The effect of parental enhancing program with mobile application on parental stress and competence among adolescent postpartum women: A quasi-experimental study in Thailand
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Background
Adolescent pregnancy constitutes a critical public health issue worldwide. Young mothers face substantial physical and psychological changes as they transition to motherhood, while limited knowledge, experience, and maturity may impair parenting and increase stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the parental enhancing program with mobile application on parental stress and competence among adolescent postpartum women.
Methods
A quasi-experimental study was conducted among sixty adolescent postpartum women, aged 15-19. They were randomly assigned to receive parental enhancing program with mobile application in intervention group (n = 30) and standard postpartum care in control group (n = 30). Adolescent postpartum women in intervention group were received two sessions in the parental enhancing program before discharge with weekly follow-up through the Line Official Account™ Parent Paplearn. Data was collected using questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Parenting Stress Index (PSI-4-SF), and Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC). Evaluations were conducted during 6-weeks postpartum. Independent t-test was used to compare post-intervention mean scores of parental stress and competence between groups.
Results
All enrolled participants completed the study (Intervention: 30; Control: 30). At 6-weeks postpartum, adolescent postpartum women in the intervention group who participated in the parental enhancing program with mobile application through ‘Line Official Account™ Parent Paplearn’ demonstrated significantly lower parental stress (t = 4.50, p < .001) and higher parental competence (t = -4.16, p < .001) compared to the control group.
Conclusion
Providing knowledge, skill training, and ongoing support in parenting for adolescent postpartum women through the mobile application significantly reduced parental stress and improved parental competence. Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, are encouraged to integrate such accessible and convenient tools into postpartum care routines. Continuous follow-up post-discharge is recommended to provide ongoing counselling, reduce parental stress, and enhance parental competence in adolescent postpartum women.
