Citation

Self-Brown S, Osborne MC, Boyd C, DeVeausse Brown N, Rostad WL, Patterson A, Baker E, Thomas A, McAdam EM, Jackson M, Glasheen TL, Lai B. Child Abuse Negl. 2018; 83: 31-41.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, Georgia State University, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.06.014

PMID

30016743

Abstract

Child Maltreatment (CM) is a public health problem, and experts recommend parent training programs as a prevention method. Few programs target fathers, even though male caregivers are involved as perpetrators in approximately 45% of substantiated CM cases. This study examines the efficacy of an adapted version of SafeCare (Dad2K) with marginalized fathers. Participants include a convenience sample of fathers with children ages 2-5 years. Fathers (n=99) were randomized to an 1) intervention group (SafeCare Dad2K) or to a 2) comparison group (receiving parenting information in the mail). Quantitative data were collected at baseline, post-intervention (7-weeks post-baseline), and 3-months post-intervention. Qualitative data (semi-structured interviews) were collected from 11 intervention father completers following the second quantitative data collection timepoint. Multi-level modeling results indicated no statistically significant time-by-treatment findings for father involvement (b=0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.03, 0.08, p=0.38), total corporal punishment (b=-0.03, 95% CI: -0.47, 0.41, p=0.89), or neglect (b=-0.13, 95% CI: -1.93, 1.68, p=0.89). Qualitative findings indicated that Dad2K completers exhibited positive knowledge and behavioral change related to parenting. Study limitations, lessons learned from this formative work, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Father; Neglect; Parent training; Physical abuse; Prevention