Effectiveness of an attachment-based intervention for the assessment of parenting capacities in maltreating families: A randomized controlled trial

Sabine van der Asdonk, Whitney D. de Haan, Sheila R. van Berkel, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Ralph C.A. Rippe, Carlo Schuengel, Chris Kuiper, Ramon J.L. Lindauer, Mathilde Overbeek, Lenneke R.A. Alink

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Even though Parenting Capacity Assessments (PCAs) are essential for child protection services to support placement decisions for maltreating families, presently no evidence-based PCA protocols are available. In this randomized controlled trial, we tested the quality of an attachment-based PCA protocol based on Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD). We recruited 56 parent-child dyads (Mage children = 3.48 years) in Dutch family residential clinics that conduct PCAs to support placement decisions. After pretest, families were randomized to receive the Regular Assessment Procedure (RAP) (n = 28), or an additional assessment based on VIPP-SD (n = 28). An immediate post-test and a 10-month follow-up were conducted. Multilevel models showed that therapists felt equally confident about their recommendations regarding child placement for both groups and that they equally often modified their initial placement recommendations. Moreover, children in the VIPP-SD group did not show fewer behavior problems and did not experience recurring child maltreatment less often than children in the RAP group. Thus, we found no evidence that PCAs incorporating the VIPP-SD protocol outperformed PCAs as usual. We discuss possible explanations why in the current study VIPP-SD did not seem to add to the quality of the RAP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)821-835
Number of pages15
JournalInfant Mental Health Journal
Volume41
Issue number6
Early online date24 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2020

Keywords

  • Entscheidungsfindung
  • Kindesmisshandlung
  • Parent
  • RCT
  • ajustement
  • attachment-based intervention
  • bindungsbasierte Intervention
  • bébé
  • capacidad de crianza
  • child maltreatment
  • elterliche Kapazitäten
  • intervención con base en la afectividad
  • intervention de psychologie
  • maltrato infantil
  • neurodéveloppement
  • parenting capacity
  • placement decisions
  • toma de decisión

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