Work

‘Parents as Partners’ Coparenting Programme with Parents of Infants with a Highly Reactive Temperament: A Randomised Controlled Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: The ‘Parents as Partners’ (PasP) coparenting programme was delivered to heterosexual parents of infants they described as showing a highly reactive temperament (HRT) following the completion of the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire–Revised (IBQ-R) during a standard post-natal visit in their local Health Centre Well Baby Clinic in Malta. Fifty-two participating Maltese couples, all coparenting a highly reactive infant of 8 to 12 months, were randomly assigned into an experimental (n = 30 couples) or control group (n = 25). The IBQ-R, Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS), and Parental Stress Index (PSI-4 SF) at pre- and post-intervention periods were filled out by randomised participants. Intervention group couples followed the 16-week PasP programme. All randomised couples were followed by a case manager monthly. Post-intervention results compared with controls showed reduced couple conflict occurring in front of the child, reduced parent–child dysfunctional interaction, and a reduction in negative child reactivity. Implications point to the importance of including fathers and reducing coparenting conflict in interventions designed to reduce behavioural difficulties in infants and young children.

Source: Family Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/famsci1020014

Authors: Ingrid M. Lanfranco, Angela Abela, Philip A. Cowan, Carolyn Pape Cowan

Institutions: University of Malta, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Infant Health and Development

Subfield: Pharmacy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: HSBC Bank USA