ABC Dissemination Practices and Screening Interview as a Predictor of Parent Behavior Change

Abstract

The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) Intervention, an attachment-based, preventative intervention program aimed at promoting sensitive caregiving in mothers of high-risk children has been found efficacious in several randomized clinical trials and is currently being disseminated nationally (Bick & Dozier, 2013; Bernard, Dozier, Bick, Lewis-Morrarty, et al., 2012; Lind, Bernard, Ross, & Dozier, 2014). However, the dissemination of evidence-based interventions generally does not show the same effectiveness as in the initial studies (Durlak & Dupre, 2008; Elliot & Mihalic, 2004). Among several other strategies, ABC has used one particular tactic, a screening interview found to improve fidelity and community effectiveness (Caron, Roben, Yarger, & Dozier, in progress). The current study examined both the general dissemination effectiveness findings compared to effect sizes from previous research as well as the associations between the ABC screening and later parent behavior change from pre- to post-intervention. Thirty-eight clinicians from five states participated in this study. Results indicated that the ABC dissemination efforts yield a similar effect size to previous randomized clinical trials for both parent following the child’s lead and intrusiveness. Contrary to expectations, results of hierarchical linear modeling indicated one aspect of the pre-screening interview was associated with changes in parent behavior, whereas another aspect was not.