Feasibility of a school-based parenting intervention for adolescent parents

Abstract

Associated with complex developmental, personal, and environmental risk factors, adolescent parents have been found to display higher rates of unfavorable parenting practices than adult parents, placing their children at high risk for social, emotional and behavioral concerns. Nevertheless, interventions targeting this group often focus solely on adolescents’ personal outcomes. This study evaluated the acceptability and fidelity of a relationship-focused intervention to increase positive parenting among adolescents with young children, adapted from the Parents Interacting with Infants model. The intervention was delivered via groups in high schools that housed daycare centers for children born to adolescents. Multiple-case study data were evaluated for adolescent parents from each group to describe potential effects of the intervention on parenting behaviors. Delivery of the intervention was feasible and acceptable in a high school group context, suggesting this program can be implemented in a highly accessible format. Case study data suggest positive effects on parental affect, responsiveness, verbalizations, and social initiations.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• parenting
• intervention
• education
• school

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Marianne Clinton for her assistance with manuscript preparation.