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Protocol for an intervention for new parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity: pilot feasibility
Alyssa Sawyer1, Bronni Simpson2, Christy Reece1
1School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Insights
This pilot study introduces the New Technology for New Parents (NTNP) intervention, using 3D/4D ultrasounds and virtual visits to support parents facing psychosocial adversity and improve parent-infant attachment.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Parent-infant attachment
- Psychosocial interventions
Background:
- Psychosocial adversity in parents can negatively impact parental-foetal attachment and postnatal care.
- Challenges in managing infant needs and parental stress increase risks for parents and infants.
- Intervention aims to enhance parental mentalization and emotional connection with the unborn child.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel intervention (NTNP) for parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity.
- To assess the effectiveness of innovative technologies in supporting perinatal parents.
- To address a gap in services for at-risk expectant and new parents.
Main Methods:
- Pilot randomized control trial (ACTRN12622000287730) of the NTNP intervention.
- Utilizes 3D/4D antenatal ultrasound scans and virtual home visits.
- Quantitative outcomes include mentalizing capacity, parent-foetal/infant attachment, and parental competence.
Main Results:
- This section is not available in the provided abstract.
Conclusions:
- This study protocol evaluates a novel intervention combining 3D/4D ultrasound and virtual home visits.
- No prior studies have assessed the combined effectiveness of these technologies for antenatal and postnatal parental support.
- The NTNP intervention addresses a critical need for innovative support for parents facing psychosocial adversity.
Background:
Parents exposed to psychosocial adversities often experience challenges which, combined with the needs of a new-born infant, can be difficult to manage and increase the risk of poor outcomes for both parents and infants. Psychosocial adversity can disrupt the development of parental-foetal attachment to the baby during pregnancy, which can have a negative effect on parental care and quality of interaction during the postnatal period. This intervention is based on the proposition that enhanced parental capacity to mentalise and emotionally connect to unborn children during pregnancy, and better understanding about how to manage distressing infant behaviour (i.e., persistent crying and sleep problems) will: (i) promote the development of secure parent-infant attachment; (ii) improve antenatal bonding and postnatal parenting; and, (ii) reduce parental distress.
Method:
This protocol is for a pilot randomised control trial evaluating a new intervention, which makes use of innovative technologies to support parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622000287730). The New Technology for New Parents (NTNP) intervention provides support using antenatal ultrasound scans and 'virtual home visits' during the perinatal period. Quantitative outcomes include mentalising capacity, parental-foetal/infant attachment, and parental competence.
Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated the combined effectiveness of two novel technologies (3D/4D ultrasound scans and virtual home visits) to support parents across the antenatal and postnatal periods. This protocol, which includes the rationale for this innovative intervention, addresses a gap in services for parents experiencing moderate psychosocial adversity.
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