'Living with Teenagers': feasibility study of a peer-led parenting intervention for socially disadvantaged families with adolescent children.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and test the feasibility of a peer-led parenting intervention for parents of adolescent children.


METHODS
Formative evaluation using a mixed-method cohort design.


METHODS
Socially deprived community sites in London, UK.


METHODS
Parents seeking help with managing behavioural difficulties of an index adolescent child (aged 11-17 years).


METHODS
A structured, group-based intervention ('Living with Teenagers') delivered by trained peer facilitators.


METHODS
We assessed feasibility in terms of uptake and completion rates (% parents completing ≥5 sessions); social validity (assessed by service satisfaction measure and participant interviews); and potential for impact (assessed by parent-reported measures of adolescent behaviour and mental health, parenting satisfaction, expressed emotion, and disciplinary practices).


RESULTS
Participants (n=41) were predominately (79%) from minority ethnic backgrounds and nearly half were lone parents. Most had not previously accessed a structured parenting programme. The completion rate was 71%. Significant changes (p<0.05) were observed in reduced parental concern about adolescent problems, increased parenting satisfaction and less negative expressed emotion. There were non-significant changes in disciplinary practices and adolescent mental health. Participants were highly satisfied with their service experience and endorsed the acceptability of the intervention's content, materials and peer-led format, while suggesting an expanded number of sessions and more skills practice and demonstrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Peer-led parenting groups are feasible and potentially effective for supporting parents of adolescents living in socially disadvantaged communities. These findings warrant more rigorous testing under controlled conditions.
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Daniel
D
Michelson
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Ilan
I
Ben-Zion
Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK.
Alana I
AI
James
Centre for Parent and Child Support, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Lucy
L
Draper
Centre for Parent and Child Support, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Caroline
C
Penney
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK Centre for Parent and Child Support, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Crispin
C
Day
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D006113:United Kingdom
Adolescent Health; Child Psychiatry; Child Psychology; Comm Child Health; Health services research