The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of individual and/or group based parenting programmes in improving psychosocial and developmental outcomes in teenage mothers and their children.
The findings of the review are based on four randomised controlled trials, and are therefore limited. The results suggest, however, that parenting programmes may be effective in improving a range of psychosocial and developmental outcomes for teenage mothers and their children.
Further research is needed, particularly that which includes long‐term follow‐up of the children of teen parents and the role of young fathers as well as young mothers.
Synopsis
There is evidence from a range of studies which suggests adverse child outcomes for the children of teenage parents. Parenting programmes are increasingly being used to promote the well‐being of parents and children, and this review aims to establish whether they can improve outcomes for teenage parents and their children.
The findings of the review are based on a small number of studies, and are therefore limited. The results suggest, however, that parenting programmes may be effective in improving a range of psychosocial and developmental outcomes for teenage mothers and their children. Further research is needed, particularly that which includes long‐term follow‐up of the children of teen parents and the role of young fathers as well as young mothers.
Abstract
BackgroundThe rate of births to teenage parentsRates of births to teenage parents are high and there is also a high incidence of poor outcomes among the children of teenage parents including developmental and learning problems, and child maltreatment. Parenting programmes may have an important role to play in improving outcomes for both teenage parents and their children.
ObjectivesThe aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of individual and/or group based parenting programmes in improving psychosocial and developmental outcomes in teenage mothers and their children.
Search strategyA range of biomedical and social science databases were searched including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychLIT, Sociofile, Social Science Citation Index, ASSIA, the Cochrane Library including SPECTR, CENTRAL, National Research Register (NRR) and ERIC.
Selection criteriaOnly randomised controlled trials were included in which participants had been randomly allocated to an experimental and a control group, the latter being a waiting‐list, no‐treatment or a placebo control group. Studies had to include at least one standardised instrument measuring maternal psychosocial health or infant health and development.
Data collection & analysisThe included studies were critically appraised using a number of criteria including the method of allocation concealment. The treatment effect for each outcome in each study was standardised by dividing the mean difference in post‐intervention scores for the intervention and treatment group, by the pooled standard deviation, to produce an effect size. Due to the presence of signif...