Promoting Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood: Implementation and Evaluation of the VIPP-SD Parenting Intervention in Portugal

Aims and hypotheses

1. The primary aim of the Growing Minds - Strengthening Affective Bonds is to demonstrate the effect of the VIPP-SD on parental sensitivity and sensitive discipline of the primary parent, 8 weeks after the intervention and six months after the intervention. It is expected that sensitivity and sensitive discipline of parents in the intervention condition will significantly increase post-intervention, compared to sensitivity and sensitive discipline of parents in the control condition, who have a similar number of ('dummy') contacts with the interveners. 2. The secondary aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of the intervention in reducing children's behavioral problems, as a function of increased parental sensitivity and the use of sensitive discipline strategies. It is expected that improvements in parenting behaviors resulting from the VIPP-SD intervention will be associated with lower levels of behavioral difficulties in children over time. 3. A third objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the intervention on broader parenting practices and parental well-being, specifically aiming to mitigate psychopathological symptomatology. The focus will be on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among participating parents, in line with evidence suggesting that improvements in parenting sensitivity may contribute to enhanced parental mental health. 4. Finally, the investigators will examine whether the intervention yields economic advantages for society at large. To do this, the investigators will use quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) as the unit of outcome, allowing to quantify health benefits. By comparing the QALYs associated with the intervention to those resulting from no intervention, the investigators aim to assess the cost-effectiveness and potential return on investment from a societal perspective. This analysis will help determine whether the intervention not only improves family relations but also contributes to economic efficiency by potentially reducing healthcare costs, improving productivity, and enhancing overall societal well-being

• Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire" (SDQ Portuguese version Fleitlich et al., 2004) [Time frame: Data will be collected at pretest, posttest (14 weeks) and follow up (12 weeks).]
• Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) [Time frame: Data will be collected at pretest, posttest (14 weeks) and follow up (12 weeks).]
• AQOL-8D (Richardson & Lezzi, 2014) [Time frame: Data will be collected at pretest, posttest (14 weeks) and follow up (12 weeks).]
• Resource Use Characterization Questionnaire. [Time frame: Data will be collected at pretest, posttest (14 weeks) and follow up (12 weeks).]
• Child Rearing Practices Report-Questionnaire (CRPR-Q) [Time frame: Data will be collected at pretest, posttest (14 weeks) and follow up (12 weeks).]