An analysis of the effectiveness of parent-infant support groups.

A variety of programs have been developed to provide support and education for new parents. This article analyzes underlying issues in, and common problems of, parent-infant support groups. The Family Development Parenting Groups are described to illustrate typical findings of very positive feelings of participants toward the groups, but few objective effects of participation on adjustment or family functioning. The analysis suggests the importance of coordinating the type of goals of the program with (a) the needs of participants; (b) the implementation strategies; and (c) the measurement of positive and negative effects. The need to clarify the operationalization of support and to specifically measure the behavioral processes and effects of support is emphasized.