Mental health primary prevention: the role of parent mutual support groups.

A primary prevention program was developed to provide supportive services for parents of newborns. Ninety-eight parents responded to a survey intended to evaluate what the groups provided and to describe characteristics of parents who attended the groups. Parents evaluated the groups as effective in providing social contact, supporting the parenting role, feeling less alone, understanding children's development, and increasing child-caring skills. The parents did not evaluate the groups as helping to improve a relationship with their spouse.