Co-Parenting for Resilience Program for Child Wellbeing

(CPR Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Oklahoma State University

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Illiterate, Non-consenting, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 4 hours

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different approaches to a parenting program can help children cope better when their parents divorce. The study compares three methods: attending an in-person class, completing an online program, or reading a self-help book. It aims to determine which method best supports children's mental health during the transition. Individuals divorcing or separating in Oklahoma County with at least one child aged 4-10 are encouraged to participate. Participants must also have internet access to join the online group.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to understanding which parenting support methods are most effective during a challenging life transition.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Co-Parenting for Resilience Program is safe for children?

Research has shown that the Co-Parenting for Resilience (CPR) Program helps divorcing parents collaborate to support their children. This program aims to strengthen children in facing the challenges of their parents' divorce.

The CPR program offers two options: an in-person session with a trained leader and an online version. Both options aim to reduce conflict and improve parental cooperation, benefiting children's well-being. The program has been implemented in many locations, with no reports of negative effects from participating in either version.

As an educational program rather than a medical treatment, typical concerns about drug safety do not apply. Instead, the focus is on providing parents with tools and strategies to reduce stress and improve family relationships. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Co-Parenting for Resilience Program because it offers innovative ways to enhance child wellbeing through improved co-parenting strategies. Unlike traditional approaches that may involve therapy or counseling sessions, this program explores new delivery methods, including in-person sessions led by trained facilitators and a flexible online format that parents can access at their convenience. These methods aim to make support more accessible and adaptable to different family needs, potentially leading to better engagement and outcomes. By comparing these approaches to a knowledge-only condition using a self-help book, researchers hope to discover the most effective way to support and strengthen families.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving child wellbeing after parental divorce?

Research shows that the Co-Parenting for Resilience (CPR) program positively affects families experiencing divorce. Studies indicate that the program encourages parents to change behaviors that might negatively impact their children. In this trial, participants will join different arms to evaluate the program's effectiveness. One arm will receive the program in-person, another will access it online, and a third will serve as a placebo control, using a self-help book with a quiz. Whether offered in-person or online, the program helps improve children's adjustment by promoting better family relationships. Overall, research suggests that CPR aids both parents and children in managing the challenges of divorce. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ronald B Cox, PhD

Principal Investigator

Oklahoma State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals going through a divorce who are interested in programs that could help their children cope better with the situation. Participants must be willing to engage with either an in-person or online program, or read a self-help book as part of the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have internet access necessary for the online group

Focus on the oldest child if participants have more than one child with the person they are divorcing who is age 10 or under

I am an adult in Oklahoma County filing for divorce or separation and have a child aged 4-10.

Exclusion Criteria

Parents who do not consent to randomization

I am a parent and I am under 18 years old.

Parents who are illiterate

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomly assigned to one of three conditions: in-person CPR, online CPR, or self-help book with quiz

4 hours

1 session (in-person or online)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for child adjustment and parenting competencies at 3-month and 12-month intervals

12 months

2 follow-up assessments (remote)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Co-Parenting for Resilience Program

Trial Overview The trial tests the Co-Parenting for Resilience (CPR) program's effectiveness on child wellbeing post-divorce. It compares three approaches: an in-person CPR session, an online version of CPR, and reading a self-help book about co-parenting after divorce.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: online condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This condition tests program effects when the program is delivered asynchronously online

Group II: In person condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This condition tests program effects when delivered by a trained non-clinical facilitator.

Group III: Self-help book with quiz Placebo Group 1 Intervention

This condition serves as a placebo control comparing the intervention components to a knowledge only condition.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Oklahoma State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

51

Recruited

8,600+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study evaluates the effectiveness of the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) program in improving maternal sensitivity and child attachment among 314 families with infants aged 2-12 months, compared to standard care.

By screening a larger population of 17,600 families for risks like maternal postnatal depression, the study aims to address early childhood adversity and promote better long-term developmental outcomes for children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Copenhagen infant mental health project: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing circle of security -parenting and care as usual as interventions targeting infant mental health risks. Væver, MS., Smith-Nielsen, J., Lange, T.[2019]

A systematic review of 52 studies highlights that effective parenting interventions, from the prenatal period to adolescence, can significantly improve both parenting quality and children's mental health outcomes.

The review emphasizes the need for skilled professionals to implement these evidence-based programs and calls for further research to develop targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting for mental health: what does the evidence say we need to do? Report of Workpackage 2 of the DataPrev project. Stewart-Brown, SL., Schrader-McMillan, A.[2011]

Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) effectively shifts parents' perspectives on their child, themselves, and their relationship with their child, leading to increased empathy, compassion, and confidence in parenting, based on qualitative insights from 20 facilitators and 14 parents in Australia.

The program's impact is supported by four key components: essential content, skills practice, group dynamics, and facilitator support, although some limitations were noted regarding its application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent and practitioner perspectives on Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P): A qualitative study. Maxwell, AM., Reay, RE., Huber, A., et al.[2021]

In a 5-month study involving 319 parents, the text messaging program (MyTeen) successfully recruited 221 participants, surpassing the target of 214, indicating effective recruitment strategies.

Web-based recruitment methods were particularly effective, but challenges remained in engaging ethnic minority groups and fathers, highlighting the need for targeted outreach in future parenting program trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recruitment and Retention of Parents of Adolescents in a Text Messaging Trial (MyTeen): Secondary Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Chu, JTW., Wadham, A., Jiang, Y., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/co-parenting-for-resilience-program-for-child-wellbeing-a77ee

Co-Parenting for Resilience Program for Child Wellbeing ... What data supports the effectiveness of the Co-Parenting for Resilience Program treatment? Research shows that parenting programs can lead to positive changes ...

2. extension.okstate.edu extension.okstate.edu/programs/co-parenting/research/site-files/docs/2024-co-parenting-eoy-report-a.pdf

2024 Co-Parenting for Resilience Evaluation Results Evaluation data shows the program has been successful in motivating divorcing parents to change their behaviors that are harmful to children.

3. clinconnect.io clinconnect.io/trials/NCT06840431

Randomized Control Trial of the Co-Parenting for - ClinConnect This clinical trial is testing the Co-Parenting for Resilience (CPR) program to see if it helps children adjust better after their parents divorce. Adults ...

4. portal.nifa.usda.gov portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/1003203-fostering-resilience-in-parents-and-children-that-experience-divorce.html

Fostering Resilience in Parents and Children that ... This project uses a quasi-experimental design with a matched-comparison control to examine the efficacy of the Co-Parenting for Resilience program (CR) to ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2787717/

Promoting Resilience in Youth from Divorced Families Illustratively, in the second trial, 98% of the participants randomly assigned to condition completed the 3- and 6-month follow-ups and 91% completed the 6-year ...

6. extension.okstate.edu extension.okstate.edu/programs/co-parenting/co-parent-for-resilience-program/

The Co-parenting for Resilience Program - OSU Extension The Co-parenting for Resilience program refers to strategies divorcing parents can use to work together to help their children be resilient.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10712186/

Family UNited: piloting of a new universal UNODC family skills ... On a short term, Family UNited aims to improve parenting skills, child behaviour and the capacity to cope with stress, whereas on the longer ...

8. extension.iastate.edu extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/coparenting

Co-Parenting for Resilience Co-parenting education offers practical strategies to reduce conflict and help protect children from the negative effects of divorce. Intended audience: ...