title: Assessing an Internet-based parenting intervention for mothers with a serious mental illness: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effectiveness of an Internet parenting education and support intervention among mothers with a serious mental illness (SMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty mothers diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum or mood disorder who had primary/shared custody for a child 18 or younger were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two conditions. The experimental condition involved participation in the online parental education course and a listserv co-moderated by a parent with a mental illness and a mental health professional. The control condition involved participation in online education healthy lifestyle course. Standardized measures were used at baseline and 3 months to assess outcomes. Using an intent-to-treat approach, group differences over time were assessed using a two-tailed independent sample t test on all dependent variables, including parental efficacy, skills, coping, support, and stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation in an online parenting intervention for mothers with a SMI enhanced parenting and coping skills, and decreased parental stress. No support was found for improved efficacy or support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This RCT establishes that mothers with a SMI are interested in and capable of receiving online parenting education and support. Findings demonstrate that an online parenting intervention can improve parenting and coping skills and decrease parental stress.
authors: Office of Councilman-At-Large Dennis M. O'Brien, City of Philadelphia.
authors: Katy
authors: K
authors: Kaplan
authors: School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania.
authors: Phyllis
authors: P
authors: Solomon
authors: TU Collaborative on Community Inclusion, Temple University.
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Salzer
authors: TU Collaborative on Community Inclusion, Temple University.
authors: Eugene
authors: E
authors: Brusilovskiy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome