Project HERA (Health, Education, and Relationship-building for Adolescents- Moms and Tots)

Study Summary

Specific Aims: 1. The primary aims of this study are to conduct formative interviews with teen mothers to inform a targeted adaptation of empirically based weight management and parent training programs for teen mothers for their preschoolers. 2. To conduct a small pilot and post-pilot focus group of the feasibility and acceptability of recruitment and retention methods \& the intervention. Study Hypotheses: Given the small sample size and fact that this is a pilot study, focus will be on estimating effect sizes rather than statistical hypothesis testing. However, the investigators exploratory hypotheses are as follows: 1. (a) The adapted intervention will be more feasible compared to the wellness control condition, with a participant retention rate of ≥80% and an average adherence (attendance at weekly treatment sessions; homework completion 5 weekdays weekly) is ≥ 75%; (b) The adapted intervention will be more acceptable compared to the wellness control condition, based on the Consumer Satisfaction Scale and Therapy Assessment Inventory with ≥90% of the participants responding to the item, "In general how satisfied were you with the intervention?" by choosing "unsatisfied" to "very satisfied." 2. (a) The adapted intervention will result in greater improvements in child behavior and parent-child connectedness compared to the control condition; (b) the adapted intervention versus wellness control condition will result in greater increases in child and teen mother individual as well as joint physical activity and physically active play and greater reductions in individual and joint teen mother and child sedentary behavior (television viewing) from baseline to post-intervention; (c) the greater teen mother and child fruit and vegetable consumption; and reduced child juice and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption from baseline to post-intervention; (d) the adapted intervention versus wellness control condition will result in smaller increases in child BMI percentil

Primary Outcome

Feasibility will be assessed during intervention piloting using process evaluation data to determine the pace of recruitment relative to sample size goals and differences in retention by condition. Descriptive analyses will determine the % of participants recruited, rate of accrual, attrition rate over time and total, % accepting randomization to treatment, and % compliance with study protocols (as measured by number of sessions attended, number who complete homework, etc…). Due to the small sam

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Combined parent training and obesity prevention program
• BEHAVIORAL Wellness program (active contact control)