The current study investigated the effectiveness of a prebirth coparenting intervention in improving attachment and decreasing intimate partner violence amongst Latino adolescent coparenting couples. Participants included 56 expectant adolescent couples. Adolescent couples participated in a baseline assessment occurring before the adolescent mother was 26 weeks gestation, and participated in two follow-up assessments at 8 weeks and 18 months postbirth. Adolescent couples were randomized into the intervention group (n=25) or control group (n=21) following the baseline assessment, with intervention couples participating in 5-10 intervention sessions occurring before the baby was born. Ten couples were assigned to one of the groups, but did not participate past the baseline assessment. The intervention was designed to assess the relationship between intimate partner violence and attachment, improve the attachment and prevent the development of intimate partner violence in the coparenting relationship.

Results indicated that couples participating in the coparenting intervention had lower levels of intimate partner violence after the baby was born. There were no observed intervention effects on the attachment in the coparenting relationship nor were intimate partner violence and attachment shown to be related. As the first study to investigate the use of a coparenting intervention with Latino, adolescent, coparenting couples, the results of the current study offer support for the continued development of coparenting interventions, particularly as they relate to the prevention of intimate partner violence.