Online parenting program effective in prevention of teenage depression and anxiety: study

Monash University

A world-leading free, online parenting program developed by Monash University researchers has shown to be effective in improving parenting practices to reduce risk of teenage depression. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research involving over 350 Australian parents, found parents who received the online parenting program, Partners in Parenting, reported fewer depressive symptoms for their teenager and improved confidence in parenting, with the results maintained for 12 months from program end. Program founder Associate Professor Marie Yap from Monash University’s Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, said: “The causes of mental health problems in young people are complex, but decades of research has shown that supportive parenting can be preventive and lowers risk. This is increasingly important in the current climate of mandated social distancing measures and school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “For young people who are at a stage of life when peers are vital, reduced opportunities for social interactions can pose challenges that online contact may not adequately address. Social isolation and loneliness are at the core of common health problems like depression, which emerge for the first time during the teenage years.” The program provides parents with practical, personalised strategies and skills to support their teen’s mental wellbeing to reduce their risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, through surveys and interactive modules. The Partners in Parenting program covers:

  • Establishing and maintaining a close relationship;

  • Staying involved while supporting independence;

  • Establishing family rules and consequences;

  • Minimising conflict at home;

  • Helping teenagers solve problems.

Partners in Parenting is being rolled out more widely in partnership with mental health charity Prevention United, thanks to funding from the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust and support from Monash University.

Executive Director of Prevention United, Dr Stephen Carbone, said: “Parents are still the most important people in a young person’s life, and programs like Partners in Parenting are a great way for parents to get a confidence boost and learn some new parenting skills as they navigate the tricky teenage years. “It’s free, it works, it’s developed by leading experts right here in Australia, and it’s online so parents can access it whenever it suits them. The program helps put some powerful protective factors for mental health into the homes of everyone who participates. We hope as many parents as possible take up this opportunity.” Associate Professor Yap said: “We are so pleased to make our program available to more parents, to empower them to help build their teenager’s resilience against the challenges life throws at them.”

/Public Release.