assessed quality of relationships in the parental couple, (III) reduction of the level of parental stress. The results indicate improved communication, withdrawal from aggressive conflict resolution and dysfunctional interactions, and reduced parental stress. The program turns out to be effective in improving functioning in relationships and reducing parental stress. The thesis about the importance and effectiveness of group intervention addressed to parental couples participating in the program together is confirmed. The impact of the program on improving the quality of parent-child relationships and thus improving the functioning of children can be observed.