Evaluating the effects of parenting interventions for families with refugee backgrounds

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
The study is an evaluation of parenting interventions for families who have relocated to Norway from non-Western-European countries. These interventions should strengthen parenting skills and confidence and reduce negative parenting practices. This should, in turn, result in better physical and mental development for their children. The parents will also give regular feedback to the professionals running the groups. This should improve mental health care by giving professionals timely feedback regarding their clients.

The primary aims of the study are to evaluate the effectiveness of parenting interventions and giving interventionists regular feedback for improving parenting skills, lowering parental stress, and reducing problem behavior in children. We will also evaluate whether parents with high levels of trauma or compromised mental health will benefit more from the interventions in general than parents with no trauma or mental health symptoms. We will also evaluate the potential protective factors that may lead to better outcomes for the parents.

Who can participate?
Families with a refugee background who have recently settled in Norway with one or more children between the ages of 6 and 12 years

What does the study involve?
Participants in the study will take part in one of two parenting groups, The Incredible Years or the International Child Development Program. These programs run once-per-week over the course of 12 to 15 weeks. The parents will fill out surveys at four points over the course of the study, as well as give weekly feedback to the program instructors about their progress.

For 40 parents, children and group leaders study participation will also include participation in qualitative interviews.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All newly arrived parents with refugee backgrounds in Norway must participate in a parenting course as part of their settlement. It is therefore important to investigate how parenting programs work for this population. The results of the study have the potential to improve parenting practices, improve family dynamics, and lead to long-term benefits for society in the form of families with a refugee background who are better integrated into Norwegian society.

In the study, parents are to learn positive parenting practices.

The study examines how the programs are suited for the target group and what results are achieved with the initiative. The results will be useful and informative for the services and will benefit future refugees who come to Norway.

The refugee services and other relevant actors in the municipalities will gain increased knowledge and expertise related to the needs of newly arrived families, and about the use of parenting programs in the introduction program. With the project, the field will receive information on the effect of parenting interventions and a feedback system (MFS) in working with refugee parents.

All of the parents who participate will be compensated with a small stipend for their participation in the data collection. Additionally, families who participate in the study will fulfill their requirement to take a parent training course as part of their agreement with the Norwegian Immigration Authority.

Potential risks are relatively low and relate primarily to the amount of time it requires to participate. The actual filling out of the questionnaire and answering the questions are time-consuming for participants.

There a potential risk that interviews or/and questionnaires will retraumatize participants.

Contact with researchers and the project may, for some refugees, due to their background and history be distressing. Translators and link workers will hear about potentially sensitive information from research participants. There is a potential of stigmatization of parents participating in the study.

Despite the best efforts of the researchers, there is a small risk of sensitive data being shared inadvertently or opened by criminal means.

Where is the study run from?
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (Norway), NTNU - RKBU Midt (Norway), RBUP East and South (Norway), and RKBU West (Norway)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2019 to December 2024

Who is funding the study?
Kavli Foundation (USA)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Joshua Patras
joshua.patras@uit.no

Contact information

Ms Susanne How
Public

UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Postboks 6050 Langnes
Tromsø
9037
Norway

Phone	+47 776 45362
Email	susanne.fomsgaard.how@uit.no

Dr Joshua Patras
Scientific

UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Postboks 6050 Langnes
Tromsø
9037
Norway

ORCID ID	0000-0001-5233-6188
Phone	+47 776 46265
Email	joshua.patras@uit.no

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• Norway

Study participating centres

Sponsor information

The Arctic University of Norway
University/education

UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Postboks 6050 Langnes
Tromsø
6050
Norway

Phone	+47 77 64 40 00
Email	postmottak@uit.no
Website	www.uit.no
"ROR"	https://ror.org/00wge5k78

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Results and Publications

Study outputs

Editorial Notes

10/03/2023: Publication reference added.
09/03/2023: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/03/2023 to 31/12/2023.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/12/2023 to 31/12/2024.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2023 to 31/12/2025.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
01/09/2020: The inclusion criteria were updated.
18/06/2020: Internal review.
12/06/2020: The recruitment has resumed.
14/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
14/02/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics – North.