Building social capital in first-time parents through a group-parenting program: a questionnaire survey

Parents who are connected into strong family and community networks are said to have high social capital enabling them to provide a positive context where their children's social, emotional and educational needs are met.

To identify parent satisfaction with, strengths and weaknesses of, opportunities to build social capital, and the impact of a two-course pilot health and relationship focused Parenting Education Program-PEPE, designed for first-time parents, on the core work of the well-child nurse/health visitor.

Retrospective descriptive survey using postal questionnaires.

Twelve pilot parenting courses facilitated across five regions of New Zealand.

All parents (n = 105) and clinical nursing staff (n = 12) involved in the pilot parenting courses were invited to participate. Overall response rate was 82%.

Questionnaires developed by investigators were mailed to the eligible population. Numerical data was analysed using PC-SAS. Narrative data was subjected to thematic content analysis.

Attendance at both parenting courses positively correlated with an increase in measures of social capital: development of strong social networks (82% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 75-89, and 98% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 96-100), and positive relationships with others (93% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 88-98, and 86% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 83-89). Increased confidence in respondent's parenting ability was also identified (96% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 92-100; 96% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI 93-99).

The PEPE programme was well accepted by first-time parents leading to significant improvements in development of social capital and parenting confidence. Well-child health nurses are in a prime position to foster social capital and help rebuild communities within which they work to enhance parenting outcomes.