Strengths to Grow - Preteen: An Online Parenting Resource

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Research suggests that strength-based parenting programs can enhance family well-being, but the current formats of these programs (e.g., in-person workshops) are not accessible to many families. The first aim of the study is to adapt Strengths to Grow, an accessible and engaging strength-based parenting program, for pre-teens. The second aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness this adapted program (Strengths to Grow: Preteen). Toward this end, parents of children in Grades 4 through 8 will be invited to complete a brief, online survey of well-being before and a few weeks after completing the online program to assess its impact on well-being.

Detailed Description
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Strength-based Parenting Strength-based parenting is a style of caregiving which identifies and cultivates strengths in the child and caregiver. When parents employ a strength-based parenting style, youth tend to demonstrate greater academic achievement, resilience, and overall well-being, and parents tend to experience more well-being within the caregiving role. Additionally, it is believed that caregivers can develop a strength-based parenting style through training and practice. For these reasons, several strength-based parenting programs have been developed. Character Strengths Strength-based parenting programs typically focus on helping parents to identify and develop a particular type of strength known as character strengths. Character strengths are personal qualities that are widely regarded as morally good (e.g., bravery, curiosity, kindness). In 2004, Peterson and Seligman completed a comprehensive review that identified 24 character strengths. The development and use of these 24 character strengths has consistently demonstrated associations with well-being across the lifespan. Strength-based Parenting Programs The content of strength-based parenting programs typically revolves around introducing parents to character strengths, helping parents to identify character strengths within themselves and their child, teaching parents to notice and encourage their child's use of strengths, and helping parents to employ their strengths within the caregiving role. Within the published literature, strength-based parenting programs have been delivered in two formats: in-person workshops and online handouts. These programs have demonstrated positive effects, including improving caregiving self-efficacy, positive emotions toward the child, and family well-being relative to waitlist control groups. However, the format of these programs may have limited the number of parents who could access and engage with the resources. Access and Engagement It is important to consider the extent to which caregivers can access and engage with programs because access and engagement are necessary pre-requisites to program effectiveness. Research on parenting programs suggests that in-person workshops are not accessible to many families, particularly families of lower socio-economic status. Online handouts may be more accessible, but may struggle to engage families, as interactive, media-rich online materials tend to be more engaging. To address these concerns, O'Byrne et al (in press) developed an online strength-based parenting intervention for kindergarten-aged children, Strengths to Grow, designed to maximize accessibility and engagement by providing the program online using interactive rather than static materials. An Online, Interactive, Strength-based Parenting Program for Preteens In a preliminary evaluation of the Strengths to Grow program, O'Byrne et al. (in press) found that parents reacted positively to the online, interactive format and the strength-based content. Additionally, within the sample, the program was accessible to families of lower socio-economic status who are difficult to access with in-person resources. While a more formal assessment of the effectiveness of Strengths to Grow is underway, preliminary findings suggest that the Strengths to Grow model may be effective at engaging hard-to-reach parents. However, the current Strengths to Grow program is designed specifically for parents of kindergarten to Grade 3 children. Because the strengths profiles and displays of kindergarten children may be different from other age groups, the current iteration of Strengths to Grow may not be generalizable to older children. Thus, the present research seeks to broaden the reach of Strengths to Grow by adapting it for parents of pre-adolescents (Grades 4 to 8; Strengths to Grow: Preteen). In addition, the present study will investigate 1. who is accessing Strengths to Grow: Preteen; 2. how Strengths to Grow: Preteen is being accessed; 3. whether participants report being satisfied with Strengths to Grow: Preteen; and 4. whether specific participant characteristics predict satisfaction with Strengths to Grow: Preteen.

Official Title
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Strengths to Grow Preteen: An Online Parenting Resource

Conditions
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Mental Health Wellness 1

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Strengths to Grow: Preteen


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Parent of a child(ren) who is enrolled in Grade 4 to 8 at the Upper Grand District School Board in Guelph, Ontario Able to read and write in English (linguistic proficiency equivalent to a Grade 8 reading level or greater) Consent to participate in the research study
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: The current study is a two-wave randomized controlled trial that employs a 2 (group - between participants) by 2 (time - within participants) mixed measures design to assess a brief online strength-based parenting program.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental Group<br>Behavioral: Strengths to Grow Program In an online, self-directed format, the Strengths to Grow: Preteen program will present the principles of strength-based parenting using videos, pictures, reflection questions, and written text. The intervention will communicate that a) every child has a unique set of strengths and that b) noticing and developing these strengths can enhance child and family well-being. It will also provide concrete steps that parents can follow to talk with their child about strengths, and it will provide ideas for family activities that would allow family members to express strengths. Participants will be invited to respond to reflection questions at various points throughout the program. | Behavioral: Strengths to Grow: Preteen<br>* An online, strength based parenting program for parents of preteens (aged 9-14).<br>|
| No Intervention: Waitlist Control Group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parenting Sense of Competence Scale: Efficacy Subscale (Johnston & Mash, 1989) | Caregiving Self-Efficacy; 1 = Strongly Disagree to 6 = Strongly Agree; higher scores indicate increased sense of competence | 1 week | 
| Modified Differential Emotions Scale (Fredrickson, 2013) [Instructions modified to capture child-oriented emotions consistent with Waters and Sun (2016)] | Parent child-Oriented Positive Emotions; 0 = Never to 4 = Most of the time; higher scores indicate increased positive emotions | 1 week | 
| Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) | Parent happiness; 1 to 7 (various anchors); higher scores indicated increased happiness | 1 week | 
| Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (Kroenke et al., 2009) [Instructions modified to capture parent's perceptions of child mental health] | Child mental health; 0 = Not at all to 4 = Nearly every day; higher scores indicate worse mental health | 1 week | 
| Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1994) | Parent stress; 0 = Never to 4 = Very often; higher scores indicate higher stress | 1 week |