Ethnicity differences in child and parental outcomes following involvement the PACE program

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Parenting Interventions
• Ethnic Studies

Background:

• Preventive interventions for preschool children's parents are crucial for positive development.
• The Parenting our Children to Excellence (PACE) program is an 8-week intervention.
• Understanding ethnic variations in intervention engagement and outcomes is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ethnic differences in how engagement in the PACE program predicts child and parent outcomes.
• To examine the relationship between PACE engagement and outcomes in African American and European American parents.
• To assess the short-term and long-term effects of PACE on child and parent well-being.

Main Methods:

• An ethnically diverse sample of 298 African American and 280 European American parents participated.
• Engagement in the PACE program was measured by attendance and quality of participation.
• Child and parent outcomes were assessed at post-intervention and one-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Overall, PACE engagement significantly improved child and parent outcomes for both ethnic groups.
• PACE attendance positively impacted child coping competence and parenting stress across both samples.
• Specific improvements in child behavior problems, parental satisfaction, and efficacy were noted for European American participants.

Conclusions:

• The PACE program shows promise as an effective intervention for parents of African American and Caucasian preschoolers.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of the PACE intervention, particularly concerning ethnic variations.
• Program refinement may enhance its effectiveness and tailor it to diverse family needs.