Evaluating online family life education modules across family stages: a pilot study

To evaluate whether online family life education (FLE) modules improved knowledge, attitudes, and confidence about key family health topics among young, middle, and older adults.

Family life education supports healthy familial relationships across generations. Traditionally, FLE has been offered in-person over multiple weeks. Online FLE could make it easier to reach families.

The final sample was comprised of 164 adults (45% young adults, 45% middle adults, and 10% older adults). Ten online video modules (each ~10 min) were created by college students about a variety of family health topics. For each module, participants were asked to complete a pre-survey, watch the module, and then complete a post-survey. Data were analyzed in Stata 18.

Participants reported that the modules were clear, engaging, and well-organized. Participants showed significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes between the pre- and post-surveys for all modules, including 69 of the 75 the outcomes measured. Effect sizes were generally medium to large, with significant effect sizes ranging from 0.27 to 0.87. Long-term changes in family health were not significant.

Short, online FLE modules can yield immediate gains in knowledge and attitudes across family health topics. Further refinement in methodology is needed to promote longer-term gains in family health.

Brief, online FLE can strengthen knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy about family life issues across family life stages.