This study is a two-armed intervention randomized controlled trial of the eNew Beginnings Program (eNBP)'s effects on children's mental health problems as well as interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline. The eNBP is an asynchronous, fully web-based program that was based on the in-person, group-based NBP. Three randomized controlled trials of the NBP involving over 1,800 children found positive effects to strengthen parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline and reduce children's mental health problems. The eNBP teaches all the skills in the 10-session NBP. The investigators hypothesized that parents in the eNBP would have less interparental conflict and higher parent-child relationship quality and effective discipline than those in the wait-list control condition following the intervention. The investigators also expected the children whose parents were in the eNBP would have fewer internalizing problems and externalizing problems and higher prosocial skills than those with parents in the wait-list control following the intervention.
Parents and their offspring were recruited using Qualtrics, a leading-edge sample acquisition technology that partners with 20 online panel providers and recruits nationally. Initial sampling criteria were parent was divorced, separated but never married, divorcing, or separating; had one or more children aged 6 to 18; and spoke English. Parents who met these criteria were sent an email with information about the study and a web-based survey that assessed contact with child/ren, access to a computer with high-speed internet or a smart phone and demographics. Interested parents were provided additional information about the study and screened for eligibility by phone. To be eligible, parents had to be divorced, separated but never married, divorcing or separating; have one or more child between 6 and 18; be English speaking; spend at least three hours/week or at least one overnight every other week with their child(ren); and have access to a computer with high-speed internet or a smart phone. The sample consisted of 131 parents randomized to eNBP (N = 81) or wait-list condition (N = 50) and 102 of their adolescent offspring.
Primary outcome measures were measures of interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality, effective discipline and children's internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial behavior.
