Better start to better future?: Long-term follow-up of a parenting intervention for mothers being released from incarceration

Ankie T.A. Menting; Bram O. de Castro; Elizabeth M. Grandfield; Jaap J.A. Denissen; Walter Matthys

doi:10.1007/s11292-024-09612-1

Better start to better future? Long-term follow-up of a parenting intervention for mothers being released from incarceration

Ankie T.A. Menting^*
, Bram O. de Castro
, Elizabeth M. Grandfield
, Jaap J.A. Denissen
, Walter Matthys

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Amsterdam

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the long-term effects of the Better Start program, an adaptation of Incredible Years parent training enhanced with home visits, for families with mothers being released from incarceration.

Methods: Participants in this quasi-experimental longitudinal study were 224 mothers, of whom 145 (64.7%) received intervention and the other mothers constituted a no intervention group. Official criminal justice records and mother reports of parenting behaviors and child behavior were collected up to 10 years after intervention. Mixed effects models, Cox regression analyses, and latent linear growth models were used to test potential intervention effects on adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, parenting behaviors, and disruptive child behaviors.

Results: Outcomes favoring participants in the intervention condition were found for adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, and the number of disruptive child behaviors.

Conclusions: Effects on maternal recidivism and delinquency in their children indicate that the Better Start program contributes to preventing the intergenerational transmission of delinquency.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	889-914
Number of pages	26
Journal	Journal of Experimental Criminology
Volume	21
Issue number	3
Early online date	31 Jan 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-024-09612-1
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, The Author(s).

Funding

The original research project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, Directorate-General for Sentences and Protection.

Funders
Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Delinquency
Disruptive child behavior
Incarcerated mothers
Incredible Years parent training
Long-term effects
Parenting

Access to Document

10.1007/s11292-024-09612-1Licence: CC BY

Better start to better future? Long-term follow-up of a parenting intervention for mothers being released from incarcerationFinal published version, 1.2 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Better start to better future?: Long-term follow-up of a parenting intervention for mothers being released from incarceration",

abstract = "Objectives: This study examined the long-term effects of the Better Start program, an adaptation of Incredible Years parent training enhanced with home visits, for families with mothers being released from incarceration. Methods: Participants in this quasi-experimental longitudinal study were 224 mothers, of whom 145 (64.7\%) received intervention and the other mothers constituted a no intervention group. Official criminal justice records and mother reports of parenting behaviors and child behavior were collected up to 10 years after intervention. Mixed effects models, Cox regression analyses, and latent linear growth models were used to test potential intervention effects on adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, parenting behaviors, and disruptive child behaviors. Results: Outcomes favoring participants in the intervention condition were found for adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, and the number of disruptive child behaviors. Conclusions: Effects on maternal recidivism and delinquency in their children indicate that the Better Start program contributes to preventing the intergenerational transmission of delinquency.",

keywords = "Delinquency, Disruptive child behavior, Incarcerated mothers, Incredible Years parent training, Long-term effects, Parenting",

author = "Menting, \{Ankie T.A.\} and \{de Castro\}, \{Bram O.\} and Grandfield, \{Elizabeth M.\} and Denissen, \{Jaap J.A.\} and Walter Matthys",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024, The Author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1007/s11292-024-09612-1",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

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T1 - Better start to better future?

T2 - Long-term follow-up of a parenting intervention for mothers being released from incarceration

AU - Menting, Ankie T.A.

AU - de Castro, Bram O.

AU - Grandfield, Elizabeth M.

AU - Denissen, Jaap J.A.

AU - Matthys, Walter

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Objectives: This study examined the long-term effects of the Better Start program, an adaptation of Incredible Years parent training enhanced with home visits, for families with mothers being released from incarceration. Methods: Participants in this quasi-experimental longitudinal study were 224 mothers, of whom 145 (64.7%) received intervention and the other mothers constituted a no intervention group. Official criminal justice records and mother reports of parenting behaviors and child behavior were collected up to 10 years after intervention. Mixed effects models, Cox regression analyses, and latent linear growth models were used to test potential intervention effects on adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, parenting behaviors, and disruptive child behaviors. Results: Outcomes favoring participants in the intervention condition were found for adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, and the number of disruptive child behaviors. Conclusions: Effects on maternal recidivism and delinquency in their children indicate that the Better Start program contributes to preventing the intergenerational transmission of delinquency.

AB - Objectives: This study examined the long-term effects of the Better Start program, an adaptation of Incredible Years parent training enhanced with home visits, for families with mothers being released from incarceration. Methods: Participants in this quasi-experimental longitudinal study were 224 mothers, of whom 145 (64.7%) received intervention and the other mothers constituted a no intervention group. Official criminal justice records and mother reports of parenting behaviors and child behavior were collected up to 10 years after intervention. Mixed effects models, Cox regression analyses, and latent linear growth models were used to test potential intervention effects on adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, parenting behaviors, and disruptive child behaviors. Results: Outcomes favoring participants in the intervention condition were found for adolescent delinquency, maternal recidivism, and the number of disruptive child behaviors. Conclusions: Effects on maternal recidivism and delinquency in their children indicate that the Better Start program contributes to preventing the intergenerational transmission of delinquency.

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