Life Satisfaction Moderates the Effectiveness of a Play-Based Parenting Intervention in Low-Income Mothers and Toddlers

Rebecca L Brock; Grazyna Kochanska; Michael W O'Hara; Rebecca S Grekin

doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0014-y

Back

Journal article

Life Satisfaction Moderates the Effectiveness of a Play-Based Parenting Intervention in Low-Income Mothers and Toddlers

Rebecca L Brock, Grazyna Kochanska, Michael W O'Hara and Rebecca S Grekin

Journal of abnormal child psychology, Vol.43(7), pp.1283-1294

10/2015

DOI: 10.1007/s10802-015-0014-y

PMCID: PMC4561587

PMID: 25860810

View Online

Abstract

This multi-method multi-trait study examined moderators and mediators of change in the context of a parenting intervention. Low-income, diverse mothers of toddlers (average age 30 months; N = 186, 90 girls) participated in a play-based intervention (Child-Oriented Play versus Play-as-Usual) aimed at increasing children's committed compliance and reducing opposition toward their mothers, observed in prohibition contexts, and at reducing mother-rated children's behavior problems 6 months after the intervention. Mothers' subjective sense of life satisfaction and fulfillment during the intervention and objective ratings of psychosocial functioning by clinicians, obtained in a clinical interview were posed as moderators, and mothers' observed power-assertive discipline immediately following the intervention was modeled as a mediator of its impact. We tested moderated mediation using structural equation modeling, with all baseline scores (prior to randomization) controlled. Mothers' subjective sense of life satisfaction moderated the impact of the intervention, but clinicians' ratings did not. For mothers highly satisfied with their lives, participating in Child-Oriented Play group, compared to Play-as-Usual group, led to a reduction in power-assertive discipline which, in turn, led to children's increased compliance and decreased opposition and externalizing problems. There were no effects for mothers who reported low life satisfaction. The study elucidates the causal sequence set in motion by the intervention, demonstrates the moderating role of mothers' subjective life satisfaction, highlights limitations of clinicians' ratings, and informs future prevention and intervention efforts to promote adaptive parenting.

Adult

Child Behavior - psychology

Child, Preschool

Female

Humans

Infant

Male

Mother-Child Relations

Mothers - psychology

Parenting - psychology

Personal Satisfaction

Poverty

Problem Behavior - psychology

Psychotherapy - methods

Treatment Outcome

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Life Satisfaction Moderates the Effectiveness of a Play-Based Parenting Intervention in Low-Income Mothers and Toddlers
Creators: Rebecca L Brock - Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall East, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1407, USA, rebecca-brock@uiowa.edu
Grazyna Kochanska
Michael W O'Hara
Rebecca S Grekin
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of abnormal child psychology, Vol.43(7), pp.1283-1294
DOI: 10.1007/s10802-015-0014-y
PMID: 25860810
PMCID: PMC4561587
NLM abbreviation: J Abnorm Child Psychol
ISSN: 0091-0627
eISSN: 1573-2835
Grant note: R01 HD069171 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 MH063096 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH63096 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 10/2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984214757002771

Metrics

9 Record Views

8 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details