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Tracing Changes in Families Who Participated in the Home-Start Parenting Program: Parental Sense of Competence as Mechanism of Change

Authors: Maja Deković, Jessica J. Asscher, Jo Hermanns, Ellen Reitz, Peter Prinzie, Alithe L. van den Akker

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 3/2010

Abstract

The present study aimed to (1) determine the long-term effectiveness of Home-Start, a preventive parenting program, and (2) test the hypothesis that changes in maternal sense of competence mediate the program’s effects. Participants were 124 mothers (n = 66 intervention, n = 58 comparison). Four assessments took place during a 1-year period. Latent growth modeling showed that Home-Start enhanced growth in maternal sense of competence and supportive parenting, and led to a decrease in the use of inept discipline. Results of mediational and cross-lagged analyses were consistent with the hypothesized model: Participation in Home-Start was related to the changes in maternal sense of competence, which in turn predicted changes in parenting. The results affirm the importance of directly targeting parental sense of competence in the context of prevention work with parents.

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Title: Tracing Changes in Families Who Participated in the Home-Start Parenting Program: Parental Sense of Competence as Mechanism of Change
Authors: Maja Deković
Jessica J. Asscher
Jo Hermanns
Ellen Reitz
Peter Prinzie
Alithe L. van den Akker
Publication date: 01-09-2010
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 3/2010
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0166-5

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Tracing Changes in Families Who Participated in the Home-Start Parenting Program: Parental Sense of Competence as Mechanism of Change

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