RCT of a Trauma-Informed Parent-Child Functioning Intervention for Military Veterans
Abstract
PTSD is associated with higher parenting stress, difficulties with parenting behaviors, and poorer family functioning overall. These impacts are considered an important mechanism that conveys further risk to the psychosocial functioning of children in Veteran and military families, and they worsen mental health symptoms for parents. Yet there are no nationally available treatments within VA to address parenting and available parenting programs for service members are primarily targeted toward infants or deployment separation and may not be adequately trauma-informed. Early research with Veterans indicates Strength at Home Parents (SAHP) is a promising intervention. This work advances SAHP to the next step, which is a test of whether it works in comparison to not receiving the treatment in a randomized controlled trial. CBPR Approach: There are two Lived Experience Consultants who are Co-Investigators on our research team. We have also formed a Community Advisory board who will give feedback on the study methods, implementation and results across six board meetings, all led by one of our LECs. TBIPHRP CTA Topic Area and Goal Addressed: This FY22 TBIPHRP CTA proposal addresses Focus Area 2e, Prevent: Effective solutions to support relationships and parenting and 3a, Treat: Interventions that promote sustained functional recovery. The overall objective of this study is to conduct a clinical trial of the SAHP intervention to improve family functioning and parent-child functional and mental health outcomes in a sample of Veterans with PTSD symptoms and parent-child functioning difficulties. Results will determine the efficacy of the SAHP trauma-informed parenting intervention to improve parenting, family, and parent-child functional and mental health outcomes in this population. Ultimate Applicability and Impact of the Research: SAHP is the first trauma-informed parenting support treatment designed for use within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and specifically for Veterans with trauma exposure and parenting-child functioning difficulties. There is no other nationally available parenting program available at the VA. Other interventions in active-duty settings often focus on new parents or deployment separation. In the civilian sector, nearly all parenting programs are targeted at child behavioral disorders or maltreatment populations, and wait lists are lengthy. SAHP is designed to be highly accessible in comparison to other family interventions because it is delivered to one parent, and there is no requirement for couples or children to attend. It is also delivered virtually, minimizing the time and transportation burden for busy parents, yet the group modality helps parents to address stigma and to see that they are not alone in their difficulties. The treatment is easy to learn and deliver for clinicians as well. What Types of Patients Will It Help, and How Will It Help Them? SAHP will help Veterans and Service Members with trauma exposure, mental health symptoms, and parent-child functioning difficulties. SAHP is an 8-session group intervention facilitated by a mental health provider (psychologist or social worker). Within the context of parental exposure to lifetime trauma and related mental health symptoms, each session of SAHP includes content that aims to increase the use of parenting behaviors associated with better child outcomes and decrease use of parenting behaviors associated with poorer child outcomes. SAHP integrates content specific to the challenges of Veteran parents with trauma histories, such as psycho-education about the influence of PTSD and other mental health disorder symptoms on parenting and attachment, as well as content and assignments focused on decreasing trauma-related avoidance of family activities while increasing emotional awareness and emotion regulation. In addition, SAHP includes content that addresses overall family and relationship functioning, as
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310869
Entities
People
- Suzannah K. Creech
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Texas at Austin