RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Optimizing Mental Health for Infants Exposed to Early Adversity: A Comparison of Breaking the Cycle and Maxxine Wright

This study wants to learn more about how two different programmes help mothers and their young children who have been through tough times. One programme, called Breaking the Cycle (BTC), offers extra support specifically for babies' mental health, while the Maxxine Wright (MW) programme mainly focuses on mothers. Researchers will compare these programmes to see if BTC leads to better mental health for children up to two years later. They also want to understand if mothers and children in BTC experience less stress, better home life, and stronger bonds. The study will track progress over time by asking mothers to complete questionnaires during their involvement with either programme.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Ottawa

Enrolment target

100

Start

28 Sep 2023

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Mother-Child Relations Substance Use

What is this study about?

This research study is looking into how two different support programmes help mothers and their young children. Both programmes work with mums and children who have faced difficult situations, such as problems with substance use in the family. One programme is called Breaking the Cycle (BTC), and the other is Maxxine Wright (MW).

The main aim of the study is to see if the BTC programme, which specifically includes support for very young children's mental health, works better than the MW programme, which mostly focuses on the mothers. Researchers will be comparing how well children's mental health develops in both groups, as well as looking at things like how much stress mothers feel, the quality of their home life, and how strong the bond is between mothers and their children.

The study also wants to understand what makes these programmes effective. For example, do better feelings about parenting or strong mother-child relationships help children more? Researchers will follow families over time to see the lasting impact of these programmes and to help find the best ways to support families facing challenges.

Key takeaways

This study compares two programmes for mothers and young children facing challenges.
It aims to understand if specific support for infant mental health makes a difference.
Participation involves completing questionnaires at three points over two years.
The findings could help improve future support for families.
Your privacy will be protected if you take part.
You can withdraw from the study at any time.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to take part in this study if you are a mother who is currently getting help from either the 'Breaking the Cycle' (BTC) programme or the 'Maxxine Wright' (MW) programme. You'll also need to have at least one child who is under six years old.

It's important that you can understand and answer questions in English, as the study involves completing questionnaires.

There are no other specific reasons that would stop you from joining this study if you meet these main requirements.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you currently receiving services from Breaking the Cycle (BTC) or Maxxine Wright (MW)?
Do you have a child who is under 6 years old?
Can you comfortably understand and answer questions in English?
Are you a mother?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be asked to complete some questionnaires at three different times. The first time will be when you first start with either the BTC or MW programme. Then, you'll fill out questionnaires again about 12 months after you started, and a final time about 24 months after you started. You'll simply be providing information about your experiences and your child's development through these questionnaires while you continue to receive support from your chosen programme.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study might help us learn more about which types of support programmes work best for mothers and young children, potentially benefiting other families in the future. While completing questionnaires might take a little bit of your time, there are no known direct risks to your health. Your information will be kept private. Remember, you can choose to stop being part of the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting the care and support you receive from your programme.

Locations (2)

Maxxine Wright Community Health Centre
Verified postcode
Surrey, Canada· Recruiting
Mothercraft, Breaking the Cycle
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to compare two support programmes, Breaking the Cycle (BTC) and Maxxine Wright (MW), to see which one helps mothers and young children more, especially for children's mental health.

What is 'infant mental health'?

Infant mental health refers to how well a baby or very young child develops emotionally and socially, and how they cope with stress.

What do I have to do if I join?

You would need to complete a few questionnaires at three different times (when you start, after 12 months, and after 24 months) while you are involved with either the BTC or MW programme.

Will my privacy be protected?

Yes, all your answers and information will be kept private and confidential.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you can stop participating in the study at any time without needing to give a reason, and it won't affect the support you receive.

How to find out more

Nicole Racine, PhD, C.Psych

nracine2@uottawa.ca 403-992-7869 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.