A Systematic Review of Parenting Programs for Southeast Asian Families

Evidence-based parenting interventions are proven to prevent problematic substance use and mental health problems by promoting parent-child communication, positive parenting, and parental self-efficacy. However, the effectiveness of parenting interventions for Southeast Asian (SEA) families from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) is understudied. This review aimed to identify parenting programs available for the SEA population and synthesize the evidence of efficacy.

The study was conducted in accordance with synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines. The study utilized five databases to conduct a comprehensive literature search and yielded 2,270 initial records.

Thirty-nine intervention studies from 41 peer-reviewed articles met eligibility, including 29 in-region studies (i.e., intervention delivery within SEA, e.g., Thailand, Vietnam) and ten diaspora studies (i.e., interventions delivered to SEA families outside SEA LMICs, e.g., the United States). Out of 31 distinct programs, 13 programs were adapted from prior interventions, 13 were newly developed, and 5 were previously developed for SEA-heritage families. Most studies (n = 34) reported adaptations, with variation found between in-region and diaspora studies. Programs addressed multiple child and family outcomes. Across all studies, preliminary evidence supported effectiveness in enhancing positive parenting, reducing negative parenting, and improving child behavior.

Overall, the current review provides support that parenting programs promote child and family well-being among SEA families. It also highlights the need to conduct rigorous research with active controls and well-established measures, document adaptation processes clearly for future implementation, and the potential for public health impact in multiple domains through new and adapted parenting programs for SEA families.