Intervention for IPV-exposed Pregnant Women

The study will occur at two sites - the University of Notre Dame and the University of Memphis. Participants will be recruited from the local community at both locations, with an equal number of women drawn from each site (n=115 at each site for a total of N=230 mothers). Enrollment will continue for approximately 2.5 years, with an expected rate of 8 eligible women per month, based on a pilot study of the PMEP. The expected duration of the study for each participant is approximately 1.75 years, with some variation due to women enrolling at different points in their pregnancy. The primary objective of the current study is to determine if the PMEP has positive effects on maternal mental health, re-victimization rates, parenting sensitivity, and infant development, as compared to women's participation in a contact-equivalent control group. This objective will be evaluated usin ga multi-site randomized clinical trial design. Participants (N=230) will be equally randomized into study arms. Eligible women include those who are currently pregnant, who have experienced IPV in the past year, are age 16 or older, and are currently between 10 and 30 weeks pregnant. In-person assessment visits will be completed by a trained research assistant; each visit will take approximately 2-3 hours, with postpartum assessments somewhat longer than prenatal assessments due to the addition of the infant developmental assessment. Women will be compensated $30 for the first two assessments and $50 for the second two assessments. Treatment sessions will be 2 hrs in duration. Women in the PMEP will complete a structured set of sessions: (1) safety planning, (2) identifying and understanding sources of distress, (3) cognitive and behavioral strategies to build resilience and resolve conflict, (4) perinatal health and infant care, (5) positive parenting. Women in the AC will participate in facilitated discussions on a topic identified by the group. All sessions will be audiorecorded so that treatment fidelity can be evaluated (for PMEP) and content overlap can be identified (for AC).