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Life Satisfaction Moderates the Effectiveness of a Play-Based Parenting Intervention in Low-Income Mothers and Toddlers

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Abstract

This multi-method multi-trait study examined moderators and mediators of change in the context of a parenting intervention. Low-income, diverse mothers of toddlers (average age 30 months; N = 186, 90 girls) participated in a play-based intervention (Child-Oriented Play versus Play-as-Usual) aimed at increasing children’s committed compliance and reducing opposition toward their mothers, observed in prohibition contexts, and at reducing mother-rated children’s behavior problems 6 months after the intervention. Mothers’ subjective sense of life satisfaction and fulfillment during the intervention and objective ratings of psychosocial functioning by clinicians, obtained in a clinical interview were posed as moderators, and mothers’ observed power-assertive discipline immediately following the intervention was modeled as a mediator of its impact. We tested moderated mediation using structural equation modeling, with all baseline scores (prior to randomization) controlled. Mothers’ subjective sense of life satisfaction moderated the impact of the intervention, but clinicians’ ratings did not. For mothers highly satisfied with their lives, participating in Child-Oriented Play group, compared to Play-as-Usual group, led to a reduction in power-assertive discipline which, in turn, led to children’s increased compliance and decreased opposition and externalizing problems. There were no effects for mothers who reported low life satisfaction. The study elucidates the causal sequence set in motion by the intervention, demonstrates the moderating role of mothers’ subjective life satisfaction, highlights limitations of clinicians’ ratings, and informs future prevention and intervention efforts to promote adaptive parenting.

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Notes

  1. Notably, 18 mothers were lost to attrition from Pretest to Posttest 1, and only 6 mothers from Posttest 1 to Posttest 2. There were no significant differences between women who participated in Posttest 1 versus those who were lost to attrition with regard to demographic variables, ts ranged from −0.73 to 1.91, ns, and χ2s ranged from 0.02 to 12.48, ns. Further, rates of return at Posttest 1 or Posttest 2 were not different across the intervention groups, χ2(1) = 1.80, ns, and χ2(1) < 1.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by grants from NICHD (R01 HD069171), NIMH (R01 MH63096), and a Stuit Professorship (to G.K.). We thank the many students and staff members for their help with data collection, coding, and file creation, including Jarilyn Akabogu, Lea Boldt, Sanghag Kim, Jessica O’Bleness, and Jeung Eun Yoon for help with data collection, coding, and file management; Kristian Markon and Rick Hoyle for statistical consultation; Mark Greenberg for guidance on issues of intervention; and the participants in Play Study for their commitment to this research.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall East, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1407, USA

    Rebecca L. Brock, Grazyna Kochanska, Michael W. O’Hara & Rebecca S. Grekin

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  1. Rebecca L. Brock
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Brock, R.L., Kochanska, G., O’Hara, M.W. et al. Life Satisfaction Moderates the Effectiveness of a Play-Based Parenting Intervention in Low-Income Mothers and Toddlers. J Abnorm Child Psychol 43, 1283–1294 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-0014-y

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