Online Positive Parenting Program for Promoting Parenting Competencies and Skills: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Parenting programs, albeit effective, are not readily accessible to the general public, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: In 103 healthy caregiver-child dyads, we investigated the effectiveness of online positive parenting program on parenting sense of competencies (primary outcome), parenting styles and behavioural concerns of children aged 3-6 years (secondary outcomes) between 2 blinded, parallel groups. After block of 4 randomisations, intervention group (n = 52) attended 8-session, intensive video conference while active control group (n = 51) received weekly general education via communication application. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 8 and 14 weeks.

Results: Most parents from both groups had high education and household income. At 14 weeks, the intervention group reported higher sense of competence (Wald 9.63, p=0.008); both groups reported using more authoritative parenting style (Wald 15.52, p≤0.001) from Generalised Estimating Equations model. Compared to baseline, both groups had significant reduction of children’s emotional problems at 14 weeks (mean change: Intervention = − 0.44, p = 0.033; Control = − 0.30, p = 0.046) and behavioural problems over time (Wald 7.07, p = 0.029). Online PPP offered an easily accessible, primary preventive measure to mitigate behavioural concerns and improve parental competency.

Clinical trial registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/; TCTR20201030001; October 30, 2020.

Methods

Randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Online Positive Parenting Programme (Online PPP) in healthy caregivers and their 3- to 6-year-old children.

Author

Sararat Tuntipuchitanon Chulalongkorn University

Ing-on Kangwanthiti Chulalongkorn University

Ketsupar Jirakran Chulalongkorn University

Pon Trairatvorakul  (pon.t@chula.md) Chulalongkorn University

Weerasak Chonchaiya Chulalongkorn University

Journal
Nature The International Journal of Science

Year: 2022

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