LOVING (Learning About Our Behavior is Valuable for Increasing Nurturing Relationships and Healthy Growth) RCT

Summary

The LOVING study is a randomized controlled trial designed to determine whether adaptations to an internationally recognized parenting program that enhances sensitive caregiving likewise improves sensitive caregiving in Singapore and, in turn, downstream child outcomes in emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development during the early childhood years.

Research shows that sensitive caregiving is linked to secure relationships, decreased child mental health problems, better executive functioning, and potentially healthier body mass indices. The Video Feedback to Improve Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) program is an internationally recognized home-based intervention designed to enhance sensitive caregiving. However, evidence demonstrating its efficacy in Asia remains extremely limited. Moreover, most previous evaluations have focused primarily on parenting or child mental health outcomes, with newer work only beginning to focus upon additional child outcomes.

In this study, families with young children from median-income and below households living in Singapore will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. Some families will participate in a locally adapted version of the home-based VIPP-SD program that includes additional health-related scenarios (VIPP-SD-SingH). Other families will be assigned to CARE-SD, which was developed within the context of proof-of-concept research. CARE-SD is a standardized, digitally delivered parenting program using vicarious pre-rendered video examples and comments derived from the VIPP-SD program and does not include personalized feedback during home visits. Furthermore, CARE-SD includes health related scenarios and language and settings familiar to families living in Singapore. A third group will receive developmental information about children's learning and development (i.e., NeuroEducation Active Control). The programs are brief and are designed to be practical and accessible for families.

Families participating in the study will take part in research visits that include questionnaires, observations of parent-child interaction, and activities designed to assess children's development. Laboratory visits will take place at IHDP (a collaborating institution) research facilities. Information collected in the study will help researchers better understand how parenting support programs influence children's emotional well-being, behavior, learning, and physical health.

The results of this research may help inform the development of effective programs to support families and promote healthy child development.

Conditions

• Child Development
• Child Behavioral Problems
• Parent Child Relationship

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

VIPP-SD-SingH, "Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline Adapted for the Singapore Context with a Health Component"

The VIPP-SD-SingH is an adaptation of the seven session home-visiting VIPP-SD program. During the first six VIPP-SD sessions the parent-child dyad will be asked to take part in certain activities together while being recorded. During sessions 2-7 the parent will watch the prior sessions's videos and receive frequent (e.g., 10-30 second) feedback ( e.g., focusing on children's perspectives, awareness of attachment and explorative child behavior, tips for sensitive discipline, and back-and-forth behavior). The VIPP-SD-SingH will include some adjustments for local language use and VIPP-SD compatible stimulation for reflections on tips and activities that allow greater generalization of the VIPP-SD principles to physical health contexts (e.g., waiting to eat a snack, using toys that encourage movement, or activities that may encourage relaxation).

BEHAVIORAL

CARE-SD, "Caregiver Awareness of Relationships through E-learning for Sensitivity and Discipline"

CARE-SD, Caregiver Awareness of Relationships through E-learning for Sensitivity and Discipline was developed within the context of proof-of-concept research. CARE-SD is a standardized, digitally delivered parenting program using vicarious pre-rendered video examples and comments derived from the VIPP-SD program and does not include personalized feedback during home visits. Furthermore, CARE-SD includes health related scenarios and language and settings familiar to families living in Singapore. As with the VIPP-SD-SingH, CARE-SD's design includes seven sessions with scenarios and comments for generalizability to physical activity, feeding, and relaxation. After watching each of the videos in sessions 2-7, parents will be asked to try out the activities they've viewed with their own child. Instructions and suggestions for materials will be provided as will be questions for reflection.

BEHAVIORAL

NeuroEducation for Parents

NeuroEducation for Parents was designed as a seven session online program for parents containing informational videos about young children's Brain Basics, Seven Senses, Learning and Memory, Emotion, Curiosity and Creativity, Thinking, and Friendships. Sensitive caregiving is not discussed explicitly. Each session will end with a short video quiz, complete with answers. Additional optional written material will be provided for parents who wish to learn more.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nanyang Technological University

  collaborator OTHER

• Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Singapore

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute of Education, Singapore

  collaborator OTHER

• KK Women's and Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• National University of Singapore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anne E Rifkin-Graboi, PhD · National University of Singapore

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

2 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-25

Primary Completion

2028-02-09

Completion

2028-02-09

Countries

• Singapore

Study Locations