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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00243997

Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Becoming Parents Program

The primary aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of the Becoming Parents Program--a couple focused educational program for couples having a first child--on individual and couple well being and the parent-infant relationship over the first three years of parenthood.

Other aims of this study are to evaluate the cost of implementing the Becoming Parents Program; to describe changes in individual and couple well-being over time, viewing the transition to parenthood from a developmental perspective using data from the control group; examine the various variables in the study over time from pregnancy through three years post-birth.

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Key information

Conditions

Pregnancy

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The transition to parenthood is extremely difficult for both mothers and fathers, yet education and support during this major life transition emphasize getting through labor and birth, rather than preparing couples for the many changes accompanying parenthood. The classes of the Becoming Parents Program provide information and skills for taking care of the couple relationship, taking care of self, interacting with the baby, and the many ways becoming parents changes peoples' lives.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the Becoming Parents Program classes on individual well being (measured by symptoms of depression and stress, perceived health, risk behaviors, health practices, health resource utilization), couple well-being (measured by marital satisfaction and stability), and the parent-infant relationship (measured by observation of the mother feeding the baby and the father teaching the baby) over the first three years of parenthood. Information is gathered by paper-and-pencil questionnaires during pregnancy, and at six months, one year, two years, and three years post-birth and by observation of parent-infant interaction at three months post-birth and videotaping and coding of couple interaction at six months post-birth.

Hypotheses are that couples who receive the Becoming Parents Program classes as compared to the couples who do not will:

  • have higher levels of marital satisfaction
  • have lower levels of depression
  • have less symptoms of stress
  • have higher levels of marital stability
  • communicate more effectively about a problem issue
  • have higher levels of health and well-being
  • score higher on observational evaluations of parent-infant interaction
  • report they are more satisfied with parenting, their partner's involvement in parenting their child, and with who does what in their family

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • married couples
  • expecting the birth of a first child
  • not more than 30 weeks pregnant

Exclusion criteria

  • consider their couple relationship in immediate danger or breaking up

Treatment and study plan

Becoming Parents Program

Behavioral

Couple focused educational program for couples adding a new baby to the family-21 hours of workshops during pregnancy with two three hour workshops after the baby is born.

Primary outcomes

  1. Scores on a marital satisfaction scale at 6 months, 1 , 2 , 3 post-birth

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

Secondary outcomes

  1. Scores on a depression rating scale

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

  2. Scores on a symptoms of stress measure

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

  3. Whether or not subject couples are still married

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

  4. Coding of how effectively couples communicate about a problem issue in their relationship as observed from a videotape of the couples interacting at 6 months post-birth

    Time frame: 6 mos post-birth

  5. Individual participant ratings of their own health, their partner's health, their baby's health

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

  6. Identification of health risk behaviors and health practices

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

  7. Health resource utilization

    Time frame: 6 mos, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs post-birth

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Registry information

Official study title

Study of the Effects of the Becoming Parents Program on Couples Becoming Parents for the First Time

Important dates

Study start
2002
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2008
First posted
Oct 25, 2005
Registry last updated
Oct 15, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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