Black or African American
25%
Caughy, M. O., Miller, T., Genevro, J. L., Huang, K., & Nautiyal, C. (2003). The effects of Healthy Steps on discipline strategies of parents of young children. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 24(5), 517–534.
Model(s) Reviewed
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Funding Sources
William T. Grant Foundation; The Amarillo Area Foundation; The Duke Endowment; The Hogg Foundation; and The McLeod Foundation.
Study Design
| Design | Attrition | Baseline equivalence | Confounding factors | Valid, reliable measures? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randomized controlled trial | High | Established on race/ethnicity and SES (i.e., maternal education and Medicaid coverage). Equivalence on baseline measures is not feasible. |
None |
Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1 |
Information on baseline equivalence for race/ethnicity was obtained from Caughy et al. (2004). In addition to the outcomes assessed at the 16-18 month follow-up period, outcomes were assessed at a 34-37 month follow-up period. The outcomes assessed at 34-37 months received a low rating because they had high attrition and baseline equivalence was not established on SES.
Findings that rate moderate or high in this manuscript
Positive parenting practices
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Direction of Effect | Effect size (absolute value) | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use of inductive/authoritative discipline | 16-18 mo. | Moderate | 0.21 | Statistically significant,p < 0.05 | 378 mothers | 2 of the 6 RCT national evaluation sites | ||
| Use of punitive/“high power” discipline | 16-18 mo. | Moderate | 0.18 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | 378 mothers | 2 of the 6 RCT national evaluation sites |
Study Participants
The sample included 378 mothers with children ages 16 to 18 months at assessment. All women enrolled in Healthy Steps within four weeks of the child’s birth. Study enrollment occurred between September 1996 and November 1998. Most mothers had a high school degree (86%) and one in five also had a college degree. Most study participants were either white (62%) or African American (25%). The most common maternal age groups were 20-29 (57%) and over 30 (25%). Two-thirds of mothers were married.
Setting
The study used two of the six randomly assigned pediatric care sites that were part of the national evaluation of Healthy Steps (Amarillo, TX, and Florence, SC). Both sites served economically and racially/ethnically diverse populations.
Home Visiting Services
Healthy Steps Specialists provided well-child care, home visits, a child development telephone information line, child development and family health checkups, written materials for parents that emphasize prevention, parent group meetings, and links to community resources. The program offered families nine standard pediatric office visits and six home visits by the time the children were age 3. Healthy Steps families received, on average, two home visits.
Model(s) Reviewed
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Comparison Conditions
Children in the control group received routine pediatric care but had no exposure to the Healthy Steps Specialist or to Healthy Steps materials.
This study included participants from the following locations:
- South Carolina
- Texas