The feasibility of an online intergenerational co-parenting program for mother-father- grandmother triad on the intergenerational co-parenting relationship in the perinatal period: a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract Aims To assess the effectiveness of an online intergenerational co-parenting program on intergenerational co-parenting families during the perinatal period. Methods This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. A convenience sample of 60 intergenerational co-parenting family units, including 60 first-time parents and 60 grandmothers was recruited from the obstetric clinic in the study hospital. The recruited families were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=30) or control group (n=30). Participants in the intervention group received the online intergenerational co-parenting program in addition to usual care, including three weekly antenatal sessions and two weekly postnatal sessions. Results The intervention did not find significant differences on the observed outcomes between the two groups. Some negative effects were found on mother reported intergenerational co-parenting relationship with their mother-in-law and their parenting satisfaction, but some positive effects were found on the depressive symptoms of mothers both at 6 weeks postpartum (Vargha and Delaney's A =0.65) and 3 months postpartum (Vargha and Delaney's A =0.56). It could protect the decline of mother-reported co-parenting relationships with their husband (Cohen’s d=0.12) and was also helpful to reduce mothers’ parenting stress (Cohen’s d=0.14). The intervention could also improve the parenting self-efficacy of mothers with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d=0.36). Conclusion The program found some negative effects on the intergenerational co-parenting relationship between mothers and grandmothers and mothers’ parenting satisfaction, the intervention may reduce the depressive symptoms, parenting stress of mothers, benefit their parenting self-efficacy and co-parenting relationship between couples.