Potential Benefits of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

A Mixed-Methods Approach Utilizing Self-Report Scales and Oxytocin Levels to Determine the Potential Benefits of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

The goal of this study is to explore possible benefits of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The main goals of the study are:

• To investigate whether pre-survey measures of autonomic reactivity relate to the overall functioning of participants.
• To examine the effects of PCIT To identify individual characteristics that influence the effects of PCIT.

Participants will:

• complete 5 online surveys (1x pre-PCIT, 3x during PCIT, and 1x post-PCIT)
• complete the PCIT program

It is the specific intent of this proposal to experimentally explore the possible benefits and mechanisms through which PCIT can influence self-reported stress and autonomic and neuroendocrine functioning in parents. This will be accomplished by our team by using well-validated self-report measures of mental health, autonomic reactivity, parental stress and attachment, and non-invasive measurements of levels of oxytocin.

Specific Aim 1: To investigate whether pre-intervention measures of ANS reactivity and the neuropeptides oxytocin relate to the overall functioning of the participants.

• The investigators will examine how measures of autonomic reactivity and levels of oxytocin relate to prior mental/medical health.
• Hypothesis: Participants with lower levels of oxytocin and/or increased autonomic reactivity will report being more impacted by their prior adversity and having more emotional/physical symptoms.

Specific Aim 2: To investigate the impact of PCIT

• The investigators will explore whether PCIT leads to improvements in parental stress, parent-child attachment, and parental neuroendocrine functioning.
• Hypothesis: Parents will show a significant decrease in perceived stress and improvement in emotional wellbeing oxytocin levels following CDI. They will also show a decrease in perceived stress, and improvement in attachment and emotional wellbeing following the entire PCIT intervention.

Specific Aim 3: To identify individual characteristics that influence the effectiveness of PCIT.

• The investigators will explore the impact of specific vulnerability and resiliency factors (e.g., stress, prior adversity) on how well parents benefit from PCIT
• Hypothesis: Parental stress and prior mental/medical adversity will negatively impact the effectiveness of intervention

Inclusion Criteria:

• Parents of children aged 2-7 years old who are eligible for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) based on behavioral concerns.
• The primary caregiver of the child and be actively involved in the child's daily care.
• Willing to attend all PCIT sessions and complete pre-, mid- and post-intervention assessments.
• Fluent in English to ensure comprehension of the intervention and assessment materials.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Parents with diagnosed severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) that may interfere with participation in PCIT.
• Children with conditions that require interventions other than PCIT (e.g., severe developmental disabilities).
• Parents who have previously participated in PCIT are excluded to avoid confounding results.