Helping expectant parents improve co-parenting and reduce alcohol use.

Strong Foundations: Intervening to Promote Co-Parenting and Reduce Father Hazardous Drinking in Expectant Parents

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10615958

This study is helping expecting couples, especially those where dads drink heavily and moms drink lightly or not at all, to improve their parenting skills and family life by offering special support during pregnancy.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10615958 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on supporting expecting couples, particularly those with heavy drinking fathers and light drinking or abstaining mothers, to enhance their co-parenting skills and overall family functioning. The study utilizes a unique intervention that combines evidence-based strategies to address both parenting and alcohol use during pregnancy. Couples will be recruited in their first trimester and will participate in either the intervention or a control group that provides general advice and resources. The goal is to leverage the transition to parenthood as a catalyst for positive behavioral changes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are expecting couples where the father is a heavy drinker and the mother is either light drinking or abstaining during pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients who are not expecting or whose drinking behaviors do not fit the study criteria may not receive any benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to healthier family dynamics and reduced alcohol consumption among expectant parents, ultimately benefiting child development.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar interventions aimed at improving parenting and reducing alcohol use, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.