Thrive Initiative Parent-Education Programming Study

Thrive Initiative Domestic and Chlid Abuse Prevention Programming Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Thrive Initiative's parent-education program delivery methods by comparing hybrid (i.e., a combination of online and group components) program delivery to online-only program delivery. The Thrive Initiative consists of four, universal parent-education programs that correpsond to specific child developmental periods. These programs inlcude: Take Root for parents/caregivers of 0-3-year-old children; Sprout for parents/caregivers of 3-5-year-old children; Grow for parents/caregivres of 5-10-year-old children; and Branch Out for parents/caregivers of 10-18-year-old children. The effectiveness of delivery method will be examined for each program. Eligible participants for this study will be United States Air Force service members or dependents who are caregivers of a child 0-18 years old. The study will involve randomization to condition meaning that participants will be assigned to the online-only or hybrid program delivery condition by chance.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Parenting; Child Maltreatment; Child Wellbeing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Thrive Initiative Parent-Education Programming

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 480
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ryan P Chesnut, PhD; Phone Number: 8148659637; Email: rpc5108@psu.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Daniel F Perkins, PhD; Phone Number: 8148674182; Email: dfp102@psu.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802
      • Recruiting
      • The Pennsylvania State University
      • Contact: Ryan P Chesnut, PhD; Phone Number: 814-865-9637; Email: rpc5108@psu.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• United States Air Force service member or dependent
• Parent/caregiver of a child 0-18 years old
• 18 years of age or older
• Willing to participate in the research study
• Has access to technology that will enable them to receive and respond to various technological aspects of the Thrive Initiative programs and research study
• Able to speak and understand English proficiently
• Able to understand and give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not an United States Air Force service member or dependent
• Not a parent/caregiver of a child 0-18 years old
• 17 years of age or younger
• Unwilling to participate in the research study
• Does not have access to technology that will enable them to receive and respond to various technological aspects of the Thrive Initiative programs and research study
• Unable to speak and understand English proficiently
• Unable to understand and give consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Online-Only Thrive Inititaive Parent-Education Programming Condition; This arm involves the online-only versions of the Thrive Initiative parent-education programs.	Behavioral: Thrive Initiative Parent-Education Programming; The Thrive Initiative Parent-Education programs are universal prevention programs designed to support parents as they raise their children. There are four programs that correspond to specific child developmental periods. The programs include: Take Root for parents/caregivers of 0-3-year-old children; Sprout for parents/caregivers of 3-5-year-old children; Grow for parents/caregivers of 5-10-year-old children; and Branch Out for parents/caregivers of 10-18-year-old children. Each program focuses, in developmentally appropriate ways, on three primary dimensions: positive parenting, stress management, and healthy lifestyles. Each program is available in either an online-only format or a hybrid format, which includes group meetings in addition to the online program components.
Experimental: Hybrid Thrive Initiative Parent-Education Programming Condition; This arm involves the hybrid version of the Thrive Initiative parent-education programs. The hybrid version includes the online version and weekly group meetings that can occur in-person or virtually.	Behavioral: Thrive Initiative Parent-Education Programming; The Thrive Initiative Parent-Education programs are universal prevention programs designed to support parents as they raise their children. There are four programs that correspond to specific child developmental periods. The programs include: Take Root for parents/caregivers of 0-3-year-old children; Sprout for parents/caregivers of 3-5-year-old children; Grow for parents/caregivers of 5-10-year-old children; and Branch Out for parents/caregivers of 10-18-year-old children. Each program focuses, in developmentally appropriate ways, on three primary dimensions: positive parenting, stress management, and healthy lifestyles. Each program is available in either an online-only format or a hybrid format, which includes group meetings in addition to the online program components.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (2nd Edition)	This measure of child social-emotional development is administered for the Take Root and Sprout programs. The measure includes five domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social). Scores within each domain range from 0 to 60 with higher scores reflecting typical development.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Mindful Self-Care Scale	This measure of participants' self-care strategies, in the domains of physical care, mindful relaxation, and supportive living and work enivronments and schedules, is administered for the Take Root program. Domain scores range from 1 to 4 with higher scores indicating greater engagement in self-care.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
National Survey of Early Childhood Health - Discipline Items	This measure of participants discipline practices is administered for the Take Root and Sprout programs. Item scores range from 1 to 4 with higher scores reflecting more frequent use of the stated discipline practice.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parental Stress Scale	This measure of parenting stress is administered for the Take Root, Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out programs. Scores range from 7 to 35 with higher scores indicating greater stress.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parenting Sense of Competence Scale	This measure of parenting efficacy and satisfaction is administered for the Take Root, Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out programs. For the efficacy domain, scores range from 9 to 54. For the satisfaction domain, scores range from 7 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater efficacy and satisfaction.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Positive Behavior Scale	This measure of positive child behavior, which assesses the domains of social competence, compliance, and autonomy, is administered for the Take Root and Sprout programs. Domain scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating more positive behavior.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Protective Factors Survey	This measure of protective factors for child maltreatment, which includes family functioning, emotional support, concrete support, and nurturing and attachment, is administered for the Take Root and Sprout programs. Scores for each factor range from 1 to 7 with higher scores reflecting greater protection.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Co-Viewing Media & Screen Time Recall	This measure of participants' co-viewing behavior with their child and their child's screen time is administered for the Sprout program. Participants separately record the amount of time, in minutes and hours, they spend co-viewing media with their child and their child's screen time. The lower bound for the measure is 0, and there is no specific upper bound. Higher scores reflect greater time spent co-viewing media and greater screen time.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Outdoor Time Recall	This measure of a child's time spent playing outdoors is administered for the Sprout and Grow programs. Participants record, in minutes and hours, the amount of time their child spends playing outside. The lower bound is 0, and there is no specific upper bound. Higher scores reflect greater time spent playing outdoors.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parenting Scale - Short Form	This measure of the participants' discipline orientation, which involves the domains of over-reactivity and laxness, is administered for the Sprout and Grow programs. Domain scores range from 1 to 7 with higher scores indicating greater over-reactivity or laxness.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parenting Young Children Scale	This measure of participants' positive parenting practices, which includes the domains of supporting good behavior, setting limits, and proactive parenting, is administered for the Sprout program. Domain scores range from 7 to 49 with higher scores indicating more frequent engagement in positive parenting practices.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire	This measure of a child's behavior, which includes the domains of conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer problems, emotional symptoms, and prosocial behavior, is administered for the Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out programs. Domain scores range from 0 to 10. For domains related to externalizing and internalizing behaviors, higher scores indicate more problematic functioning. For the prosocial domain, higher scores indicate greater positive functioning.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Alabama Parenting Questionnaire - 9	This measure of participants' parenting behavior, which assesses the domains of positive parenting, inconsistent discipline, and poor parental monitoring, is administered for the Grow and Branch Out programs. Domain scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores reflecting more frequent positive parenting, inconsistent discipline, and poor parental monitoring.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Feeding Practices & Structure Questionnaire	This measure of the feeding behaviors and environment participants use with their children is administered for the Grow program. The specific domains assessed include using food as a reward for behavior and using rewards to encourage eating. Domain scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating more problematic feeding practices.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Healthy Habits Index	This measure of participants encouragement and support of healthy habits in their children is administered for the Grow program. Scores ranges from 1 to 5 with higher scores reflecting greater engagement in healthy behaviors.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale	This measure of participants use of mindfulness in their parenting is administered for the Grow program. Scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating greater incorporation of mindful practices in participants' parenting approach.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parental Emotional Styles Questionnaire	This measure of participants use of emotion regulation orientation is administered for the Grow program. Scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores reflecting an emotion-coaching, as opposed to an emotion-avoidant, parenting style.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Socialization of Coping Questionnaire	This measure of participants encouragement of their child's development of different coping strategies, which includes the domains of primary control engagement and cognitive restructuring, is administered for the Grow program. Domain scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores reflecting greater encouragment of the indicated coping strategy.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Family Assessment Device - General Functioning	This measure of general family functioning is administered for the Branch Out program. Scores range from 1 to 4 with higher scores reflecting worse family functioning.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale	This measure of parent-adolescent communication, which assesses the domains of open and problematic communication, is administered for the Branch Out program. Domain scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores in each domain indicating more open and problematic communication patterns.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end
Targeted Parent-Child Communication about Substances Scale	This measure of the participants communication with their child about substances is administered for the Branch Out program. Scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating more explicit or intentional communication about substance use.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start), up to 6 weeks after intervention start, and 6 months after intervention end

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8	This measure of participant satisfaction is adminstered for the Take Root, Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out programs. Scores range from 8 to 32 with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction.	Up to 6 weeks after intervention start
Program Noncompletion Reason(s) Survey	This measure of program participation barriers is administered for Take Root, Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out. Participants select the most appropriate barriers from the list provided, and they are given the option to write in additional barriers not listed.	Up to 6 weeks after intervention start

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demographic Survey	This measure of participants' demographic and contextual characteristics is administered for Take Root, Sprout, Grow, and Branch Out.	Baseline (2 weeks before intervention start)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Penn State University
• Collaborators: United States Air Force
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ryan P Chesnut, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University; Principal Investigator: Daniel F Perkins, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 31, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): February 12, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00026099; FA701425C0004 (Other Grant/Funding Number: United States Department of the Air Force)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: IPD will not be shared per the guidance received from the United States Department of the Air Force.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No