Tuning in to kids® : the intervention effects of an emotion coaching parenting program from a randomized control trial in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: Tuning in to Kids® (TIK) is a parenting program emphasizing emotion coaching and it is evidenced to be effective in Western countries. This study aimed to examine TIK’s intervention effects on the Hong Kong Chinese population. Methods: 104 parents of preschool children aged 3-6 years were randomly assigned to an experimental or waitlist control group. Parents in experimental group attended a 6-week group intervention. Parent and child outcomes were measured pre-intervention, post-intervention and at 6-week follow-up. Results: Between groups, parents underwent intervention reported significant reductions in punitive parenting practices and parenting stress. Intervention effects were maintained for 1.5 months after the end of the program. Parents’ emotional competence and emotion-related parenting skills; as well as their preschool children’s emotional and behavioural functioning were improved, but the extent of improvement was statistically insignificant. Within the experimental group, significant increments in parents’ positive parenting practices, expressive encouragement, cognitive reappraisal together with their children’s adaptive emotion regulation abilities were shown 1.5 months post-intervention. Conclusions: This study represents one of the few randomized controlled trials on TIK conducted outside Western countries. Further cultural adaptation is suggested for enhancing its impacts on the Hong Kong Chinese population.