Clinical Research Directory

Theory-Based Parenting Intervention for Preschool Children's Health Behaviors

The goal of this study is to test whether a 4-week online program can help parents better support health behaviors of their preschool children (aged 3-6 years). Preschool children often rely on their parents to build health behaviors, such as being physically active, limiting screen time, drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, and washing their hands regularly. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does the program improve parents' motivation, planning, and habits related to supporting their children's health behaviors? Do parents who receive the program provide more support for their children? Do preschool children in the program show improvements in health behaviors? Can improvements explained by changes in parents' psychological factors? Researchers will compare parents who receive the program immediately to parents in a waitlist control group. Participants will: Complete online questionnaires before the program, after the program, and one month later (Intervention group only). Complete eight online sessions over four weeks using a mobile program.

Little ACF (Lilla ABC): Evaluation of a Parental Support Program for Parents of Children Aged 1-2 Years

Society can promote children's mental health at an early stage by creating good conditions with, for example, general parental support programs that are offered to all parents. One program that has been developed is called All Children in Focus (ACF) \[in Swedish: Alla Barn i Centrum (ABC)\] which has been evaluated for parents with children aged 3-12 years. The results showed effects on parenting ability, parenting strategies and on children's well-being. Staff in child health care (CHC), a natural arena for parental support programs reaching almost all families, have requested modifications in the program ACF to involve parents with younger children. The parent groups offered within CHC today are not evaluated in younger children and could be thus replaced by researched parental support based on evidence. The investigators therefore want to study the effects of a modified version of ACF for parents of children 1-2 years (Little ACF) to see if Little ACF can strengthen parenting ability and have effects on children's social and emotional development. Parents within CHC are asked to participate and are randomly assigned to Little ACF or the regular CHC program plus a lecture. Little ACF is offered during four group meetings and potential effects are measured with questionnaires. Measurements are made before randomisation, during and after participation in Little ACF. Children's behavior is followed up at 3 years through questionnaires and CHC documentation. The study can provide important knowledge about how Little ACF can promote children's mental health and strengthen parents. The investigators see it as a strength that Little ACF is based on research and on dialogue with parents and professionals. Little ACF, which is aimed at everyone, can form a basis for identifying families and children who need preventive and treatment measures.