Dynamic Moderators of Parent-Training Intervention Effects in Mothers Being Released from Incarceration and their Children

Abstract

Parent-training programs are generally effective in improving parenting behaviors and children’s disruptive behavior. Some evidence suggests this may also hold for the high-risk population of incarcerated mothers and their children. However, it is unclear whether parent training is equally effective for mothers with varying levels of psychological functioning. Objective: This study examined maternal self-serving cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms as moderators of the effectiveness of enhanced Incredible Years parent training ‘Better Start’ for mothers being released from incarceration. Post-test and follow-up intervention effects on parenting behaviors and child disruptive behaviors were examined separately. Method: Data were derived from a randomized-controlled trial of 91 (formerly) incarcerated mothers and 133 children (Mage = 6.41 years). Assessments of outcome measures, i.e., three dimensions of parenting behaviors and mother-reported and teacher-reported child disruptive behavior, were collected at four occasions. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted using multilevel growth models. Results: Analyses revealed variation between families in the effectiveness of Better Start on post-test and follow-up measures of mother-reported child disruptive behavior and negative/ineffective discipline practices. However, maternal self-serving cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms were unable to explain this variation. There was no variation between families in the effectiveness of Better Start on other outcome measures. Conclusion: Findings indicated that the effects of Better Start on post-test and follow-up assessments of parenting behaviors of mothers being released from incarceration and their children’s disruptive behaviors were independent of important psychological factors.