Research project
MERTIL for Parents: A Pilot Study of an Attachment- and Trauma-Informed Online Parenting Program
Who is this research most relevant to?
- Practitioners working with young families
- Policymakers
- Program developers
- Parents of young children
Contact for further information
Overview
Early relationships lay the foundation for lifelong wellbeing, and when trust between infants and caregivers is disrupted, developmental risk increases. MERTIL for Parents is a brief, universal online program developed to help parents understand the importance of relational trust in their child’s emotional and social development. This pilot project (the first evaluation of the parenting program) was led by researchers at The Bouverie Centre in collaboration with child and family service partners across New South Wales, Australia.
Involving 75 parents of children aged 0-5 years, the study assessed the program’s acceptability and short-term outcomes. Results were overwhelmingly positive: almost all participants found the content useful, relevant, and appropriately timed, with every parent indicating they would recommend the program to others. Three months after completing the program, parents reported greater enjoyment in their relationship with their child, stronger attunement and confidence, and reduced irritability.
The findings demonstrate that MERTIL for Parents is both highly acceptable and impactful, offering a scalable, trauma-informed, and attachment-based resource to strengthen early relational health. Future research will continue to explore its long-term effects and expand its reach across diverse families and service settings.
Find out more https://www.mertil.com.au/
Key research highlights
- 98% of parents found the program useful and relevant to their parenting.
- 100% of parents said they would recommend the program to others.
- At 3-month follow-up, parents reported significant improvements in enjoyment, confidence, and attunement with their child, alongside reduced irritability (medium–large effect sizes).
Research publications and shared knowledge
MERTIL for Practitioners evaluation study
MERTIL for Parents pilot study protocol
Cloud, Z. C. G., Opie, J. E., Paterson, N., Maxwell, A.-M., Booth, A. T., Foster, H., Welsh, E. T., Gibson, T., de Quadros-Wander, S., & McIntosh, J. E. (2026). MERTIL for Parents: Pilot Study of an Attachment and Trauma-Informed Online Parenting Program. Children, 13(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13010007
Research project team
- Zoe Cloud
- Jessica E. Opie
- Ellen Welsh
- Nicole Paterson
- Anne-Marie Maxwell
- Tanudja Gibson
- Holly Foster
- Anna Booth
- Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander
- Jennifer McIntosh