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An evaluation of an intensive group parenting programme (Hoki ki te Rito/Mellow Parenting) for parents experiencing significant parenting problems

An evaluation of an intensive group parenting programme (Hoki ki te Rito/Mellow Parenting) for parents experiencing significant parenting problems on the effects of parental mental health

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12609000155291
Enrollment
72
Registered
2009-03-20
Start date
2009-02-16
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This study is a follow-on from pilot evaluation (NTX/07/12/135) of an intensive parenting programme (Hoki ki te Rito/Mellow Parenting) delivered to a group of Maori and Pacific parents/whanau residing in the Counties Manukau DHB. In this study we will evaluate the programme further as it is rolled out to 6 groups of approximately 12 participants (each) through two organisations – Ohomairangi Trust (which administered the pilot study) and the Anglican Trust for Women and Children. Hoki ki te Rito/Mellow Parenting is a 14 week programme (1 day, 5 hours a week) designed to support families with relationship problems with their infants and young children. It combines personal support for parents with a video and direct work with parents and children on their own parenting problems and aims to improve maternal well being, parent-child interaction, child behaviour and child development. The programme is based on The Mellow Parenting programme developed in Glasgow and has been adapted for use with Maori and Pacific peoples in New Zealand. The outcome measures are mainly questionnaires which the study participants complete, and a video of their interactions with their child/ren. A stepped wedge design will be used because there is no treatement as usual and randomising young children to a no-intervention control group is potentially harmful. This has been discussed in depth with the Ethics Committee.

Interventions

The Mellow Parenting (MP) programme was developed specifically for families with a pre-school child where there were relationship problems or where there were other significant problems such as maternal depression or child protection issues. There is a strong emphasis on parental engagement and empowerment, individual analysis of video tape of a family interaction (e.g. at a mealtime), activities to practice new skills, structured parenting workshop, ‘homework’ to reinforce new skills etc. The p

The Mellow Parenting (MP) programme was developed specifically for families with a pre-school child where there were relationship problems or where there were other significant problems such as maternal depression or child protection issues. There is a strong emphasis on parental engagement and empowerment, individual analysis of video tape of a family interaction (e.g. at a mealtime), activities to practice new skills, structured parenting workshop, ‘homework’ to reinforce new skills etc. The programme is designed to improve mother-child interaction, child behaviour problems, mother’s wellbeing, mother’s effectiveness and confidence in parenting, and well as child behaviour and development. Mellow Parenting is a 14 week programme (1 day, 5 hours a week).

Sponsors

University of Auckland
Lead SponsorUniversity

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Participants must: 1. Be a primary caregiver of at least one child less than five years of age on the day of consent 2. Female 3. Self-referring/seeking parenting support for difficulties with child-rearing 4. Be aged at least 16 years on day of consent 5. Have the child/ren predominantly living with them 6. Be living in the Counties Manukau DHB area at the first time of contact 7. Be able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1.Parenting problems stemming from own or child’s disability/illness 2.Current acute psychiatric illness or above a threshold on General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) 3.Current severe problems with alcohol/substance abuse (e.g. currently in detox) 4.Intellectual handicap

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026