Enhancing Engagement of Fathers in Web-Based Preventive Parenting Programs for Adolescent Mental Health: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Ashlyn Hansen, Scott D. Brown and Marie B. H. Yap
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Ashlyn Hansen: Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Scott D. Brown: School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Marie B. H. Yap: Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-19

Abstract: Few fathers enrol in web-based preventive parenting programs for adolescent mental health, despite the evidence of the benefits associated with their participation. To inform the development of father-inclusive programs, this study used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) design to determine (a) the relative influence of number of sessions, program benefits, program participants, and user control over program content on fathers’ preferences for web-based preventive parenting programs; and (b) whether selected father characteristics were associated with their preferences. One hundred and seventy-one fathers completed the DCE survey, which comprised 25 choices between hypothetical programs. Programs that included the participant’s adolescent child ( z = 10.06, p < 0.0001), or parenting partner ( z = 7.30, p < 0.001) were preferred over those designed for fathers only. Participants also preferred program content that was recommended for them by experts ( z = −4.31, p < 0.0001) and programs with fewer sessions ( z = −2.94, p < 0.01). Program benefits did not predict fathers’ choice of program. Prior use of a parenting program, level of education, perceived role of parenting for adolescent mental health, and being part of a dual-working family were associated with preferences. Application of these findings may improve paternal enrolment in web-based preventive parenting programs.

Keywords: adolescent; fathers; mental health; parenting; prevention; discrete choice experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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