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Long-term efficacy of an attachment-based parental training program for single mothers and their children: a randomized controlled trial

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An Erratum to this article was published on 21 May 2014

Abstract

Objective

Single mothers suffer more frequently from chronic diseases, depression, and elevated stress level. Their children display adaptation and behavior problems more often than children of dual-parent families. To prevent these risks, a parental training program (PALME) for single mothers and their preschool children was developed. The concept of PALME is based on attachment theory and psychodynamic-interactional approaches.

Subject and methods

The efficacy of the program was evaluated in a randomized control intervention study with 58 single mothers. Outcomes from the revised version of the Symptom Checklist SCL-90-R, SF-12 Health Survey, Psychogenic Impairment Score (BSS), Scales on the Experience of Emotions (SEE) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire SDQ were compared at baseline (t1), post-treatment (t2), and 6 months follow-up (t3) for statistical and clinical significance. Per-protocol analyses of variance were used to examine intervention effects.

Results

Statistically significant group x time interaction effects in favor of the intervention group indicated intervention effects on the mothers’ psychological symptom load GSI score of SCL-90 R, depression, psychological well-being and psychogenic impairment. Some aspects of maternal emotional competence and behavioral problems of their children improved only in the short term.

Conclusion

The results suggest that PALME is an effective prevention program for the reduction of maternal depression and psychological symptom load and the improvement of well-being among single mothers.

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Notes

  1. The term “psychogenic disorders” covers the group of mainly psychosocially and biographically induced and influenced psychic/psychosomatic disorders. They are dependent on adverse childhood experiences, infantile developmental conflicts or psycho trauma, like neurotic spectrum disorders (mainly anxiety and depression), personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, stress reactions, addictions, and somatoform disorders. Psychogenic disorders manifest themselves as psychic, somatic/somatoform, or behavioral impairment caused by psychological processing of social mediated stressors, conflicts, or trauma. They are in contrast to somatogenic disorders, which are predominantly caused by a clear physical mechanism. The measurement of psychogenic impairment by the BSS is exclusively valid only for psychogenic disorders (Franz et al. 1999).

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Acknowledgements

The research reported in this study was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF, grant 01EL0411). We thank the numerous communal co-workers of the cities Neuss and Hilden for their continued support and the mothers and children for their participation in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Faculty, Clinical Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Düsseldorf, University Hospital (15.16), Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Lonja Weihrauch, Ralf Schäfer & Matthias Franz

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  1. Lonja Weihrauch
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  2. Ralf Schäfer
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  3. Matthias Franz
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Correspondence to Matthias Franz.

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Author notes

This study is part of a dissertation submitted by Lonja Weihrauch to the Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf for the degree of Doctor of Science.

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Weihrauch, L., Schäfer, R. & Franz, M. Long-term efficacy of an attachment-based parental training program for single mothers and their children: a randomized controlled trial. J Public Health 22, 139–153 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-013-0605-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-013-0605-4

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