Effect of MyTeen SMS-Based Mobile Intervention for Parents of Adolescents

Abstract

Key Points Question Is a brief parenting program delivered solely via text message effective in improving parental competence and mental health literacy in parents of adolescents? Findings In this randomized clinical trial of 221 parents and caregivers, significant group differences were observed between those receiving the text-messaging intervention and the control group. Participants who received the text-messaging program reported higher levels of parental competence, improved knowledge of help seeking, improved parent-adolescent communication, and lower levels of parental distress at 1 and 3 months of follow-up compared with the control group. Meaning The text-messaging program appears to be an effective and feasible way to reach and support a large number of parents to improve parental competence and may represent a less expensive option for service delivery.