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Published on: March 1, 2019

Supporting parenting during early childhood with the family check-up online: A randomized clinical trial

Katherine A Hails1, Elizabeth A Stormshak1, John R Seeley1

  • 1Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon.

Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)
|August 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Online parenting interventions like the Family Check-Up Online (FCU-O) improve parenting skills and self-efficacy for parents with mental health challenges. These digital tools enhance support, promoting health equity for families with young children.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Family Psychology
  • Digital Health Interventions
  • Mental Health Support

Background:

  • Online parenting interventions reduce barriers to support for parents with mental health challenges.
  • Parents with mental health issues face greater risks, necessitating accessible child behavior and parenting support for health equity.
  • Novel digital supports are crucial for promoting well-being in parents and young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the effects of the online Family Check-Up Online (FCU-O) intervention on parenting skills, self-efficacy, and parent stress at 12-month follow-up.
  • To determine if improvements in parenting self-efficacy (PSE) mediate intervention effects on parenting skills.
  • To evaluate the utility of online parenting interventions for underserved populations.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 356 parents of toddlers and preschoolers with depressive symptoms or substance misuse.
  • Participants were assigned to either the FCU-O (a mobile web-based app with telehealth coaching) or a waitlist control group.
  • Data were collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up to assess parenting skills, PSE, and parent stress.

Main Results:

  • The FCU-O intervention led to significant improvements in PSE and parenting skills, including positive behavior support, limit setting, and proactive parenting.
  • Improvements in PSE partially mediated the intervention's direct effects on positive behavior support, limit setting, proactive parenting, and reduced parent stress.
  • The intervention demonstrated positive outcomes for a sample predominantly composed of White, non-Hispanic, and female parents.

Conclusions:

  • Online parenting interventions like FCU-O are effective in improving parenting skills and self-efficacy.
  • Promoting parenting self-efficacy is key to maximizing the benefits of digital parenting interventions.
  • These findings support the use of online parenting interventions to enhance support for underserved families and promote health equity.

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