INTERVENTION PROCESSES AS PREDICTORS OF OUTCOMES IN A PREVENTIVE HOME-VISITATION PROGRAM

Although much preventive intervention research has been focused on out come evaluation, an equally important topic is the process by which an intervention brings about these outcomes, In this investigation, inte rvention process is described and related to caregiving outcomes in a program of nurse home visitation for first-time mothers and their infa nts (N = 228) living in Memphis, Tennessee. Results show that, althoug h previous investigation has demonstrated the effectiveness of the pro gram, mothers received only approximately half the number of home visi ts as expected by protocol. Different dimensions of intervention proce ss, although interrelated, predict outcomes uniquely. The hypothesis t hat empathy perceived by the mother from the nurse would predict the e mpathic attitudes the mother has towards her own child was supported o nly for mothers with high levels of psychological resources, Home care giving environment was predicted by in-session parenting focus, partic ularly for mothers with low levels of psychological resources. This di scussion suggests reasons why the amount of visitation was lower than expected and points to the importance of including multiple dimensions of intervention process. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.