Manuscript Details

Landry, S. H., Smith, K. E., Swank, P. R., & Guttentag, C. (2008). A responsive parenting intervention: The optimal timing across early childhood for impacting maternal behaviors and child outcomes. Developmental Psychology, 44(5), 1335-1353.

High rating
Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Established on race and socioeconomic status

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Child Development and School Readiness
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
PPVT-III receptive vocabulary 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
PPVT-III receptive vocabulary 3 months after program end High
0.36 Statistically significant, p < .05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
PPVT-III receptive vocabulary 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
PLS: auditory comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
PLS: auditory comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
PLS: auditory comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
PLS: expressive comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
PLS: expressive comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
PLS: expressive comprehension 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Cooperation 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Cooperation 3 months after program end High
0.30 Statistically significant, p = .04 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Cooperation 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Coordinating attention and words 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Coordinating attention and words 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Coordinating attention and words 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Positive affect (of child with mother) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Positive affect (of child with mother) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Positive affect (of child with mother) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Social engagement 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Social engagement 3 months after program end High
0.32 Statistically significant, p < .01 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Social engagement 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Use of words 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Use of words 3 months after program end High
0.37 Statistically significant, p < .01 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Use of words 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Positive Parenting Practices
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Contingent responsiveness 3 months after program end High
0.51 Statistically significant, p = 0.02 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Contingent responsiveness 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Contingent responsiveness 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Maintaining child foci 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Maintaining child foci 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Maintaining child foci 3 months after program end High
0.32 Statistically significant, p = 0.04 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Positive affect (of mother with child) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Positive affect (of mother with child) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Positive affect (of mother with child) 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Redirecting child foci 3 months after program end High
0.39 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Redirecting child foci 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Redirecting child foci 3 months after program end High
Statistically significant, p < 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Verbal encouragement 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Verbal encouragement 3 months after program end High
0.25 Statistically significant, p =.01 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Verbal encouragement 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Verbal scaffolding 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Verbal scaffolding 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Verbal scaffolding 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Warm sensitivity 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS I and PALS II
Warm sensitivity 3 months after program end High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 166 mother/child dyads PALS II
Warm sensitivity 3 months after program end High
0.29 Statistically significant, p = 0.02 166 mother/child dyads PALS I
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant

This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:

Race/Ethnicity

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if Hispanic ethnicity was reported separately or respondents could select two or more race or ethnicity categories.

Black or African American
34%
Hispanic or Latino
39%
White
25%
Unknown
3%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Texas
Study Participants

The study included mother-infant pairs who had participated in an earlier study by Landry et al. (2006) in which they had been randomly assigned to PALS I (PALS Infant) or a Development Assessment of Skills (DAS) group. For the current study, they were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: PALS II (PALS Toddler/Preschooler) or another DAS comparison group, stratified by whether they had initially received PALS I or DAS. Thus, some received PALS I only, some received PALS II only, some received both PALS I and II, and the remaining pairs received DAS home visits only. According to information provided by the first author, initially 169 mother infant pairs were randomly assigned, 85 to the treatment groups and 84 to the comparison group. After attrition, 166 mother-infant pairs (84 PALS and 82 DAS) remained in the study. Approximately one-third of each group was African American, Hispanic, or Caucasian. Most were poor and unmarried. Mothers were all 18 years old or older at intake into the original study and averaged approximately 30 years old. On average, mothers had 12 or more years of education in both groups. Participants were followed over the course of 11 visits.

Setting

The study was conducted in the Houston-Galveston (Texas) area.

Comparison Conditions

Comparison group members received the same number of home visits from facilitators, which included discussions about new infant skills during the previous week and infant development and assessment. Facilitators provided mothers with answers to and handouts about their questions on infant skill development.

Subgroups examined

• Birth weight (very-low birth weight) • Early term or full-term birth (yes or no)

Author Affiliation

Susan Landry, a study author, is a developer of this model.

Funding Sources

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Grant HD36099.