Effects of a parenting intervention on child maltreatment among Filipino families: Testing mechanisms of change

BACKGROUND: The Masayang Pamilya para sa Batang Pilipino (MaPa) program is an evidence-based, culturally adapted parenting program designed to reduce child maltreatment in Filipino families. In a randomized controlled trial, families who received MaPa had significant reductions in child maltreatment compared to control families, both at post-intervention and at one-year follow up. However, the mechanisms by which the reduction in child maltreatment is sustained has yet to be established. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated overreactive parenting and positive parenting as potential mediators of the sustained effects of MaPa on reducing child maltreatment. PARTICIPANTS: Parents (N = 120) of children aged two to six were randomly allocated to either the MaPa program or treatment as usual (TAU). All parents were recruited from a community setting and were enrolled in the government's conditional cash transfer program. METHODS: A latent-variable parallel mediation model was tested using parent-report data measured at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and at one-year follow-up. Measures were included on overreactive parenting, positive parenting, and child abuse. RESULTS: Those who received MaPa exhibited reduced overreactive parenting post-intervention compared to TAU, which in turn marginally mediated the sustained effects of MaPa on child maltreatment occurrence at follow-up. Positive parenting, however, did not mediate the effects of MaPa on risk of child maltreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that MaPa effectively reduces overreactive parenting, which in turn may be among the mechanisms that reduces child maltreatment in families with young children. Findings provide evidence that reducing overreactive parenting may be an effective pathway towards reducing violence against children.