Parenting in Low-Income Context: Assessment of a Psychosocial Group Intervention in Brazil

This article aims to evaluate the methodology of a psychosocial group intervention with low-income separated parents with small children in Brazil, which focused on the differentiation of marital and parental roles after the separation. This pilot study based on the research-action epistemology included mixed-methods of qualitative and quantitative instruments to collect data while providing the interventions to the participants.The intervention consisted in individual interviews followed by seven biweekly group sessions to address separation related issues. Besides these data, pre- and post-group questionnaires were also compared. Seven separated parents participated in the individual interviews, but only three participated on the group sessions. The data suggested four main thematic units: psychosocial group setting as a space to talk and listen, paradoxical feelings of fear and safeness in the group setting, changes through the group process, and suggestions of dissemination of the intervention. The psychosocial group intervention demonstrated to promote the differentiation of marital and parental roles by sharing experiences and feelings from the separation. However, parenting conflicts were still present by the end of the intervention. Further intervention and studies with this underserved and understudied population is recommended.