Trial Outcomes & Findings for Improving Future Thinking Among Mothers to Reduce Harsh Parenting and Improve Child Outcomes (NCT NCT05229146)

Last Updated: 2025-03-14

Results Overview

The brief Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) is a 21-item binary-choice task that asks participants to select between two hypothetical monetary amounts: a smaller reward available immediately (e.g. $49 today) or a larger reward available after a delay (e.g. $60 in 89 days). "Larger later" amounts are separated into small, medium and large magnitudes. For the purposes of this study, to limit participant burden, we administered only small and large magnitude subscales, resulting in a total number of 14 items. The measure is scored to derive a single "total score" discounting rate k, with larger values reflecting greater preference for smaller sooner reward. Because k distributions are typically skewed, post-hoc natural logarithmic transformations were performed, resulting in normal distributions; thus, there is no maximum and minimum value. The MCQ has been shown to have strong psychometric properties among adults and correlates with real rewards, as well as real-world risk behaviors.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

Target enrollment

48 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks

Results posted on

2025-03-14

Participant Flow

24 mothers of children ages 5-10 provided informed consent for themselves and (n=24) their children.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Overall Study STARTED	48
Overall Study Completed Intervention With Peer Mother.	34
Overall Study COMPLETED	32
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	16

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Age data on mothers in sample.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=48 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Age, Categorical Mothers · <=18 years	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Categorical Mothers · Between 18 and 65 years	24 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Categorical Mothers · >=65 years	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Categorical Children · <=18 years	24 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Categorical Children · Between 18 and 65 years	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Categorical Children · >=65 years	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Age data on mothers in sample.
Age, Continuous Mothers	35.5 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 • n=24 Participants • Continuous age data is reported separately for mothers and their children.
Age, Continuous Children	7.3 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.6 • n=24 Participants • Continuous age data is reported separately for mothers and their children.
Sex: Female, Male Mothers · Female	24 Participants n=24 Participants • Sex data is reported separately for mothers and children.
Sex: Female, Male Mothers · Male	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Sex data is reported separately for mothers and children.
Sex: Female, Male Children · Female	10 Participants n=24 Participants • Sex data is reported separately for mothers and children.
Sex: Female, Male Children · Male	14 Participants n=24 Participants • Sex data is reported separately for mothers and children.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Hispanic or Latino	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Not Hispanic or Latino	24 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Children · Hispanic or Latino	1 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Children · Not Hispanic or Latino	23 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Children · Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Ethnicity data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · American Indian or Alaska Native	1 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Asian	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Black or African American	8 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · White	15 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · More than one race	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Mothers · Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · American Indian or Alaska Native	1 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · Asian	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · Black or African American	8 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · White	15 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · More than one race	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.
Race (NIH/OMB) Children · Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=24 Participants • Race data is reported for mothers and children separately.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks

Population: Mothers who completed the the MCQ both at baseline and immediately following the intervention (approximately 1 week later).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=11 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Change in Monetary Choice Questionnaire Baseline Assessment	-3.86 score on a scale Standard Deviation 1.42
Change in Monetary Choice Questionnaire Immediately Post-Intervention (1 week)	-4.13 score on a scale Standard Deviation 1.19
Change in Monetary Choice Questionnaire Post-intervention (2 weeks after intervention, 4 weeks after baseline)	-4.33 score on a scale Standard Deviation 1.68

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 4 weeks

Population: All mothers (participants) that completed this measure at baseline assessment (one participant did not complete this measure).

The Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-Parenting Adapted (CFCS-14-PA) is a 14-item self-report questionnaire composed of two subscales reflecting either immediate or future orientation related to parents interactions with their children. Items range from "not at all like me" (1) to "very much like me" (5) and are summed to create future or immediate orientation subscale, each composed of 7 items with score ranges from 7-35. Lower scores on the future orientation and higher scores on the immediate orientation subscales are associated with less future orientation and predictive of less engagement in health behaviors. The measure has been used extensively among adult samples and demonstrates strong reliability and validity. Change in CFCS-14-PA score is measured by comparing scores at the post-intervention assessment (approximately 4 weeks after baseline) with baseline scores.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=23 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Change in Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-Parenting Score Follow-up Future Orientation Subscale	31.3 score on a scale Standard Deviation 2.7
Change in Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-Parenting Score Follow-up Immediate Orientation Subscale	16.3 score on a scale Standard Deviation 3.5
Change in Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-Parenting Score Baseline Future Orientation Subscale	29.7 score on a scale Standard Deviation 4.5
Change in Consideration of Future Consequences Scale-Parenting Score Baseline Immediate Orientation Subscale	15.7 score on a scale Standard Deviation 4.5

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 4 weeks

Population: 11 dyads , including mothers (n=11) and their children (n=11), participated in the parent child interaction task at both the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessment. Please note that scores are given at the dyadic level (in other words, there is a single score for each dyad).

Parents and their children will complete a 20-minute interaction task, including 5 min. of free play, a 10 min. "homework" task, and a 5 min. clean up task. Wualitvey of parent-childre interactions were coded using the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). The task has 7 subscales, yielding 2 composite scores: positive parenting (a sum of: unlabeled praise, labeled praise, positive touch, reflection, and behavior description) and negative parenting (a sum of: negative talk and negative touch). Each instance of a behaviors described in the subscale (e.g., a parent giving unlabeled praise) is coded as one "point" and summed into a subscale (no max or min values). Higher values indicate greater positive or negative parenting. A score is given to the dyad (not individuals scores for parent/child). Change in parenting is calculated by comparing baseline scores with scores at the post-intervention sessions (approximately 4 weeks after baseline).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=11 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Change in Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System Scores Positive Parenting Composite Score Pre-Intervention	10.73 score on a scale Standard Deviation 7.96
Change in Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System Scores Positive Parenting Composite Score Post-Intervention	9.91 score on a scale Standard Deviation 8.68
Change in Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System Scores Negative Parenting Composite Score Pre-Intervention	8.82 score on a scale Standard Deviation 7.48
Change in Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System Scores Negative Parenting Composite Score Post-Intervention	9.18 score on a scale Standard Deviation 6.55

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 4 weeks

Population: Mothers who completed the APQ measure at baseline and at follow-up (approximately four weeks later).

The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) is a 42-item self-report measure of parenting behaviors which yields five subscales: (1) positive involvement with children (range 10-50, higher = more involvement), (2) use of positive parenting strategies (range 6-30, higher = more positive strategies), (3) poor parental monitoring/supervision (range 10-50, higher = worse supervision), (4) inconsistent discipline (range 6-30, higher = more inconsistent discipline), and (5) use of corporal punishment (higher = more corporal punishment). Items are summed to create subscale scores. Change in each of the five APQ subscale scores will be measured by comparing post-intervention scores (approximately 4 weeks after baseline) with baseline scores.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=16 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Poor parental monitoring Subscale Pre-Intervention	12.81 score on a scale Standard Deviation 2.64
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Poor parental monitoring Subscale Post-Intervention	11.72 score on a scale Standard Deviation 2.22
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Positive Parenting Subscale Post-Intervention	26.50 score on a scale Standard Deviation 2.99
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Inconsistent Parenting Subscale Pre-Intervention	15.44 score on a scale Standard Deviation 3.68
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Inconsistent Parenting Subscale Post-Intervention	13.59 score on a scale Standard Deviation 4.25
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Corporal Punishment Subscale Pre-Intervention	5.94 score on a scale Standard Deviation 2.05
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Corporal Punishment Subscale Post-Intervention	5.00 score on a scale Standard Deviation 1.86
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Involvement Subscale Pre-Intervention	40.13 score on a scale Standard Deviation 4.47
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Involvement Subscale Post-intervention	43 score on a scale Standard Deviation 4.93
Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire Score Positive Parenting Subscale Pre-Intervention	25.89 score on a scale Standard Deviation 3.55

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 4 weeks

Population: Mothers who completed Emotion Regulation Checklist and pre- and post-intervention (approximately 4 weeks later).

Parents will report on children's emotion regulation using the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC). Items are rated from 1 to 4 and summed to create subscales. The ECR includes 24 items. 23 items are used in computing two subscales: (1) emotion regulation (range 8 to 32, higher = greater emotion regulation) and (2) lability/negativity (range 15 to 60, higher = greater lability/negativity); the 24th item does not load onto either subscale and is not used in the current analyses. The measure is widely used and validated for parent-report of older children and young adolescents.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=16 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Change in Emotion Regulation Checklist Emotion Regulation Subscale Post-Intervention	25.00 score on a scale Standard Deviation 3.06
Change in Emotion Regulation Checklist Lability/Negativity Subscale Pre-Intervention	30.13 score on a scale Standard Deviation 8.88
Change in Emotion Regulation Checklist Lability/Negativity Subscale Post-Intervention	29.00 score on a scale Standard Deviation 6.58
Change in Emotion Regulation Checklist Emotion Regulation Subscale Pre-Intervention	25.63 score on a scale Standard Deviation 3.61

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Participants who completed the CSQ measure at follow-up (approximately 4 weeks after the intervention).

Following the completion of the intervention, mothers will complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), which evaluates participant satisfaction with the intervention. Nine items are ranked from 1 to 4 and summed to create a total score (range 9-36, higher = greater satisfaction). The measure is used across a number of intervention studies and has been shown to be reliable and valid in adult samples.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Episodic Future Thinking n=15 Participants Mothers will receive episodic future thinking (EFT). Mothers will meet with a "peer mother" who will administer the EFT intervention, including generation of several specific future events reflecting positive interactions with their child. We will also teach each parent a behavioral parent training element called Special Play Time. Following this session, mothers will receive daily text messages over the course of two weeks including a reminder cue generated as part of the EFT and a prompt to remember these episodes in vivid detail. Episodic Future Thinking: Episodic future thinking (EFT) includes a focus on generating detailed and vivid descriptions of future events. For the current intervention, EFT will be modified to have mothers describe specific events with their children.
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire	29.73 score on a scale Standard Deviation 5.38

Adverse Events

Episodic Future Thinking

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Julia Felton

Henry Ford Health

Phone: 313-598-0841

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place