Emotional availability (EA) brief: single session feedback and coaching with mothers of children 0-17 years old
Date
2022
Authors
Russell, Frances Elizabeth, author
Biringen, Zeynep, advisor
Harvey, Ashley, committee member
Yoder, Jamie, committee member
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Abstract
The focus of this study was to determine if a brief parenting feedback and coaching session (along with background information) could provide the context for helping mothers to support optimal self-reported and observed emotional availability, as well as maternal wellbeing. Participants in this study (n = 25) were middle income mothers and their children (ages 0-17 years). Participants were sorted into two blocks: Parents in the first block of participants (i.e., the "immediate intervention group") (IIG) were asked to complete all pre-test assessments and immediately given the intervention. Parents in the second block (i.e., the "waitlist control" group) (WC) were asked to complete all pre-test assessments (pre-test 1) and then put on a waitlist, completing a second set of pre-test assessments (pre-test 2) approximately 4 weeks later and then given the intervention. All parents (in the IIG and WC) were then administered post-test assessments. Pretest and posttest assessments included observed emotional availability as well as questionnaires (Emotional Availability Self Report (EA-SR; Vliegen et al., 2009) and the Flourishing Scale (Diener et al., 2010). To compare differences in pre-post changes for IIG vs. WC participants before receiving the intervention, we conducted a One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) on the difference scores (post-test minus pre-test) for the IIG and difference scores for the WC (pre-test 2 minus pre-test 1). Finally, to examine child age as a predictor of change in our outcome variables, we regressed the pre-post difference scores on child age, pooling observations from the IIG and WC groups. Results indicated that those receiving the single session intervention showed more improvement in EA and other study variables over time when compared to those who did not receive the intervention. The child's age did not predict the effectiveness of the intervention. Results are discussed in terms of a single session of parent feedback and potentially "planting a seed."
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Embargo Expires: 08/22/2024