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Effectiveness of a Universal Web-based Parenting Program to Promote Positive Parenting: Patterns and Predictors on Program Satisfaction

Journal of Child and Family Studies volume 27, pages 3345–3357 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

There is a need for effective and accessible web-based intervention strategy to promote positive parenting at a population level. We tested the effectiveness of the “Educar en Positivo” (“The Positive Parent”) program by the self-assignment of 148 Spanish-speaking parents to the modules (program group) and 164 parents to multimedia complementary material (visitor group). Both groups were automatically monitored for their daily parenting mood and online parental support via a standard questionnaire. Overall, the program spontaneously attracted mainly highly educated young mothers with young children. Results of a linear growth modeling showed a sustained progression in the daily mood measures of parental role satisfaction and confidence in parenting capacities in the program group. Pretest-posttest comparison in both groups showed significant improvements in the two types of measures only in the program group. Cluster analyses showed improvements in the daily mood but not in the standard measures of online support in 40% of participants (Clusters 1 and 2) as well as improvements involving a greater coherence across these measures in 60% of participants (Clusters 3 and 4). Participants in Clusters 3 and 4 reported greater satisfaction than participants in Clusters 1 and 2 with the program’s usability, content, and parenting impact. These results were modulated by the parents’ greater forum participation, use of a diary, and family-related commitments. The existence of asynchronies in the learning process and the relevance of implementation factors have research implications for the evaluation of universal online parenting programs.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the Grants PSI2015-69971-R and EDU2012-38588.

Author Contributions:

A.S. designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses, and wrote the paper. S.B. collaborated with the data analyses and revised the paper. M.J.R Collaborated with the design of the study, with the data analyses, and wrote the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla, Calle Fernán González, 76, 09003, Burgos, Spain

    Arminda Suárez

  2. Facultad de Psicología, Instituto Universitario de Neurociencias, Universidad de La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, 38205, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    Sonia Byrne & María José Rodrigo

Authors
  1. Arminda Suárez
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  2. Sonia Byrne
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  3. María José Rodrigo
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Correspondence to Arminda Suárez.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Universidad de La Laguna (Spain) that provided IRB approval.

Informed Consent

Participants of the “Positive Parent” program were informed about the treatment of their personal data, according to the Ley de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal, de 24 de mayo de 2018, ISBN: 978-84-340-2157-0.

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Suárez, A., Byrne, S. & Rodrigo, M.J. Effectiveness of a Universal Web-based Parenting Program to Promote Positive Parenting: Patterns and Predictors on Program Satisfaction. J Child Fam Stud 27, 3345–3357 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1162-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1162-9

Keywords:

  • Internet parenting intervention
  • Patterns of individual change
  • Daily parenting mood
  • Online support
  • Program implementation
  • Program satisfaction