Developing A Database For Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Parent Education And Support Programs - Results Of A Pilot Study.

Abstract

This was a pilot study to examine the effectiveness of parent education programs and the factors related to the effectiveness of these programs. The study group included 117 parents who participated in 10 different parent education programs organized by three different non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong. The participants completed questionnaires on child behavior problems and parenting stress both before and after program participation. The results indicated that overall, the programs were effective in reducing child behavior problems and parenting stress. The effectiveness of the programs was related to facilitator social work experience and qualifications, program theoretical approach, age of target child, program duration, length of individual program sessions, and parents’ time spent with target children. The results supported the value of establishing a territory-wide database to map out factors that possibly improved the effectiveness of parent education programs.