Effects of the ‘Circle of Security’ group parenting program (COS-P) with foster carers: An observational study

Abstract

The Circle of Security-Parent DVD program (COS-P) is a widely used parenting intervention that is gaining popularity globally as it is currently being delivered across several continents.Despite the uptake of COS-P, there is limited research on its effectiveness for specific groups.Here we present a multi-site evaluation of a group delivery of the eight-week COS-P program to foster carers (n = 54) of 6-12 year-old children in an urban community as facilitated by community-based providers from a specialist child and youth mental health services (n = 2).Three measures, the Parent Stress Index, the Parent Child Relationship Inventory, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were used to assess functioning via a pre-post treatment design. Foster carers who participated in COS-P reported reductions in levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties for the children in their care. They also reported reductions in parentchild dysfunctional interactions and parental distress. Finally, program completion appeared to be associated with a reduction in foster carers' perceptions of their foster child as being difficult to take care of, and with lower levels of overall stress related to their role as a foster carer. These findings, and their implications for service delivery and future research, are discussed.

Targeted community-based programmes for children’s mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Australian literature

“…Three of six studies (one RCT and two pre–post) found improvements in teacher- and parent-reported externalising behaviours among children who participated in Intensive Play Therapy and Circle of Security (Huber et al, 2015b; Ritzi et al, 2017; Wicks et al, 2018). The adapted Circle of Security Parenting program did not yield any improvements in externalising behaviours via RCT (Zimmer- Gembeck et al, 2021), quasi-experimental (Maxwell et al, 2021) nor pre–post evaluation (Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020). Four of five studies (all pre–post) observed significant reductions in children’s internalising symptoms on both parent and teacher-report measures post-treatment (Eadie, 2017; Huber et al, 2015b; Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020 parent; Wicks et al, 2018).…”

“…The adapted Circle of Security Parenting program did not yield any improvements in externalising behaviours via RCT (Zimmer- Gembeck et al, 2021), quasi-experimental (Maxwell et al, 2021) nor pre–post evaluation (Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020). Four of five studies (all pre–post) observed significant reductions in children’s internalising symptoms on both parent and teacher-report measures post-treatment (Eadie, 2017; Huber et al, 2015b; Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020 parent; Wicks et al, 2018). Both the standard and adapted versions of Circle of Security did not identify any significant improvements in parent–child attachment (Huber et al, 2015a; Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020).…”

“…Four of five studies (all pre–post) observed significant reductions in children’s internalising symptoms on both parent and teacher-report measures post-treatment (Eadie, 2017; Huber et al, 2015b; Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020 parent; Wicks et al, 2018). Both the standard and adapted versions of Circle of Security did not identify any significant improvements in parent–child attachment (Huber et al, 2015a; Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020).…”

“…Five of eight Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,57(2) studies evaluating interventions for children presenting with both or either types of symptoms achieved at least one significant outcome. Six of eight studies (two RCTs, one quasi-experimental and three pre-post) evaluated externalising behaviours (Huber et al, 2015b;Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020;Maxwell et al, 2021;Ritzi et al, 2017;Wicks et al, 2018;Zimmer-Gembeck et al, 2021) and five studies (one RCT and four pre-post) assessed general internalising symptoms (Eadie, 2017;Huber et al, 2015b;Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020;Wicks et al, 2018;Zimmer-Gembeck et al, 2021). Two pre-post studies measured parent-child attachment (Huber et al, 2015a;Krishnamoorthy et al, 2020).…”

Introducing Norwegian parents to the Circle of Security Parenting program during the postpartum period: A qualitative descriptive study

“…The authors underline that a safe and friendly relationship between parent and tutor seemed to be a prerequisite for the positive experiences. Krishnamoorthy et al (2020) provided an observational study of 54 foster carers of 6−12 year-old children in an urban community participating in the 8-week COS-P program. The foster carers showed less dysfunctional interactions and parental distress.…”