The Use of Non-Commercial Parent-Focused mHealth Interventions for Youth Behavior Problems: A Systematic Review (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: Adolescent substance use rates are staggering, and current treatment options are often lacking integration of parentfocused interventions, despite evidence that effective parenting practices can mediate adolescent substance use treatment outcomes. Accessibility challenges and other barriers to parental interventions may be mitigated through mHealth; however, there are few mHealth platforms that target adolescent substance use through the implementation of behavioral parent training strategies.Objective: The present study seeks to review current mHealth platforms within empirical literature designed to increase effective parenting through behavioral parent training techniques. Because of the paucity of mHealth modalities that target adolescent substance use through parenting strategies, this study adapted to review mHealth platforms that address child behavior problems as parent-targeted treatment for these clinical presentations overlap with those of adolescent substance use. Overall, the systematic review was conducted to inform future development of parent-focused mHealth apps for parents of youth engaged in substance misuse, improve accessibility, and align with parental needs and desires for treatment.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA method across several databases. Each study was assessed for relevance and the determined inclusion criteria. Once identified as appropriate for inclusion, each study was reviewed for demographics, medium of delivery, standalone or enhancement to treatment, mobile device used, mental health condition, intervention used, theory of intervention, theory of behavior change in design, behavior change techniques, parent training techniques, youth outcomes, parent outcomes, visual design, content, and features. Results:Demographics ranged across studies. Most studies integrated social learning theory. Few studies discussed behavior change theories embedded in the mHealth treatment content; however, many studies described behavior change techniques utilized to encourage change in parental behaviors. Many mHealth studies tailored design features to the end user and integrated varying behavioral parent training techniques. Visual design was rated for studies that provided an image of the mHealth layout. Preliminary evaluation of treatment outcomes suggests positive impact of parent-targeted mHealth interventions for youth and parents.Conclusions: While features and techniques are references, few studies provide specific information related to behavior change theory, visual design, and translation of parent-targeted interventions to mHealth platforms. Such information would be useful for the development of future mHealth applications. Preliminary youth and parent outcomes are encouraging, though future studies should consider a meta-analysis as the studies expand to determine aggregate statistical findings. Additional future directions, limitations, and strengths are discussed.