The effectiveness of trauma-informed parenting programs for traumatized parents and their components: A meta-analytic study

Parents who have been exposed to trauma face distinct challenges in parenting that can lead to negative child developmental outcomes and intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parenting programs for traumatized parents seem promising, but the existing evidence on their effectiveness has not yet been synthesized. This study aimed to examine the overall effect of trauma-informed parenting programs on (a) parenting and (b) parental mental health outcomes by conducting two three-level meta-analyses. Moderator analyses were performed to identify whether program components, delivery techniques, and other study and program characteristics were associated with effectiveness. A literature search conducted up to August 2024 yielded 15 studies reporting on 110 effect sizes. Significant overall effects were found of trauma-informed parenting programs on both parenting outcomes (d = 0.75, 95% CIs = [0.09, 1.15], p = .027) and parental mental health outcomes (d = 0.21, 95% CIs = [0.09, 0.32], p < .001). The first meta-analysis on parenting found no significant moderators, while the second meta-analysis on parental mental health indicated that programs emphasizing child disciplining skills yielded smaller effects (d = 0.04) compared to programs without this component (d = 0.31). Programs using modeling techniques yielded larger effects (d = 0.32) compared to programs without (d = 0.14). Larger program effects on parental mental health were also found for programs with longer durations and when individual sessions were used. Thus, evidence supports the effectiveness of trauma-informed parenting programs in improving parenting and reducing parental mental health problems.