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A Systematic Review of Early General Parenting Interventions: Long-term Effects in Underrepresented Populations and
Hope I White1,2, Katherine Holmbeck1,3,4, Jennifer Ratmansky1,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Insights
Brief, group-based parenting programs for parents of young children (ages 2-5) show promise for long-term obesity prevention in underrepresented groups, especially with cultural adaptations and skill practice.
Area of Science:
- Childhood Obesity Prevention
- Parenting Interventions
- Public Health
Background:
- Early-life obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Parenting interventions show short-term success but lack long-term data, especially in diverse populations.
- General parenting programs offer insights for obesity prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review general parenting programs (children 0-5 years) for long-term effects on parenting.
- To identify programs conducted with underrepresented populations.
- To inform modifications or new developments in parenting-focused obesity prevention.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing general parenting programs.
- Focus on studies with long-term parenting outcomes or underrepresented groups.
- Analysis of intervention characteristics and delivery models.
Main Results:
- Brief, group-based programs (children 2-5 years) demonstrated sustained parenting impacts in underrepresented populations.
- Effective interventions incorporated guided skill practice and cultural adaptations.
- Remote/school-based delivery and motivational interviewing were notable approaches.
Conclusions:
- Brief, group-based parenting programs are a promising strategy for long-term obesity risk reduction in young children from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Cultural adaptation and skill-building are key components for effective interventions.
- Further development of these programs can enhance obesity prevention efforts.
Purpose Of Review:
While some parenting interventions designed for early-life obesity prevention have demonstrated short-term success, there is limited evidence of longer-term impacts and feasibility with underrepresented populations. The goal of this review was to examine existing general parenting programs for parents of children 0-5 years that were not designed to target obesity but investigated long-term effects on parenting and/or were conducted with underrepresented populations to offer recommendations for the modification or development of parenting-focused obesity prevention programs.
Recent Findings:
Most studies with sustained impacts on parenting in underrepresented populations were brief, group-based programs for parents of children 2-5 years. Many effective interventions included guided practice of skills and cultural adaptations. Unique intervention approaches included remote or school-based delivery models and motivational interviewing. Brief, group-based programs for parents of young children may be a promising approach to achieving longer-term impacts of parenting interventions on obesity risk among underrepresented populations.
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