The SPACE Parenting Program: A rapid-response e-health program development and evaluation to meet family needs during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

• In Event: Teleheath Approaches to Fostering Positive Parenting, Child Regulation, and Sleep

Abstract

Background: Supportive parent-child relationships shape children's ability to build relationships and navigate the world around them. They are increasingly understood to be the single most important predictor of resilient child development in the preschool period. The COVID-19 pandemic placed immense pressure on parents' capacities to engage in consistently supportive interactions due to factors such as limited childcare, financial strain, and poor mental health. Yet, very few evidence-based programs exist to support families. The current study aimed to 1) examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel e-health program for parents of young children and 2) assess preliminary treatment effects for parenting practices and parent wellbeing.

Methods: The Supporting Parent And Child Emotional well-being (SPACE) parenting program is an eight-week program designed to directly and immediately respond to family needs during the pandemic. SPACE combines best practices in emotion-focused parenting in a format guided by consultation with our Parent Advisory Board and rapid-response Parenting During the Pandemic study (April to August 2020; N=1000+ families). SPACE is administered in an asynchronous approach that includes the delivery of materials (i.e., psychoeducational videos, hands-on emotion-focused activities) alongside a virtual and interactive facilitator-led parenting group. Eligible participants were Manitoba residents, age 18 or older, legal guardians to a child aged 3-4 years old, proficient in English, had access to a device with a camera, and experiencing elevated parenting stress (PSI-SF, >50th percentile). All participants completed questionnaires through the secure REDCap online platform at baseline, post-intervention, and a three-month follow-up.

Results: Mothers (N=35) were recruited for the Phase 1 Feasibility randomized control trial of the SPACE program from February to May 2021. Participants were randomized using an online allocation tool to SPACE (n=17) or services as usual (SAU; n=18). Objective 1: Engagement was relatively high, with 83.8% attending throughout the telehealth sessions and 85.7% attending ≥1 sessions. On average, 80.7% of participants watched the video content while 89.8% engaged with the handouts each week. Most participants spent 15-45 minutes/week engaged with the handouts although 1-2 participants each week were unable to spend time on the materials. Most respondents reported that the program format and materials were helpful; in particular, the examples in the videos were relevant and easy to put into practice, the handouts resonated with their needs, and the drop-in groups made them feel supported. Objective 2: Pre-post results demonstrated small and non-significant treatment effects in the intended direction for the Parenting Young Children subscale indicating increased support of positive behaviours in children (η2 = .014). No significant treatment effects were observed for other parenting behaviours, depressive symptoms, spanking, or child behaviour compared to SAU. However, promising areas for future large efficacy trials will be described through descriptive data.

Conclusions: The SPACE program demonstrates promise as a novel, feasible, and acceptable intervention to improve parenting stress and parenting practices in parents of young children during and after the pandemic, with the overall goal of optimizing child development through supportive parent-child interactions. Clinical implications and future directions will be discussed.

Authors

• Emily E Cameron, University of Manitoba
  Presenting Author

• Shaelyn Stienwandt, University of Manitoba

• Chhavvy Narendra, University of Manitoba

• Leslie E. Roos, University of Manitoba