Efficacy of a Crisis Intervention in Improving Mother-Child Interaction and Children's Play Functioning.

OBJECTIVE We examined the efficacy of a crisis-based intervention in improving mother-child interaction and children's play functioning for families who had experienced domestic violence. METHOD Using a pretest-posttest two-group control study design, we assigned the intervention group (n=20 mother-child dyads) to the Family Intervention for Improving Occupational Performance (FI-OP) program and the control group (n=17 dyads) to a playroom program. Both programs consisted of eight 30-min sessions. We videotaped dyads during free play and used standardized tools to assess interactions, play skills, and playfulness. RESULTS After the intervention, mother-child interaction was significantly better in the FI-OP group than in the playroom group. The children in the FI-OP group also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in play skills, but not in playfulness. CONCLUSION FI-OP is a promising program for improving aspects of mother-child interaction and children's play functioning among survivors of domestic violence.