TY - JOUR
T1 - Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma: Evaluating The Impact of Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences on Parenting Group Outcomes Using A Mixed-Methods approach
T2 - Evaluating the impact of parental adverse childhood experiences on parenting group outcomes using a mixed-methods approach
AU - Fortune, Donal
AU - Burke, John
AU - Fitzhenry, Mark
AU - Houghton, Sharon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Many children experience some form of adversity in their childhood. These adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have long-term implications. Parenting group interventions were designed to support parents who struggle to act as the protective buffer against adversity, and provide skills and tools to be able to avoid maltreatment. Despite the wide-ranging impacts of ACEs, their influence on parenting intervention outcomes is relatively unknown. This study used a mixed-methods, triangulation design incorporating repeated measures, pre-post quantitative elements (n = 30) with qualitative aspects (n = 6) to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a 10-week integrative parenting group, Understanding your Child's Behaviour (UYCB; Douglas & Ginty, 2001) in an Irish-based sample. As the group also explores a parents’ own experiences of being parented, the effects of cumulative parental ACE scores on outcomes were also assessed. This is the first study evaluating the UYCBP in an Irish sample, and the first evaluating the effect of ACEs on UYCB outcomes. The group was experienced as ‘acceptable’. Perceived stress and parental self-regulation showed significant improvements, but no significant improvements on child-based measures were observed. There was no significant effect of ACEs at baseline or on intervention outcomes. Qualitative data revealed salient themes of “Seeing” the child; Parental self-regulation; and Experiences of being parented. The importance of adopting broader, more sensitive methods of researching ACEs as well as tracking parent progression over longer periods are discussed.
AB - Many children experience some form of adversity in their childhood. These adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have long-term implications. Parenting group interventions were designed to support parents who struggle to act as the protective buffer against adversity, and provide skills and tools to be able to avoid maltreatment. Despite the wide-ranging impacts of ACEs, their influence on parenting intervention outcomes is relatively unknown. This study used a mixed-methods, triangulation design incorporating repeated measures, pre-post quantitative elements (n = 30) with qualitative aspects (n = 6) to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a 10-week integrative parenting group, Understanding your Child's Behaviour (UYCB; Douglas & Ginty, 2001) in an Irish-based sample. As the group also explores a parents’ own experiences of being parented, the effects of cumulative parental ACE scores on outcomes were also assessed. This is the first study evaluating the UYCBP in an Irish sample, and the first evaluating the effect of ACEs on UYCB outcomes. The group was experienced as ‘acceptable’. Perceived stress and parental self-regulation showed significant improvements, but no significant improvements on child-based measures were observed. There was no significant effect of ACEs at baseline or on intervention outcomes. Qualitative data revealed salient themes of “Seeing” the child; Parental self-regulation; and Experiences of being parented. The importance of adopting broader, more sensitive methods of researching ACEs as well as tracking parent progression over longer periods are discussed.
KW - Adverse childhood experiences
KW - Child emotional and behavioural problems
KW - Parental self-regulation
KW - Perceived stress
KW - Solihull Approach
KW - Understanding Your Child's Behaviour
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115925286&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106223
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106223
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85115925286
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 130
SP - -
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
M1 - 106223
ER -