The Baby Steps Web Program for the Well-Being of New Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Digital health interventions
• Parenting support

Background:

• New parents are at higher risk for emotional distress and relationship issues.
• Existing digital interventions often lack optimization for both mothers and fathers.
• Preventive programs are crucial for supporting positive perinatal adjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing two digital programs for perinatal adjustment in both mothers and fathers.
• To evaluate the effects of a childcare information program (Baby Care) versus an interactive program (Baby Steps Wellbeing).
• To assess outcomes from the third trimester baseline up to 6 months postpartum.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 388 co-parenting couples expecting their first child via web-based registration.
• Automated randomization stratified by parental depression scores (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - EPDS).
• Web-based self-report assessments of EPDS, quality of life, relationship satisfaction, social support, and self-efficacy; analyzed using linear mixed models.

Main Results:

• 80.6% partner retention at 6 months; 92% satisfaction with both programs.
• Baby Steps Wellbeing showed greater increases in self-efficacy for support provision and less reduction in relationship satisfaction compared to Baby Care.
• Mothers using Baby Steps Wellbeing showed greater improvements in parenting self-efficacy over time than fathers.

Conclusions:

• The Baby Steps Wellbeing program demonstrated differential benefits in secondary outcomes, particularly for mothers' parenting self-efficacy.
• Greater program engagement is necessary to fully ascertain the benefits of Baby Steps Wellbeing for perinatal adjustment.
• Digital interventions hold promise for supporting parental well-being during the critical perinatal period.