A web-based, health promotion program for adolescent girls and their mothers who reside in public housing

Abstract

This study tested a brief web-based, family-involvement health promotion program aimed at drug use, physical activity, and nutrition for adolescent girls, aged 10 to 12 years, who reside in public housing. Separately, girls (n = 67) and their mothers (n = 67) completed baseline measures online. Following baseline, 36 randomly assigned mother-daughter dyads jointly completed a 3-session, health promotion program online. Subsequently, all girls and mothers separately completed posttest and 5-month follow-up measures. Attrition at posttest and 5-month follow-up measures was 3% and 9%, respectively. At posttest, intervention-arm girls, relative to control-arm girls, reported greater mother-daughter communication and parental monitoring. Intervention-arm mothers reported greater mother-daughter communication and closeness as well as increased vegetable intake and physical activity. At 5-month follow-up, intervention-arm girls and mothers, relative to those in the control arm, reported greater levels of parental monitoring. Intervention-arm girls also reported greater mother-daughter communication and closeness, reduced stress, greater refusal skills, and increased fruit intake. Findings indicate the potential of a brief, web-based program to improve the health of low-income girls and their mothers.

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

“…In contrast, male caregivers were severely underrepresented (on average 5.0%), with only three studies including more than 10% male caregivers (Khanna et al, ; MacKenzie & Hilgedick, ; Yap et al, ). No male caregivers were primary recipients of the intervention in eight studies (Breitensteinet al, 2016; Fang et al, 2010; Hemdi & Daley, ; Sanders et al, ; Schinke et al, ; Schinke et al, ; Schwinn et al, ; Van Zeijl et al, ). In most studies, the majority (>50%) of the sample were educated with post‐secondary qualifications ( n = 14, Baker et al, ; Cardamone‐Breen et al, ; Day & Sanders, ; DuPaul et al, ; Fang et al, ; Hemdi & Daley, ; Jones et al, ; Khanna et al, ; Morgan et al, ; Sanders et al, ; Sanders et al, ; Schinke et al, ; Schinke et al, ; Schwinn et al, ; Yap et al, ).…”

Using e-technologies in clinical trials

“…Most of the published research on data collection using e-technologies is about using Electronic Data Capture (EDC) data entry systems (Babre, 2011) and Internet-based strategies for administering surveys and questionnaires for behavioral or health promotion studies (Stone et al, 2003; Geyer, et al 2011; Anton et al, 2012; Muzafkar et al, 2014; Schwinn et al, 2014). A novel approach for data collection that is facilitated by e-technologies is the ecological momentary assessment (EMA), which is a method designed to collect data in real time, recently extended to also deliver interventions for individuals with substance use disorders as well (Shiffman, 2009; Runyan et al, 2013; Epstein et al, 2014).…”

An overview of the Families Improving Together (FIT) for weight loss randomized controlled trial in African American families

“…44–49 A recent review found evidence that technology-based interventions, including web-based weight loss programs, may be efficacious in promoting weight loss and increasing physical activity in adolescents. 47 However, none of the studies reviewed integrated intervention components for targeting positive parenting strategies or cultural issues related to weight loss.…”

“…47 However, none of the studies reviewed integrated intervention components for targeting positive parenting strategies or cultural issues related to weight loss. Other research has demonstrated that web-based interventions may be relatively easy to disseminate and more likely to lead to improvements in health behaviors related to diet in ethnic minority 50–53 and low income 49 adolescents. Schwinn and colleagues 49 tested a brief web-based, family-involvement health promotion program designed for adolescent girls living in public housing and their mothers.…”

“…Other research has demonstrated that web-based interventions may be relatively easy to disseminate and more likely to lead to improvements in health behaviors related to diet in ethnic minority 50–53 and low income 49 adolescents. Schwinn and colleagues 49 tested a brief web-based, family-involvement health promotion program designed for adolescent girls living in public housing and their mothers. The program focused on developing positive mother-daughter relationships and targeted family communication and coping skills.…”