Parenting STAIR for military-connected mothers and their young children
Parenting STAIR: Adapting a Trauma-Focused Parenting Intervention for Military-Connected Mothers and Their Children
This study tests whether a 12–16 week online Parenting STAIR program helps military-connected mothers with trauma reduce PTSD or depression symptoms and improve parenting with their 2–10-year-old children.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | New York University Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (El Paso, Texas and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06262178 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a modular Parenting STAIR program (PSTAIR-M) to treatment as usual across three Cohen Veterans Network clinics in Texas. The study will enroll 120 military-connected mothers who have experienced trauma and an index child aged 2–10, with mothers randomized to 12–16 weekly one-hour virtual PSTAIR-M sessions or site-provided evidence-based treatments. PSTAIR-M combines STAIR and PC-CARE with a uniform Module 1 and tailored Module 2 pathways (skills, narrative exposure, or parental functioning) chosen based on response to Module 1. Assessments occur at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment and include self-report measures and observed parent-child interactions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are military-connected mothers (service members, veterans, or spouses) who have experienced trauma, screen positive for PTSD and/or depression or have low parenting self-efficacy, are legal guardians of a 2–10-year-old child, and are eligible for services at the participating Cohen clinics.
Not a fit: Patients at high suicide risk, with current psychosis, significant communication disabilities (e.g., deafness), children outside the 2–10 age range, or those not eligible for the participating clinics are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PSTAIR-M could reduce mothers' PTSD and depression symptoms while improving parenting skills and child behavior, leading to better family functioning.
How similar studies have performed: Elements of PSTAIR—STAIR and PC-CARE—have demonstrated benefits for trauma symptoms and parent-child interactions in prior work, but the combined modular PSTAIR-M approach for military-connected mothers is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Military-connected mother, defined as a mother who is either a female service member or veteran or female spouse of a service member or veteran; 2. Has a child aged 2-10; 3. Legal guardian of index child with legal and physical custody; 4. Lifetime trauma exposure (Life Events Checklist (LEC-5); Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q)); 5. Screen positive for PTSD (defined as a PCL-5 score ≥32 or meeting ≥3 out of 4 DSM-5 symptom criteria \[B, C, D, E\] on the PCL-5), and/or depression (PHQ-9 score ≥8), and/or low parenting self-efficacy (PSOC score \<59); 6. Able to speak and understand English or Spanish; 7. Eligible to receive services at a Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors. Exclusion Criteria: 1. High risk for suicide (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ)); 2. Current psychotic symptoms (DSM-5-TR Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure Domain VII); 3. Disability affecting communication, such as deafness; 4. Index child with severe developmental disability; 5. Severe substance or alcohol use (The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test - Lite (ASSIST-Lite); Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Short Form (CUDIT-SF)).
Where this trial is running
El Paso, Texas and 2 other locations
- Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, El Paso — El Paso, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
- Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen — Killeen, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
- Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, San Antonio — San Antonio, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kathrine S Sullivan, PhD — New York University
- Study coordinator: Kathrine S Sullivan, PhD
- Email: ks5313@nyu.edu
- Phone: 3235526056
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.