Outcomes of a reflective parenting program among military spouses: The moderating role of social support.

Abstract

The post-9/11 conflicts have taken a substantial toll on military families. Although positive effects of reintegration-focused programs are well-documented for service members, less is known about military spouses who are parents of young children. This article examines the outcomes of a formal reflective parenting program developed for military families who have very young children, and whether aspects of informal social support moderate spouse outcomes of anxiety, depression, and parenting stress. Data are drawn from a randomized, clinical trial (RCT) of 103 military families with children ages birth to 5 years of age. Structural equation models examined the main effects of the program and the relationship of 3 social support dimensions (perceived support, social connectedness and dyadic satisfaction) to program outcomes of interest. Analyses revealed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety in the treatment group, with a small effect size. No significant program effects emerged on parenting stress or depression. None of the social support dimensions was significantly associated with outcomes of interest. The interaction of dyadic support and treatment showed a significant moderate effect on parenting stress. Spouses with lower baseline satisfaction who were assigned to the treatment condition reported similar levels of parenting stress at baseline and posttest, whereas their counterparts in the waitlist condition reported significantly higher parenting stress at posttest compared with baseline. Findings suggest a targeted approach to preventive intervention for military spouses who are mothers of young children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).