Vulnerable children in families affected by parental mental illness: The role of theory in programme development

Abstract

People who experience mental illness frequently undertake parenting duties. While this group of parents can parent well, they often experience challenges that are associated with adverse impacts upon their children's mental health. A robust body of evidence does not currently exist to indicate interventions for this group that are most effective in promoting positive outcomes. We argue that, in this context, theory and the use of theoretical models are advantageous for practitioners to increase the effectiveness of interventions. This paper presents an analysis of the explicitly stated theoretical models used to guide published evaluations targeting this vulnerable group of children and young people. Almost half (46%) of the published evaluations examined failed to state explicitly or describe a theoretical underpinning for the intervention programme. Of those programmes that did use theory there was an emphasis on individual-focused theories drawn from psychology, psychiatry and social work rather than mainstream health promotion theories.

Keywords:

• Children
• parental mental illness
• theory
• prevention

Acknowledgements

The systematic review that underpinned much of the data presented here was funded by a Faculty Research Grant from the (then) Faculty for Regional Development, La Trobe University. We thank Sandra Kippen and two anonymous reviewers for useful feedback on an earlier draft of this paper.