All Children in Focus 0-2 years (ABC 0-2): A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of the study was to do a pilot evaluation of “All Children in Focus 0–2 years” (in Swedish: ABC 0–2), which is a Swedish 4-session universal health-promoting parenting program aimed at parents with children 0–2 years, using a randomized control trial design. It was 324 parents who were randomized into the study. After a few early dropouts, the intervention group contained 150 persons and the control group 153 persons on a waiting list. The final data set analyzed consisted of 125 parents in the intervention group, and 141 in the control group. The intervention- and control group were systematically compared as regards to pre- and post-tests of parent’s self-reported self-efficacy, emotional regulation, stress and depressive symptoms as well as co-parenting and support controlling for demographic differences. Descriptive-, cluster- and ANCOVA analysis were used. As one could expect in a universal preventive intervention the effects are mainly in the small range but still promising and encourage further exploration and examining of ABC 0–2 on a larger scale. A four week universal parenting program by the social services in Sweden was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The 125 parents in the intervention group were compared to 141 parents in the control group using relevant established scales. The results show small but systematic improvements of parenting ability, encouraging further larger tests of the program. Parents with depressive symptoms, less parenting confidence and problems with emotional regulation can gain the most from the program. A four week universal parenting program by the social services in Sweden was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The 125 parents in the intervention group were compared to 141 parents in the control group using relevant established scales. The results show small but systematic improvements of parenting ability, encouraging further larger tests of the program. Parents with depressive symptoms, less parenting confidence and problems with emotional regulation can gain the most from the program.