Demographic data for all participating mothers.

IntroductionPoor parental mental health is a risk factor for reduced mental health outcomes and increased behavioural problems in children. High quality parenting interventions are important in minimising the risks associated with poor outcomes for children.Aims and research questionThis study assessed the implementation of Mellow Parenting, which provides a range of attachment-based parenting programmes, designed to help parents improve their capacity for sensitive and responsive caregiving and develop their relationship with their child, in Moldova. Research questions were 1) do parents who attend Mellow Parenting experience improvements in their wellbeing? 2) do parents demonstrate improvements in parenting confidence? and 3) do parents experience improvements in parenting daily stress?.MethodsSecondary data analysis was used for measures collected pre- and post-intervention from groups run in Moldova between 2016 and 2020 of n = 244 mothers. Outcomes were parenting wellbeing, parenting daily stress, parenting confidence, and children’s behaviour. The study focused on two of the current MP programmes; Mellow Babies and Mellow Toddlers.ResultsT-tests were performed to assess effectiveness of treatment. Correlations and ANCOVAs explored the interactions between variables. Mothers who participated in the group showed improvements in their self-reported wellbeing, parenting confidence, and child behaviour. A reduction was seen in parental stress. Urban and rural intervention groups showed significant differences in terms of pre- and post-scores for anxiety, outward irritability, and parenting confidence.ConclusionMellow Parenting appears to be an effective intervention for mothers in Moldova in terms of improving parenting wellbeing and parenting confidence and reducing stress. The results of this study suggest that Mellow Parenting is an effective parenting intervention with potential for scaling up across Moldova, as well as other culturally similar countries across the Eastern European and West Asian regions.