Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Kathryn Howell

Committee Chair

Alexandrea Golden

Committee Member

Cecilia Martinez-Torteya

Committee Member

Meaghan McDevitt-Murphy

Abstract

Positive parenting may be a key intervention target to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of violence. Mothers exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at particularly high risk for maladaptive parenting practices despite evidence that they also leverage unique strengths to effectively parent in the context of adversity. Very few interventions have been identified that enhance positive parenting for women exposed to IPV in Mexico. This dissertation consists of two studies that aimed to fill these gaps in the literature. In study 1, a scoping review was conducted to identify and synthesize information about parenting interventions delivered to IPV exposed women in Mexico. Unexpectedly, no study met all inclusion criteria (i.e., examined a psychosocial parenting intervention with IPV-exposed women conducted in Mexico that measured parenting as an outcome). The lack of research being done in this area indicates a clear gap in the literature. Study 2 compared parenting attitudes among 90 pregnant, IPV-exposed Mexican women (Mage = 27.53, SD = 5.91) assigned to either an active (intervention; n = 43) or a control (n = 47) condition. Those in the active condition received a brief, five-week group intervention that delivered content regarding mental health, healthy relationships, and early parenting via psychoeducation and interactive activities. Multilevel modeling was used to compare the two conditions at six weeks after their baseline assessment and at three months postpartum. Parenting attitudes of developmentally appropriate expectations, parental empathy, and appropriate parent-child roles improved meaningfully over time; however, participation in the intervention did not differentially drive that change. Notably, beliefs in corporal punishment did not change over time regardless of condition. Findings suggest the perinatal period may be a window for a shift in some parenting attitudes, while beliefs regarding physical punishment may be more stable. Results from both studies provide important information about the state of the literature regarding existing interventions that address parenting among IPV-exposed women in Mexico. Additionally, by evaluating a novel intervention, the dissertation offers data on the impact of a new program on multiple domains of high-risk parenting beliefs among IPV-exposed women both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Open Access

Download

Share

COinS