RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06725160

Parent Encouragement And Coaching of Happiness in Youth

Maternal Positive Affect Socialization and Child Neural Reward Response


Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Enrollment

180 participants

Start Date

Oct 28, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Summary

The goal of this mechanistic clinical trial is to examine whether parent-coaching aimed at increasing child positive affect will increase child neural response to reward. The main questions it aims to answer are: Aim 1. Characterize child neural reward response and its relation to maternal socialization of positive emotions at baseline in healthy young children. Aim 2. Evaluate how coaching-related changes in maternal socialization of positive emotion expression contribute to increases in child neural reward response over time. Aim 3. Examine how maternal socialization of positive emotion expression contributes to increases in child neural reward response in the moment. Participating mother-child dyads will be randomized to either 3 sessions of parent coaching of child positive affect or 3 sessions of a general parenting support intervention and neural response to reward and affective behavior will be examined pre and post intervention.


Eligibility

Min Age: 4 YearsMax Age: 99 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study tests a parent coaching program designed to help mothers manage their own depression while also promoting positive emotional development and happiness in their young children. **You may be eligible if (mothers)...** - You are the biological mother and primary caregiver (providing care at least 50% of the time) - You are experiencing clinically significant depression (score of 16 or higher on a standard depression scale) - Age 18 or older **You may NOT be eligible if...** - Have a lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe psychiatric illness - Child has a significant developmental disability - Currently involved in another parenting intervention study Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALParent Coaching

Three sessions of parent coaching of child positive affect will be administered based on modules from PCIT-ED.

BEHAVIORALActive Control

General parent support and psychoeducation based on components of standard PCIT.


Locations(1)

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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NCT06725160


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