Peer-reviewed article
Parenting, mental health and economic pathways to prevention of violence against children in South Africa
Lucie Dale Cluver, Yulia Shenderovich, Franziska Meinck, McKenzie N. Berezin, Jenny Doubt et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how a parenting program called Parenting for Lifelong Health for Teens reduces violence against children in rural South Africa. The program was tested with 552 family dyads (adolescents aged 10-18 and caregivers) across 40 sites in a cluster randomized trial. The research identified four key pathways through which the program reduced violence: better parenting practices, improved caregiver mental health, reduced caregiver alcohol and drug use, and improved family economic circumstances. The findings suggest that combining parenting skills with economic support and caregiver mental health support may be particularly effective in low-resource settings.
Key points
- Four mediating pathways reduced violence against children: improved parenting practices, reduced caregiver depression, increased alcohol/drug avoidance, and improved family economic welfare
- The 14-session parenting program was delivered by local community members and included modules on family budgeting and savings
- Improved child behaviour was associated with less violence but was not a significant mediator of the intervention effect
- The trial involved 552 family dyads across 40 rural South African sites with 9-13 months follow-up
- Bolstering multiple family processes simultaneously appears more effective than single-pathway interventions
Limitations
The study only measured outcomes 9-13 months after the intervention, so longer-term effects are unknown. The analysis is from a single country context, so findings may not generalize to other low and middle-income countries with different economic, social, or cultural circumstances.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parenting programs based on social learning theory have increasing empirical evidence for reducing violence against children. Trials are primarily from high-income countries and with young children. Globally, we know little about how parenting programs work to reduce violence, with no known studies in low or middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examines mechanisms of change of a non-commercialized parenting program, Parenting for Lifelong Health for Teens, designed with the World Health Organization and UNICEF. A cluster randomized trial showed main effects on parenting and other secondary outcomes. We conducted secondary analysis of trial data to investigate five potential mediators of reduced violence against children: improved parenting, adolescent behaviour, caregiver mental health, alcohol/drug avoidance, and family economic strengthening. METHODS: The trial was implemented in rural South Africa with 40 sites, n = 552 family dyads (including adolescents aged 10-18 and primary caregivers). Intervention sites (n = 20) received the 14-session parenting program delivered by local community members, including modules on family budgeting and savings. Control sites (n = 20) received a brief informational workshop. Emotional and physical violence against children/adolescents and each potential mediator were reported by adolescents and caregivers at baseline and 9-13 months post-randomisation. Structural equation modelling was used to test simultaneous hypothesized pathways to violence reduction. RESULTS: Improvements in four pathways mediated reduced violence against children: 1) improved parenting practices, 2) improved caregiver mental health (reduced depression), 3) increased caregiver alcohol/drug avoidance and 4) improved family economic welfare. Improved child behaviour was not a mediator, although it was associated with less violence. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously bolstering a set of family processes can reduce violence. Supporting self-care and positive coping for caregivers may be essential in challenging contexts. In countries with minimal or no economic safety nets, linking social learning parenting programs with economic strengthening skills may bring us closer to ending violence against children.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Parenting for Lifelong Health for Teens, a 14-session parenting program delivered by community members, including modules on family budgeting, savings, and modules addressing parenting practices, caregiver mental health, and substance use
- Population
- 552 family dyads (adolescents aged 10-18 and primary caregivers) in rural South Africa
Key finding
Improved parenting practices mediated reduction in violence against children