The number of children living apart from their fathers has grown nationally, and the greatest percentage is evident among African American (AA) families; two-thirds of all African American children live in households without their biological father. Research supports the importance of positive fathering in the lives of children. But in order for children to benefit from their fathers' involvement, the father-child relationship must be timely and sustained. This study will test culturally relevant interventions aimed at increasing non-resident (not living with the child) AA fathers' involvement with their children.
The purpose of this competing continuation study is to test the efficacy of the core 9-session BBTF program (held over12-weeks) on: (1) improving father outcomes (psychological well-being, relationship quality with the child's mother, parenting competence); (2) father-mother relationship quality; (3) father involvement (material support, in-kind support, direct father-child interaction); and (4) child outcomes (behavioral, social, emotional). The study will use an experimental design and randomly assign 180 AA fathers who are not currently involved with the criminal justice system and their 2-5 year old children to the BBTF or an attention control condition and assess outcomes at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Custodial mothers of the children will be recruited to concurrently complete child outcome measures, measures of father-mother relationship quality, and father involvement measures. The specific aims and hypotheses are as follows: Aim 1: Test the direct effects of the 9-session BBTF program on: (1) father's outcomes (psychological well-being, parenting competence, and communication and problem solving) and (2) paternal involvement (material support, in-kind support, and direct father-child interaction), controlling for father characteristics (demographics, history of criminal justice system involvement, social support) and child characteristics (age, gender). Hypothesis 1: BBTF program fathers will report better father outcomes and greater paternal involvement than the attention control group at 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Aim 2: Test the mediating effects of father-mother relationship and father outcomes on paternal involvement across the two conditions. Hypothesis 2: Father-mother relationship quality and father outcomes will mediate intervention effects on paternal involvement. Aim 3: Compare the effects of the BBTF program, controlling for father outcomes, father-mother relationship, and paternal involvement on child outcomes (behavioral, emotional/social development) as compared to the attention control group. Hypothesis 3a: BBTF children will have improved child outcomes relative to the control group at 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Hypothesis 3b: Child outcomes will be mediated by improvements in father outcomes, paternal involvement and father-mother relationship.
The Building Bridges to Fatherhood (BBTF) intervention consists of 9 group sessions and 1 booster session as described in the arm/group descriptions.
The Financial Literacy Program (FLP) attention control condition consists of 9 group sessions and 1 booster session as described in the arm/group descriptions.
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Father Involvement as Measured by the Fragile Families Survey - Father Report
The Fragile Families Survey (FFS) Measures the frequency with which fathers provide material and in-kind support and directly interact with their child The minimum score is 13, and the maximum score is 52. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Mean/Standard Error (SE) at Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Father Involvement as Measured by the Julion Index of Paternal Involvement - Father Report
The Julion Index of Paternal Involvement (JIPI) measured the frequency with which fathers provide material and in-kind support and engage in direct father-child interaction. The minimum value is 19 and the maximum value is 76. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks
Taylor Inventory of Self-Esteem (Positive)
The 16-item Taylor Inventory of Self-esteem is a measure of self-esteem and rewards and costs to self. The minimum value on the 8-item positive subscale is zero, and the maximum value is 64. Higher scores are better outcomes.
Time frame: Mean/SE at Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Taylor Inventory of Self-Esteem (Negative)
The 16-item Taylor Inventory of Self-esteem is a measure of self-esteem and rewards and costs to self. The minimum value on the 8-item negative subscale is zero, and the maximum value is 64. Higher scores are worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Perceived Stress Scale (Negative)
The Perceived Stress Scale examines the degree to which situations are experienced as stressful. The 6-item negative subscale has a range of scores from zero to 24. Higher scores are worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
308
Perceived Stress Scale (Positive)
The Perceived Stress Scale examines the degree to which situations are experienced as stressful. The 4-item positive subscale has a range of scores from zero to 16. Higher scores are better outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) measures depressive symptoms experienced in the past week. The minimum value is zero and the maximum value is sixty. Four items were reverse coded and higher scores indicated worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (Satisfaction)
The Parent Sense of Competency Scale measures satisfaction and self-efficacy in their parenting role. The 9-item satisfaction subscale has a range of scores from nine to fifty-four. Higher scores are better parenting self-esteem.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (Self-Efficacy)
The Parent Sense of Competency Scale measures satisfaction and self-efficacy in their parenting role. The 7-item self-efficacy subscale has a range of scores from seven to 42. Higher scores are better parenting self-esteem.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Parent Behavior Checklist (Discipline)
The Parent Behavior Checklist is a measure of parenting skills and knowledge. The 10-item discipline subscale has a range of values from 1 to 4. This scale was log transformed, making the range 0 to 1.4. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Parent Behavior Checklist (Nurturing)
The Parent Behavior Checklist is a measure of parenting skills and knowledge. The 10-item nurturing subscale has a range of values from 1 to 4. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Parent Behavior Checklist (Expectations)
The Parent Behavior Checklist is a measure of parenting skills and knowledge. The 12-item expectations subscale has a range of values from 1 to 4. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Quality of Relationship Inventory (Support)
Measure of support, conflict, and depth of father-mother relationship. The Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI) a self-assessment questionnaire used to determine the quality of a couple's relationship and their satisfaction with the relationship. The minimum score on the support subscale is 1 and the maximum score is 4. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Quality of Relationship Inventory (Conflict)
Measure of support, conflict, and depth of father-mother relationship. The Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI) a self-assessment questionnaire used to determine the quality of a couple's relationship and their satisfaction with the relationship. The minimum score on the conflict subscale is 1and the maximum score is 4. Higher scores mean a worse outcome..
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Quality of Relationship Inventory (Depth)
Measure of support, conflict, and depth of father-mother relationship. The Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI) a self-assessment questionnaire used to determine the quality of a couple's relationship and their satisfaction with the relationship. The minimum score on the depth subscale is 1 and the maximum score is 4. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd Ed (Aggression)
The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is a measure of adaptive and problem behaviors in community and home settings. The aggression subscale measures the tendency to act in a hostile manner (either verbal or physical) that is threatening to others. The raw scores are converted to T-Scores with a population mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores mean a worse outcome. Scores 70 and above are considered clinically significant level.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd Ed (Attention)
The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is a measure of adaptive and problem behaviors in community and home settings. The attention subscale measures he tendency to be easily distracted and unable to concentrate more than momentarily. The raw scores are converted to T-Scores with a population mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores mean a worse outcome. Scores 70 and above are considered clinically significant level.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd Ed (Depression)
The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is a measure of adaptive and problem behaviors in community and home settings. The depression subscale measures feelings of unhappiness, sadness, and stress that may result in an inability to carry out everyday activities or may bring on thoughts of suicide. The raw scores are converted to T-Scores with a population mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores mean a worse outcome. Scores 70 and above are considered clinically significant level.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd Ed (Hyperactivity)
The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is a measure of adaptive and problem behaviors in community and home settings. The hyperactivity subscale measures the tendency to be overly active, rush through work or activities, and act without thinking. The raw scores are converted to T-Scores with a population mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores mean a worse outcome. Scores 70 and above are considered clinically significant level.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Tolerance For Disagreement
The degree of tolerance of interpersonal disagreement. The minimum score is 15 and the maximum score is 75. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Personal Problem Solving Inventory - Efficacy
The Perceived Problem Solving Inventory subscale measures perceived efficacy in one's own ability to solve problems. The minimum score is 1 and the maximum score is 6 for each of the 7 items. The total range of scores for this subscale is from 1 to 6. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks
Personal Problem Solving Inventory - Skills
The Personal Problem Solving Inventory measures perceived skills in one's own ability to solve problems. The minimum score is 1 and the maximum score is 6 for each of the 9 items on this subscale. Total range of scores for the scale are 1 to 6. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 12, and 24 weeks