Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-b4m5d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-27T21:21:22.491Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Technology-based parenting interventions for children's physical and psychological health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2019

Juan M. Flujas-Contreras Open the ORCID record for Juan M. Flujas-Contreras [Opens in a new window] ,
Azucena García-Palacios Open the ORCID record for Azucena García-Palacios [Opens in a new window]  and
Inmaculada Gómez
Juan M. Flujas-Contreras*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
Azucena García-Palacios
Affiliation:
Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical and Psychobiology – Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments, University Jaume I, Castellon, Spain
Inmaculada Gómez
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
*
Author for correspondence: Juan M. Flujas-Contreras, E-mail: jfc397@ual.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Parenting interventions have important consequences for the wellbeing and emotional competences of parents and their children. Technology provides an opportunity with advantages for psychological intervention. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions for parents to promote children's physical health or psychological issues.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis for articles about parenting skills for prevention or treatment of children's physical or psychological concerns using technology. We explore the aim of the intervention with parents, kind of problem with children, intervention model, instruments, methodological quality, and risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included in the systematic review and a meta-analysis of 22 studies was performed to find out the effects of intervention depending on the kind of problem, intervention model, follow-up, type of intervention, type of control condition, and type of outcome data. Results show the usefulness of technology-based therapy for parenting interventions with moderate effect sizes for intervention groups with statistically significant differences from control groups.

Conclusions

Technology-based parenting programs have positive effects on parenting and emotional wellbeing of parents and children. Attendance and participation level in technology-based treatment increase compared with traditional parenting intervention.

Keywords

ChildreneHealthinformation and communication technologiesmeta-analysisparenting
Type
Review Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 11 , August 2019 , pp. 1787 - 1798
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aardoom, JJ, Dingemans, AE, Spinhoven, P, van Ginkel, JR, de Rooij, M and van Furth, EF (2016) Web-based fully automated self-help with different levels of therapist support for individuals with eating disorder symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 18, e159.Google Scholar
Abidin, RR (1990) Parenting Stress Index - Short Form. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
Antonini, TN, Raj, SP, Oberjohn, KS, Cassedy, A, Makoroff, KL, Fouladi, M and Wade, SL (2014) A pilot randomized trial of an online parenting skills program for pediatric traumatic brain injury: improvements in parenting and child behavior. Behavior Therapy 45, 455–468.Google Scholar
Arnold, DS, O'Leary, SG, Wolff, LS and Acker, MM (1993) The Parenting Scale: A measure of dysfunctional parenting in discipline situations. Psychological Assessment 5, 137–144.Google Scholar
Barlow, J, Smailagic, N, Ferriter, M, Bennett, C and Jones, H (2010) Group-based parent-training programmes for improving emotional and behavioural adjustment in children from birth to three years old. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 3, CD003680.Google Scholar
Beauchaine, TP, Webster-Stratton, C and Reid, MJ (2005) Mediators, moderators, and predictors of 1-year outcomes among children treated for early-onset conduct problems: a latent growth curve analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 73, 371–388.Google Scholar
Breitenstein, SM, Fogg, L, Ocampo, EV, Acosta, DI and Gross, D (2016) Parent use and efficacy of a self-administered, tablet-based parent training intervention: a randomized controlled trial. JMIR MHealth and UHealth 4, e36.Google Scholar
Bruning Brown, J, Winzelberg, AJ, Abascal, LB and Taylor, CB (2004) An evaluation of an Internet-delivered eating disorder prevention program for adolescents and their parents. The Journal of Adolescent Health 35, 290–296.Google Scholar
Bothroyd, R (1997) Preliminary Manual for the Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale. Tampa, FL: Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Heatlh Institute.Google Scholar
Choi, H, Dancy, BL, Lee, E and Fogg, LF (2010) Computer-Based Education Program for Korean American Parents of Adolescents, Paper presented at Chicago Research Day, Illinois, 12 March.Google Scholar
Cuijpers, P, Marks, IM, van Straten, A, Cavanagh, K, Gega, L and Andersson, G (2009) Computer-aided psychotherapy for anxiety disorders: a meta-analytic review. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 38, 66–82.Google Scholar
Cullen, K, Baranowski, T, Rittenberry, L, Cosart, C, Owens, E, Hebert, D and de Moor, C (2000) Socioenvironmental influences on children's fruit, juice and vegetable consumption as reported by parents: reliability and validity of measures. Public Health Nutrition 3, 345–356.Google Scholar
Cushing, CC and Steele, RG (2010) A meta-analytic review of eHealth interventions for pediatric health promoting and maintaining behaviors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 35, 937–949.Google Scholar
D'zurilla, T and Nezu, A (1990) Development and preliminary evaluation of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2, 156–163.Google Scholar
Eccleston, C, Fisher, E, Law, E, Bartlett, J and Palermo, TM (2015) Psychological interventions for parents of children and adolescents with chronic illness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 4, CD009660.Google Scholar
Ehrensaft, MK, Knous-Westfall, HM and Alonso, TL (2016) Web-based prevention of parenting difficulties in young, urban mothers enrolled in post-secondary education. Journal of Primary Prevention 37, 527–542.Google Scholar
Emser, TS, Mazzucchelli, TG, Christiansen, H and Sanders, MR (2016) Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale-Developmental Disability (CAPES-DD): First psychometric evaluation of a new child and parenting assessment tool for children with a developmental disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities 53–54, 158–177.Google Scholar
Eyberg, S and Robinson, E (1981) Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System. Seattle, WA: Parenting Clinic, University of Washington.Google Scholar
Gómez, I, Hernández, M, Martín, MJ and Gutiérrez, C (2005) Los problemas en la infancia y el papel de los estilos educativos de los padres. Granada: CSV.Google Scholar
Gordon, D (2011) Parenting Wisely evaluation tools. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Gross, D and Rocissano, L (1988) Maternal confidence in toddlerhood: its measurement for clinical practice and research. The Nurse Practitioner 13, 12–22.Google Scholar
Hedges, LV and Olkin, I (1985) Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Heinrichs, N, Bertram, H, Kuschel, A and Hahlweg, K (2005) Parent recruitment and retention in a universal prevention program for child behavior and emotional problems: barriers to research and program participation. Prevention Science 6, 275–286.Google Scholar
Heron, KE and Smyth, JM (2010) Ecological momentary interventions: incorporating mobile technology into psychosocial and health behavior treatments. British Journal of Health Psychology 15, 1–39.Google Scholar
Higgins, JPT and Green, S (2011) Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0. The Cochrane Collaboration.Google Scholar
Hollis, C, Falconer, CJ, Martin, JL, Whittington, C, Stockton, S, Glazebrook, C and Davies, EB (2017) Annual Research Review: digital health interventions for children and young people with mental health problems – a systematic and meta-review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines 58, 474–503.Google Scholar
Jones, TL and Prinz, RJ (2005) Potential roles of parental self-efficacy in parent and child adjustment: a review. Clinical Psychology Review 25, 341–363.Google Scholar
Johnston, C and Mash, EJ (1989) A measure of parenting satisfaction and efficacy. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 18, 167–175.Google Scholar
Kaminski, JW, Valle, LA, Filene, JH and Boyle, CL (2008) A meta-analytic review of components associated with parent training program effectiveness. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 36, 567–589.Google Scholar
Kauer, SD, Reid, SC, Crooke, AHD, Khor, A, Hearps, SJC, Jorm, AF, Sanci, L and Patton, G (2012) Self-monitoring using mobile phones in the early stages of adolescent depression: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 14, e67.Google Scholar
Lindahl Norberg, A, Pöder, U and von Essen, L (2011) Early avoidance of disease-and treatment-related distress predicts post-traumatic stress in parents of children with cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 15, 80–84.Google Scholar
Lozano-Rodríguez, I and Valero-Aguayo, L (2017) Una revisión sistemática de la eficacia de los programas de entrenamiento a padres. Revista de psicologia clínica con niños y adolescentes 4, 85–91.Google Scholar
MacDonell, KW and Prinz, RJ (2017) A review of technology-based youth and family-focused interventions. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 20, 185–200.Google Scholar
Maliken, AC and Katz, LF (2013) Exploring the impact of parental psychopathology and emotion regulation on evidence-based parenting interventions: a transdiagnostic approach to improving treatment effectiveness. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 16, 173–186.Google Scholar
Marsac, ML, Kassam-Adams, N, Hildenbrand, AK, Kohser, K, and Winston, FK (2011) After the injury: Initial evaluation of a web-based intervention for parents of injured children. Health Education Research 26, 1–12.Google Scholar
McConachie, H and Diggle, T (2007) Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 13, 120–129.Google Scholar
Mitchell, A and Fraser, J (2011) Parents’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-reported task performance when managing atopic dermatitis in children: Instrument reliability and validity. International Journal of Nursing Studies 48, 215–226Google Scholar
Moher, D, Liberati, A, Tetzlaff, J, Altman, DG and Prisma Group (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine 6, e1000097.Google Scholar
Moncrieff, J, Churchill, R, Drummond, DC and McGuire, H (2001) Development of a quality assessment instrument for trials of treatments for depression and neurosis. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 10, 126–133.Google Scholar
Morawska, A, Tometzki, H and Sanders, MR (2014) An evaluation of the efficacy of a triple P-positive parenting program podcast series. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 35, 128–137.Google Scholar
Morawska, A, Calam, R and Fraser, J (2015) Parenting interventions for childhood chronic illness. Journal of Child Health Care 19, 5–17.Google Scholar
National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2009) Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Nieuwboer, CC, Fukkink, RG and Hermanns, JMA (2013) Online programs as tools to improve parenting: a meta-analytic review. Children and Youth Services Review 35, 1823–1829.Google Scholar
Nilsson, S, Finnström, B, Kokinsky, E and Enskär, K (2009) The use of Virtual Reality for needle-related procedural pain and distress in children and adolescents in a paediatric oncology unit. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 13, 102–109.Google Scholar
Palermo, TM, Law, EF, Fales, J, Bromberg, MH, Jessen-Fiddick, T and Tai, G (2015) Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescents with chronic pain and their parents: a randomized controlled multicenter trial. Pain 157, 174–185.Google Scholar
Palermo, TM, Witherspoon, D, Valenzuela, D and Drotar, DD (2004) Development and validation of the Child Activity Limitations Interview: A measure of pain-related functional impairment in school-age children and adolescents. Pain 109, 461–470.Google Scholar
Patterson, GR, DeGarmo, D and Forgatch, MS (2004) Systematic changes in families following prevention trials. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 32, 621–633.Google Scholar
Riva, G (2009) Virtual reality: an experiential tool for clinical psychology. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling 37, 337–345.Google Scholar
Robles, Z and Romero, E (2011) Programas de entrenamiento para padres de niños con problemas de conducta: una revisión de su eficacia. Anales de Psicologia 27, 86–101.Google Scholar
Roth, WR, Vilardaga, R, Wolfe, N, Bricker, JB and McDonell, MG (2014) Practical considerations in the design and development of smartphone apps for behavior change. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science 3, 269–272.Google Scholar
Salonen, A, Kaunonen, M, Åstedt‐Kurki, P, Järvenpää, AL, Isoaho, H and Tarkka, MT (2009) Parenting self‐efficacy after childbirth,. Journal of Advanced Nursing 65, 2324–2336.Google Scholar
Sanders, M, Calam, R, Durand, M, Liversidge, T and Carmont, SA (2008) Does self-directed and web-based support for parents enhance the effects of viewing a reality television series based on the Triple P-Positive Parenting Programme? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines 49, 924–932.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and Woolley, ML (2005) The relationship between maternal self-efficacy and parenting practices: Implications for parent training. Child: Care, Health and Development 31, 65–73.Google Scholar
Shiffman, S, Stone, A and Hufford, M (2008) Ecological momentary assessment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 4, 1–32.Google Scholar
Spek, V, Cuijpers, PIM, Nyklíček, I, Riper, H, Keyzer, J and Pop, V (2007) Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for symptoms of depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine 37, 319–328.Google Scholar
van Beelen, MEJ, Beirens, TMJ, den Hertog, P, van Beeck, EF and Raat, H (2014) Effectiveness of web-based tailored advice on parents’ child safety behaviors: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 16, e17.Google Scholar
Vilardaga, R, Bricker, J and McDonell, M (2014) The promise of mobile technologies and single case designs for the study of individuals in their natural environment. Journal of Contextual Behavioral 3, 148–153.Google Scholar
Wade, SL, Carey, J and Wolfe, CR (2006) An online family intervention to reduce parental distress following pediatric brain injury. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 74, 445–454.Google Scholar
Weathers, FW, Litz, BT, Herman, DS, Huska, XA and Keane, TM (1993) The PTSD Checklist (PCL): Reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility. Paper presented at the 9th Annual Convention of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Texas, October.Google Scholar
Wenze, SJ and Miller, IW (2010) Use of ecological momentary assessment in mood disorders research. Clinical Psychology Review 30, 794–804.Google Scholar
Whittingham, K (2014) Parents of children with disabilities, mindfulness and acceptance: A review and a call for research. Mindfulness 5, 704–709.Google Scholar
Wiederhold, B and Wiederhold, M (2006) The future of Cybertherapy: improved options with advanced technologies. In Riva, G, Botella, C, Légeron, P and Optale, G (eds), Cybertherapy: Internet and Virtual Reality as Assessment and Rehabilitation Tools for Clinical Psychology & Neuroscience. Amsterdam: IOS Press, pp. 263–227.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1992) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Flujas-Contreras et al. supplementary material

Appendix B

Download Flujas-Contreras et al. supplementary material(File)
File 20 KB
Supplementary material: File

Flujas-Contreras et al. supplementary material

Appendix A

Download Flujas-Contreras et al. supplementary material(File)
File 12.6 KB