Comparing Web, Group, and Telehealth Formats of a Military Parenting Program

Comparing Web, Group, and Telehealth Formats of a Military Parenting Program

The overarching goal of this study is to advance research on family-based prevention of negative child outcomes for reintegrating Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom personnel by evaluating different formats of a parenting program, After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT). The ADAPT program is based upon the Parent Management Training-Oregon Model/PMTO, but adapted for military deployed families. The PI will examine which of three delivery formats of ADAPT is most effective at reducing youth risk behaviors associated with negative childhood outcomes by improving parenting, child, and parent adjustment. There is a clear intent to benefit all subjects in this study (except surveyed teachers), including children.

The overarching goal of this study is to advance research on family-based prevention of negative child outcomes for reintegrating Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom personnel by evaluating different formats of a parenting program, After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT). The ADAPT program is based upon the Parent Management Training-Oregon Model/PMTO, but adapted for military deployed families. The investigators will examine which of three delivery formats of ADAPT is most effective at reducing youth risk behaviors associated with negative childhood outcomes by improving parenting, child, and parent adjustment. There is a clear intent to benefit all subjects in this study (except surveyed teachers), including children.

Combat deployment and related challenges are family stressors, associated with more negative parent-child interactions, ineffective and coercive parenting practices and lower levels of parenting satisfaction. Disrupted parenting practices are well-known predictors of risk for child adjustment difficulties that are precursors to youth substance use, including behavior problems, school failure, deviant peer association, and depression . These child adjustment problems can contribute to continuing parental stress, increasing parental distress, and further disrupting parenting.

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria are:

• one parent has returned from deployment to OIF or OEF
• at least one child ages 5-12 in their custody and living with parent(s) in the home
• high speed internet access at home We will include both single-and two-parent families, as well as families where care is shared between non-partnered adults (e.g. grandparent and mother)

Exclusion Criteria:

• active psychosis
• an open child protection case for abuse or neglect in the family
• a serious child mental health diagnosis
• families who piloted material or participated in or are currently participating in the original ADAPT RCT.