Reach Out and Read is Feasible and Effective for Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Study
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Reach Out and Read is Feasible and Effective for Adolescent Mothers: A Pilot Study Maya M. Kumar1,4 • Henry R. Cowan2 • Lauren Erdman3 • Miriam Kaufman1 Katherine M. Hick1
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Published online: 31 October 2015 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015
Abstract Objectives The Reach Out and Read program (ROaR) is associated with increased parent–child book reading and improved language development in children. Though children of adolescent parents may have an elevated risk of language delay, ROaR has never been specifically studied among adolescent-headed families. This pilot evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of ROaR among adolescent mothers and their children. Methods This randomized controlled pilot followed thirty adolescent mothers with children aged 6–20 months in a teen-tot clinic in downtown Toronto. At each of three consecutive well child checkups, intervention families received a new children’s book, reading-related anticipatory guidance customized to the mother’s developmental stage, counselling from a librarian, and a public library card. Control families received routine care. At baseline and study completion, all mothers completed a survey on family reading patterns and the Beck Depression Inventory-Revised (BDI-IA). Results Though regression models were not statistically significant, bivariate analyses at study completion revealed that
& Maya M. Kumar [email protected] 1
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
3
Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
4
4007 Alabama Street, San Diego, CA 92104, USA
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intervention mothers were significantly more likely than controls to report reading as one of the child’s favorite activities (29 vs 0 %) and had significantly lower maternal depression scores (7.0 vs 12.5; C10 = clinically significant depression). Trends for all other variables, including time spent reading together and maternal enjoyment of reading, were also in the direction of benefit. This program was implemented at minimal cost and adopted permanently following study completion. Conclusions This feasible and developmentally appropriate intervention shows promise in promoting shared book reading and reducing maternal depression within adolescent-headed families, warranting investigation with larger trials. Keywords Literacy programs Primary prevention Child development Pregnancy in adolescence Reach Out and Read
Significance Children of adolescent mothers may have an elevated risk of language delay. The Reach Out and Read program (ROaR) is a widely-used clinical intervention known to improve child language development. This study demonstrated that the ROaR model can be feasibly implemented in primary care settings for adolescent mothers and their children at minimal cost, and may provide direct benefits to adolescent mothers (such as enjoyment of shared rea
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