Trauma-informed parenting support for military-connected mothers and young children
Parenting STAIR: Adapting a Trauma-Focused Parenting Intervention for Military-Connected Mothers and Their Children
This project adapts a trauma-focused parenting program to help military-connected mothers and their children (ages 0–11) improve emotion regulation and parent–child interactions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190854 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a military-connected mother with a young child, this project adapts PSTAIR — a program that combines STAIR (to target mothers' emotion regulation and trauma symptoms) and PC-CARE (to strengthen parenting and parent–child interactions). The team plans to shorten and tailor the program for military culture and collect preliminary data in a small pilot to test feasibility, retention, and early outcomes. Earlier use of the full 23-session PSTAIR showed big reductions in symptoms and better parenting but also notable dropout, so this adaptation aims to make the treatment easier to complete and more relevant to military families. Participation would involve regular sessions focused on skills training, narrative work, and live coaching with your child.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are military-connected mothers (service members, veterans, or spouses) of children ages 0–11 who have trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, or parenting challenges.
Not a fit: This program is not aimed at fathers, people without trauma-related parenting concerns, or children older than 11, and those with severe unmanaged psychiatric crises may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce mothers' trauma symptoms, improve parenting skills, and support better mental health for their children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous open-pilot data of PSTAIR in child-welfare-involved mothers showed large improvements in symptoms and parenting but also dropout, so this builds on promising but not fully conclusive results.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullivan, Kathrine — New York University
- Study coordinator: Sullivan, Kathrine
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.