A Multimodal Parent-focused Intervention for Vulnerable Populations in the Bronx

Description

For caregivers in the Bronx, the pandemic has caused unprecedented psychological distress; in addition to combating social determinants of health (SDOH), these families now face greater financial insecurity and challenges related to their school-aged children. Furthermore, social distancing requirements and limited telehealth resources for Bronx families have posed greater barriers to healthcare. Such parental distress contributes to heightened risk of transgenerational cycles of psychological stress, trauma and maltreatment. The social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have had significant consequences for family well-being, putting parents at higher risk of experiencing distress and potentially impairing their ability to provide supportive care to their children. Although children may be less susceptible to the most damaging physical consequences of COVID-19, there are growing concerns regarding the short-and long-term impacts of pandemic-related stressors on children. The marked upheaval of family life over an extended period may make children vulnerable to mental health consequences associated with the public health crisis and infection mitigation efforts. School and childcare closures, unstable financial circumstances, social isolation and lack of support have a disproportionate, cumulative impact on parents and may undermine their capacities to provide support for their children. Importantly, a large body of evidence suggests that parental stress during times of disasters induces psychopathologies in family members including children. Further, high anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents during the pandemic have been associated with higher child abuse potential, whereas greater parental support was associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential. In addition to psychological impacts, stress associated with caregiving can interfere with parents' ability to maintain their own health. This multimodal study addresses key strategies to mitigate the psychological and health impact of COVID-19 in parents.

Conditions

Parenting, Covid19

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

For caregivers in the Bronx, the pandemic has caused unprecedented psychological distress; in addition to combating social determinants of health (SDOH), these families now face greater financial insecurity and challenges related to their school-aged children. Furthermore, social distancing requirements and limited telehealth resources for Bronx families have posed greater barriers to healthcare. Such parental distress contributes to heightened risk of transgenerational cycles of psychological stress, trauma and maltreatment. The social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have had significant consequences for family well-being, putting parents at higher risk of experiencing distress and potentially impairing their ability to provide supportive care to their children. Although children may be less susceptible to the most damaging physical consequences of COVID-19, there are growing concerns regarding the short-and long-term impacts of pandemic-related stressors on children. The marked upheaval of family life over an extended period may make children vulnerable to mental health consequences associated with the public health crisis and infection mitigation efforts. School and childcare closures, unstable financial circumstances, social isolation and lack of support have a disproportionate, cumulative impact on parents and may undermine their capacities to provide support for their children. Importantly, a large body of evidence suggests that parental stress during times of disasters induces psychopathologies in family members including children. Further, high anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents during the pandemic have been associated with higher child abuse potential, whereas greater parental support was associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential. In addition to psychological impacts, stress associated with caregiving can interfere with parents' ability to maintain their own health. This multimodal study addresses key strategies to mitigate the psychological and health impact of COVID-19 in parents.

A Multimodal Parent-focused Intervention for Vulnerable Populations in the Bronx

A Multimodal Parent-focused Intervention for Vulnerable Populations in the Bronx

Condition
Parenting
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Bronx

PRIME, Bronx, New York, United States, 10461

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * All participants will be primary caregivers who present with moderate level of stress by meeting a severity score of ≥ 14 on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS22).
  • * Investigators will allow primary caregivers (e.g., grandmothers and aunts) as it is common in our patient population.
  • * Clinical cohorts will be active patients in the psychiatric and rheumatology clinics in Montefiore Medical Center (MMC).
  • * Frontline health care providers will be those who are required to work on site at Montefiore Medical Center (MMC).
  • * Serious psychiatric or substance use difficulty that, in the judgement of the PI, would preclude meaningful participation in a parent intervention.
  • * Active child abuse/maltreatment cases.
  • * Neurocognitive conditions that may prevent participants from accessing telehealth services.
  • * Primary language other than Spanish or English.
  • * Utilized a smartphone health platform similar to the Valera app.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Albert Einstein College of Medicine,

Vilma Gabbay, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Study Record Dates

2026-03