Impact Evaluation of Family Expectations: A Program to Strengthen the Relationships of Disadvantaged Expectant Couples

Parenting Clinical Trial

Official title:

Family Expectations: Impact Evaluation of Program for Expectant Couples

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03058549
• Other study ID #: 860135
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 1, 2017
• Est. completion date: June 30, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: September 2020
• Source: Public Strategies
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates the effectiveness of a program to strengthen the relationships of disadvantaged expectant couples, and to increase co-parenting, father involvement, and economic stability. Couples are randomly assigned to Family Expectations or a control group, and assessed at baseline and one year.

Description:

The birth of a child can trigger relationship distress and dissolution. Family Expectations (FE) targets the transition to parenthood as a critical time to help couples focus on family success. Regardless of whether couples are married or unmarried, the goal of FE is to strengthen relationships and advance the well-being of economically disadvantaged couples who are expecting a baby or who are new parents, and to improve the lives of their children. The FE program, including the Becoming Parents (BP) curriculum and supplemental services, is designed to address specific risk factors that affect individual family members and the relationships among them, and to build protective factors that help families avoid, minimize, or manage risks (e.g., individual maladaptation [mother, father, child], couple relationship difficulties, parenting difficulties, and economic insufficiency).

A total of 1,355 couples will be randomly assigned to either Family Expectations (n = 813; 60%) or an untreated control group (n = 542; 40%). Once assigned, participants in the study will complete baseline questions by survey. Those assigned to the FE track will be scheduled for services with the FE intervention team and the control group will not receive the FE intervention. Members of the intervention and control groups will be surveyed both before they are randomly assigned and 12 months later. The study will examine if the Family Expectations program is associated with improved outcomes on relationship quality, stability, parenting quality, father involvement, child wellbeing, and hopefulness about employment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 2640
• Est. completion date: June 30, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 100 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Both partners are willing to participate

2. Partners have a commitment to be together as a couple

3. Both partners are the biological parents of a child in a current pregnancy or of a child born within the past 3 months

4. Fluent in English (study and intervention materials are in English)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Either or both partners have taken part in Family Expectations services before

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Committed Couple Expecting a Child
• Family Relations
• Parenting

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Family Expectations
Relationship education and referral services for expectant couples.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Public Strategies	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Public Strategies	Children's Bureau - Administration for Children and Families, University of Denver

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Relationship adjustment	This outcome will be measured by a composite of measures to relationship quality (support and affection, global relationship satisfaction, and confidence in the future of the relationship). Respondents will self-report using survey methods.	Baseline and 1 year post baseline (to assess change over time). Change (or maintenance) relative to control group will be assessed across the two time points.
Primary	Relationship stability	Couple remains romantically involved. Self-reported by survey methods.	1 year post baseline
Primary	Individual wellbeing	Symptoms of depression and anxiety. Respondents will self-report using survey methods.	Baseline and 1 year post baseline. Change (or maintenance) relative to control group will be assessed across the two time points.
Primary	Co-parenting quality	The quality of the co-parenting relationship between the expectant partners will be self-reported using survey methods.	1 year post baseline.
Primary	Child outcomes	Infant temperament and wellbeing will be assessed by parent self-report using survey methods.	1 year post baseline.
Primary	Interaction quality	This outcome will be measured by a composite of measures that assess communication and conflict management abilities (communication skills, constructive conflict management, destructive conflict management). Respondents will self-report using survey methods.	Baseline and 1 year post baseline. Change (or maintenance) relative to control group will be assessed across the two time points.
Secondary	Changes in Income	Income will be measured by self-report using survey methods.	Baseline and 1 year post baseline. Change relative to control group will be assessed across the two time points.