Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma: Evaluating the impact of parental adverse childhood experiences on parenting group outcomes using a mixed-methods approach

John Burke, Mark Fitzhenry, Sharon Houghton and Donal G. Fortune

Children and Youth Services Review, 2021, vol. 130, issue C

Abstract: Many children experience some form of adversity in their childhood. These adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have long-term implications. Parenting group interventions were designed to support parents who struggle to act as the protective buffer against adversity, and provide skills and tools to be able to avoid maltreatment. Despite the wide-ranging impacts of ACEs, their influence on parenting intervention outcomes is relatively unknown. This study used a mixed-methods, triangulation design incorporating repeated measures, pre-post quantitative elements (n = 30) with qualitative aspects (n = 6) to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a 10-week integrative parenting group, Understanding your Child’s Behaviour (UYCB; Douglas & Ginty, 2001) in an Irish-based sample. As the group also explores a parents’ own experiences of being parented, the effects of cumulative parental ACE scores on outcomes were also assessed. This is the first study evaluating the UYCBP in an Irish sample, and the first evaluating the effect of ACEs on UYCB outcomes. The group was experienced as ‘acceptable’. Perceived stress and parental self-regulation showed significant improvements, but no significant improvements on child-based measures were observed. There was no significant effect of ACEs at baseline or on intervention outcomes. Qualitative data revealed salient themes of “Seeing” the child; Parental self-regulation; and Experiences of being parented. The importance of adopting broader, more sensitive methods of researching ACEs as well as tracking parent progression over longer periods are discussed.

Keywords: Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour; Solihull Approach; Adverse childhood experiences; Parental self-regulation; Perceived stress; Child emotional and behavioural problems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:130:y:2021:i:c:s0190740921002991

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106223

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