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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: [email protected]
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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 

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