The purpose of this study is to help expectant mothers build a coparenting bond and improve communication with a support person (co-caregiver). Participation will include completing two online surveys (one at 12-30 weeks gestation \& one at 3 months postpartum), providing two at-home bloodspot collections and returning the collections via mail. Studies suggest that stress increases inflammation. Investigators aim to explore this by collecting a small amount of blood at the first and last session. Participants will also attend 9 virtual one-two hour Family Foundations (FF) intervention sessions (at no cost to participants) with a supportive co-caregiver. Total time commitment will be 18 hours, max, over a 6 month period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
The FF intervention is 9 sessions, 5 in the prenatal period and 4 in the postpartum period.
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
RECRUITINGChange in Depressive Symptoms
Change in depression measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). This is a 10-item survey with scores ranging from 0-30 (higher number means more depressive symptoms).
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in social support
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS): This is a 12-item validated screening tool assessing social support. It has a total score range of 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived social support.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety symptoms measured by the 5-tiem Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS). The total score on the OASIS ranges from 0 to 20, with higher total indicating more anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in symptoms of perceived stress
Stress measured by the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The PSS score range is 0-40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in communication
Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ): This is a 35 item self-report measure designed to assess the extent to which couples/dyads make use of various interaction strategies during conflict. Each item assesses partners' perception of how likely a certain type of behavior (e.g., both members avoid discussing the problem) occurs when faced with a relationship problem, from 1 (very unlikely) to 9 (very likely). Of the 35 items on the CPQ, 16 are currently used to form four subscales: constructive communication (7 items), self-demand/partner-withdraw (3 items), partner-demand/self-withdraw (3 items), and mutual avoidance (3 items).
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in symptoms of post-traumatic stress
Post-traumatic Stress measured by the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The IES-R has a score range of 0 to 88, with higher scores indicating more stress.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 months postpartum
Change in levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (mg/dL)
C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are measured with a self-administered blood spot collection kit to indicate inflammation in the body. CRP levels can vary depending on the lab, but here are some general ranges: Less than 0.3 mg/dL: Normal for most healthy adults 0.3 to 1.0 mg/dL: Normal or minor elevation 1.0 to 10.0 mg/dL: Moderate elevation More than 10.0 mg/dL: Marked elevation More than 50.0 mg/dL: Severe elevation
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months postpartum
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