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From Intent to Enrollment, Attendance, and Participation in Preventive Parenting Groups

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Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to the process of engagement in preventive parenting groups, we tested the ability of family and child measures to predict intent to enroll, enrollment, attendance, and quality of participation in PACE (Parenting Our Children to Excellence). PACE is a prevention trial testing the efficacy of a structured program to promote effective parenting and reduce risk of adverse child outcomes. Mothers of preschoolers (N=451) from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds participated at two sites. Results showed that mothers who stated their intent to enroll reported relatively few time constraints but high levels of stress, as did mothers who enrolled. The latter also experienced elevated levels of oppositional defiant child behaviors, indicating that the program reached families who stood to benefit from it. Attendance, which was also best predicted by few time constraints, was high (with 49% of mothers who enrolled attending 5 or more of 8 sessions). In turn, attendance predicted quality of participation (at 1 site only), with mothers attending more sessions participating more actively and enthusiastically. Ethnicity and, with a few exceptions, socioeconomic circumstances and site, were not significant predictors of intent, enrollment, or attendance. Results provide qualified support for the TPB and illustrate its relevance to preventive research and interventions.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study would not have been possible without the collaboration of Marsha Hearn-Lindsey, Director, Child Care Answers, Indianapolis, and of Richard Fiene, Director, Early Childhood Training Institute, Harrisburg. Their help and encouragement, and that of their staff, are gratefully acknowledged. This study was supported by grant R21 HD40079 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and by grant R49/CCR 522339 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, IN, USA

    Jean E. Dumas Ph.D. (Professor)

  2. Child Study Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Jenelle Nissley-Tsiopinis Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

  3. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Angela D. Moreland MS (Graduate student)

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  1. Jean E. Dumas Ph.D.
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  2. Jenelle Nissley-Tsiopinis Ph.D.
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  3. Angela D. Moreland MS
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Correspondence to Jean E. Dumas Ph.D..

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Dumas, J.E., Nissley-Tsiopinis, J. & Moreland, A.D. From Intent to Enrollment, Attendance, and Participation in Preventive Parenting Groups. J Child Fam Stud 16, 1–26 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-006-9042-0

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