Cultural Adaptation of the Attachment-Focused Connect Parenting Program for Ukrainian Families in Canada Affected by War and Displacement
Abstract
War and forced displacement deeply strain parent–child relationships. The ongoing war in Ukraine has intensified the need for family support. Culturally adapted, evidence-based parenting interventions for displaced Ukrainian families remain limited. This study describes the cultural adaptation of Connect, a trauma-informed, attachment-focused, evidence-supported parenting program for Ukrainian parents of children aged 8–17, affected by war and displacement and residing in Canada since 2022. The Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP) model guided iterative adaptation, while the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Interventions (FRAME) documented modifications retrospectively, and the Ecological Validity Model (EVM) was used to examine cultural relevance. Informed by contextual realities, lived experiences, and cultural values, the adaptation involved a multistage, top-down and bottom-up interaction with stakeholders. Twenty-two modifications were identified across planning, pilot implementation, and refinement, most commonly related to cultural values, as well as intervention delivery. Core Connect structure related to attachment, reflective parenting, and intervention functions were preserved, while examples, role plays, and procedures were contextually aligned. Feedback from 22 parents was collected through guided group discussion and an anonymous online survey. Group discussion transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and survey results were summarized descriptively. Participants indicated strong acceptability alongside qualitative reports of cultural fit, and emphasized greater understanding of children, parenting confidence, self-regulation, and greater parent–child mutuality. Cultural adaptation was systematically documented while preserving core intervention functions and informing future implementation.
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BibTeX
@misc{usatenko2026cultural,
title = {{Cultural Adaptation of the Attachment-Focused Connect Parenting Program for Ukrainian Families in Canada Affected by War and Displacement}},
author = {Hanna Usatenko and Roksolana Malyi-Prasol and Anh-Thu Vu and Patti Ranahan and Olha Kochubeinyk and Janet Mainland and Marlene Moretti},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/8yaum_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/8yaum_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Cultural Adaptation of the Attachment-Focused Connect Parenting Program for Ukrainian Families in Canada Affected by War and Displacement
AU - Hanna Usatenko
AU - Roksolana Malyi-Prasol
AU - Anh-Thu Vu
AU - Patti Ranahan
AU - Olha Kochubeinyk
AU - Janet Mainland
AU - Marlene Moretti
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/8yaum_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/8yaum_v1/
AB - War and forced displacement deeply strain parent–child relationships. The ongoing war in Ukraine has intensified the need for family support. Culturally adapted, evidence-based parenting interventions for displaced Ukrainian families remain limited. This study describes the cultural adaptation of Connect, a trauma-informed, attachment-focused, evidence-supported parenting program for Ukrainian parents of children aged 8–17, affected by war and displacement and residing in Canada since 2022. The Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP) model guided iterative adaptation, while the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Interventions (FRAME) documented modifications retrospectively, and the Ecological Validity Model (EVM) was used to examine cultural relevance. Informed by contextual realities, lived experiences, and cultural values, the adaptation involved a multistage, top-down and bottom-up interaction with stakeholders. Twenty-two modifications were identified across planning, pilot implementation, and refinement, most commonly related to cultural values, as well as intervention delivery. Core Connect structure related to attachment, reflective parenting, and intervention functions were preserved, while examples, role plays, and procedures were contextually aligned. Feedback from 22 parents was collected through guided group discussion and an anonymous online survey. Group discussion transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and survey results were summarized descriptively. Participants indicated strong acceptability alongside qualitative reports of cultural fit, and emphasized greater understanding of children, parenting confidence, self-regulation, and greater parent–child mutuality. Cultural adaptation was systematically documented while preserving core intervention functions and informing future implementation.
ER -