Manuscript Details

Bernard, K., Yarger, H. A., Meade, E. B., Wallin, A., & Dozier, M. (2015). Enhancing sensitivity and positive regard among parents of children adopted internationally: Long-term effects from a randomized clinical trial. Unpublished manuscript.

Moderate 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

Not established on race; not established on SES; established on outcome measures assessable at baseline.

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Notes from the review of this manuscript

This study rating applies to 0- to 6-month outcomes. Three later follow-ups (at 6 to 12, 12 to 18, and 18 to 24 months) all rated low because HomVEE could not confirm low attrition or baseline equivalence for those follow-ups.

Positive Parenting Practices
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Parent positive regard 0-6 months Moderate
0.70 Statistically significant, p 108 caregivers International adoptions
Parent sensitivity 0-6 months Moderate
0.62 Statistically significant, p 108 caregivers International adoptions
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.

Asian
3%
Black or African American
1%
Hispanic or Latino
2%
White
92%
Unknown
2%

Maternal Education

High school diploma or GED
2%
Some college or Associate's degree
14%
Bachelor's degree or higher
81%
Unknown
3%

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • State not reported or international
Study Participants

Study participants were parents who had recently adopted a child internationally. This study was a randomized controlled trial, and parents were randomly assigned to the treatment or control condition. A total of 133 parents were randomized at baseline, 66 to the treatment condition (ABC) and 67 to the Developmental Education for Families (DEF) (control) condition. At the zero- to-six-month post-intervention follow-up, 54 parents were assessed in each group for an analytic sample of 108. At baseline, 96 percent of the treatment parents and 87 percent of control parents where white, 83 percent and 80 percent had a bachelor's or graduate degree, and 67 percent of treatment mothers and 70 percent of control mothers were employed outside of the home.

Setting

Not reported.

Comparison Conditions

Parents in the control condition received the DEF program, a parent education program adapted from a home visiting program that emphasizes motor, cognitive, and language development.

Author Affiliation

Dr. Bernard is affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University.

Funding Sources

Not reported.