MODERATORS OF INTERVENTION EFFECTIVENESS ON PATERNAL SENSITIVITY

Abstract

Fathers play a critical role in child development and in their family system, yet they are often underrepresented in developmental research and intervention science. This study addressed gaps in father-focused intervention research during early infancy by examining whether a parenting sensitivity intervention, a couple-focused communication intervention, or their combination improved paternal sensitivity over the first 16 months of a child's life. Using a 2 × 2 randomized controlled trial, 216 mother–father–infant triads were assigned to one of four conditions: a sensitivity intervention (SI), a couple intervention (CI), a combined intervention (SI+CI), or a control group. Paternal sensitivity was assessed at three time points via observational coding of parent–infant interactions, and infant attachment security was assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure. Linear mixed modeling indicated that paternal sensitivity increased significantly over time but did not differ by intervention condition. Nine potential moderators—including demographic factors, paternal stress, couple conflict, and intervention dosage—produced no statistically significant moderation effects. Logistic regression found a positive but non-significant association between paternal sensitivity at 12 months and secure infant attachment at 16 months (OR = 1.38, p = .243). Post-hoc power analyses suggest the study was underpowered to detect small effects across all three levels of analysis. Limitations include underrepresentation of certain racial and ethnic groups and a modest sample size, partially attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should prioritize larger, more demographically diverse samples and tailoring intervention procedures to fathers’ needs.