Abstract
This study evaluated the Tuning in to Kids (TIK) parenting program delivered in a clinical setting with 77 parents and caregivers (hereafter referred to as “parents”) of children who had experienced complex trauma. The TIK program targets parent emotion socialization to improve children’s emotional and behavioral functioning. The study utilized a single-group design with pre- and post-intervention measures. Seventy-seven parents of children (aged 3–15 years) who had experienced complex trauma completed a ten-week version of the Trauma-Focused Tuning in to Kids program (TF-TIK). Measures examined parent reports of: emotion socialization; parent-child relationship; parent mental health; children’s emotional and behavioral functioning. Parents reported significantly improved emotion socialization, parent-child relationship, parent mental health, as well as child emotion regulation and behavior. This study provides initial support for the use of the TF-TIK parenting program in a clinical setting with parents of children who have experienced complex trauma in order to prevent or reduce problems.
Highlights
There are a small number of evidence-based parenting interventions for children exposed to complex trauma [11], with limited research evaluating their benefits
This study was approved by the University of Melbourne Human Ethics committee (# 1136183) and participants gave consent for their data to be used for the purposes of research
There were no significant differences in outcomes for those receiving individual therapy versus those who did not
Summary
There are a small number of evidence-based parenting interventions for children exposed to complex trauma [11], with limited research evaluating their benefits. Parents are instead taught skills that enable them to use the five steps of emotion coaching with their children when emotions occur They learn: how to better identify emotions in their children, especially those that might underlie challenging behaviors; to view emotions as an opportunity to connect with children in order to help children understand and manage emotions; to develop skills in understanding children’s perspectives and responding with empathy to children’s emotional experience (rather than being judgmental); to either reflect or name emotions so children can put words to their feelings; to assist with solving problems, teach skills in emotion regulation, and, if necessary, look at limits around children’s behavior. Clinicians who assessed each child and their family, referred the parents/carers to the program even if their children were in the early adolescent years because they were perceived to need basic emotion coaching skills that were part of the TIK program
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