A systematic review of technology‐assisted parenting programs for mental health problems in youth aged 0–18 years: Applicability to underserved Australian communities

Abstract

Objective: Youth mental health problems have been identified as a major public health concern. However, there are a number of parent populations that remain under-engaged with face-to-face parenting programs, which include fathers, and parents of lower socioeconomic position and rural location. This review aimed to evaluate the evidence for technology-assisted parenting programs for youth mental health and parenting outcomes; as well as the extent to which they engage underserved parent populations and how they can be better tailored for these groups in an Australian context. Methods: Employing the PRISMA method, we conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials of technology-assisted parenting programs for youth mental health problems. Results: We identified 43 articles that met inclusion criteria, consisting of 25 randomised controlled trials along with 8 and 10 articles describing intervention development and follow-up, respectively. Some evidence was found to support the use of technology-assisted parenting programs, particularly to improve externalising problems and parenting skills. Additionally, program development and recruitment strategies to engage underserved parents were under-utilised among studies reviewed. Conclusions: Findings from this review indicate that technology-assisted parenting programs may present an effective alternative to traditional face-to-face programs. However, more comprehensive and evidence-based strategies are required for program development and recruitment to capitalise on the advantages of technologyassisted programs to enhance engagement with underserved parent populations. Further research should investigate program attributes and engagement strategies for diverse parent populations.

Medium-Term Effects of a Tailored Web-Based Parenting Intervention to Reduce Adolescent Risk of Depression and Anxiety: 12-Month Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…On the basis of the findings of a recent systematic review of technology-assisted preventive parenting interventions [27], PiP is the only online intervention aimed at preventing adolescent internalizing disorders. According to Yap et al’s review [18], the only other universal preventive intervention for parents of adolescents is Tuning in to Teens (TINT), a group parenting program targeting emotion socialization [19].…”

“…First, despite successfully recruiting a large community sample, there was overrepresentation by mothers and highly educated parents. Although this is a limitation shared by most online preventive parenting interventions [27], it urgently needs to be redressed so that the dissemination of evidence-based online interventions does not perpetuate the exclusion of fathers and of parents from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds, inadvertently contributing to the widening of social inequalities in health between families of higher versus lower socioeconomic positions [59]. Second, for reasons of parsimony, this study only included 1 parent and 1 adolescent per family.…”

“…Finally, given that the onset of depression and some anxiety disorders peaks in mid-to-late adolescence, a longer-term follow-up examining cases of disorder is required to adequately test whether PiP can prevent the onset of depression and anxiety disorders across adolescence and into early adulthood. Such evidence is notably lacking in preventive parenting intervention research [18,27].…”

“…Web-based platforms have the potential to overcome some of these barriers because of the anonymity and accessibility they afford [26]. However, a recent systematic review of technology-assisted parenting programs to prevent mental health problems in children aged 0 to 18 years [27] identified only 1 Web-based preventive parenting intervention that targets adolescent internalizing problems, known as PiP.…”

Reviews: An introduction

“…Finally, the last paper in this issue by Hansen and Broomfield of Monash University and Yap Hansen, Broomfield, and Yap () from Monash and Melbourne Universities looks at the impact of delivering parenting programs using technology and their effectiveness in assisting both the parent and the child/youth. Briefly, they conclude that technology has a significant role to play in improving parenting skills and in reducing externalising problems.…”