Caregiver and adolescent experiences of mental health support provided by a hybrid parenting programme in Mpumalanga, South Africa
1
School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2
Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation, often influenced by socio-economic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests that risk factors impacting mental health include violence, poverty, substance abuse, and poor parental mental health. Parenting programmes that incorporate mental health and psychosocial support tools to enhance adolescent well-being are becoming increasingly recognised. Supportive environments, particularly within the home, are vital for fostering positive adolescent mental health. This study examined the experiences of parents and adolescents who participated in the hybrid version of the Sinovuyo Teens Parenting Programme.
METHODS:
This qualitative study was conducted in Mpumalanga province, involving twelve parents and six adolescent girls who completed the hybrid Programme in 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents and adolescents individually. Recorded data was translated and transcribed, with MAXQDA employed for coding. Inductive and deductive coding were applied to align with the study objectives.
RESULTS:
The overall format of WhatsApp and in-person meetings worked for both parents and adolescents. Participants valued formats of the programme differently, with parents noting the flexibility of the programme in participating through WhatsApp, while adolescents reported more problems with WhatsApp. Both parents and adolescents acknowledged the benefits of the in-person sessions, where they socialised, learned from their peers, and participated in joint learning to improve parent-child relationships. Parents and adolescents self-reported positive changes, including improved communication, spending quality time together, better household budgeting, and reduced harsh discipline within the home.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study highlights the experiences of adolescent girls regarding their exposure to the parenting programme, focusing on the changes they observed in their parents. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid parenting interventions in providing parents and caregivers with skills to enable a conducive environment within the home for adolescents to discuss issues affecting their daily lives with their parents.
Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation, often influenced by socio-economic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests that risk factors impacting mental health include violence, poverty, substance abuse, and poor parental mental health. Parenting programmes that incorporate mental health and psychosocial support tools to enhance adolescent well-being are becoming increasingly recognised. Supportive environments, particularly within the home, are vital for fostering positive adolescent mental health. This study examined the experiences of parents and adolescents who participated in the hybrid version of the Sinovuyo Teens Parenting Programme.
METHODS:
This qualitative study was conducted in Mpumalanga province, involving twelve parents and six adolescent girls who completed the hybrid Programme in 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents and adolescents individually. Recorded data was translated and transcribed, with MAXQDA employed for coding. Inductive and deductive coding were applied to align with the study objectives.
RESULTS:
The overall format of WhatsApp and in-person meetings worked for both parents and adolescents. Participants valued formats of the programme differently, with parents noting the flexibility of the programme in participating through WhatsApp, while adolescents reported more problems with WhatsApp. Both parents and adolescents acknowledged the benefits of the in-person sessions, where they socialised, learned from their peers, and participated in joint learning to improve parent-child relationships. Parents and adolescents self-reported positive changes, including improved communication, spending quality time together, better household budgeting, and reduced harsh discipline within the home.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study highlights the experiences of adolescent girls regarding their exposure to the parenting programme, focusing on the changes they observed in their parents. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid parenting interventions in providing parents and caregivers with skills to enable a conducive environment within the home for adolescents to discuss issues affecting their daily lives with their parents.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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