A survey of Australian parents has found that they frequently use websites and social media as sources of information on parenting: 65% used websites, 45% used social media. Meanwhile, only 4% of the parents used parenting programmes. There was no difference in use of these resources between higher-risk and lower-risk families. But when asked to rate the most useful way to access a structured parenting program, parent seminars and individually tailored programs came out on top, whilst web-based programs and social media came lower down.<\/p>\n
459 parents of 2- to 12-year-olds were asked to complete an on-line survey. The sample was made up of:<\/p>\n
The survey asked about risk factors associated with greater difficulties in parenting \u2013 large family, recent migration, Aboriginal\/Torres Strait Islander status, unemployment, low education, financial hardship, not living with the other parent and elevated levels of child behavior problems. Thirty-four percent of the sample reported no risk factors, 36% reported one and the rest reported two or more.<\/p>\n
There was no so-called \u201cdigital divide\u201d between lower- and higher-risk parents \u2013 their average confidence and hours spent on-line were the same. Website use was the same on average across the group, whilst social media use was associated with being younger, being female and not working.<\/p>\n
The study suggests that on-line parenting programmes are a real possibility, with substantially higher levels of access than face-to-face methods. A related study by the same authors found a digital version of the \u201cTriple P Online Brief\u201d programme improved the efficacy and confidence of parents<\/a> and reduced child behavior problems.<\/p>\n \u00a0Baker S, Sanders MR & Morawska A (2017), Who uses online parenting support? A cross-sectional survey exploring Australian parents\u2019 internet use for parenting<\/a>, Journal of Child and Family Studies<\/em><\/p>\nReferences<\/h4>\n