Effectiveness of Web‐Based Interventions for Supporting Parents and Expectant Parents With Severe Mental Illness

Background People with severe mental illness are facing significant and unique challenges in their roles as parents or expectant parents. Although evidence‐based parenting programs exist, individuals with severe mental illness are often excluded from such interventions, leaving their support needs largely unmet. Previous reviews mainly focused on in‐person interventions for parents with common mental illnesses. This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness, acceptability, and implementation of online parenting interventions for parents or expectant parents with severe mental illness. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Database, and EMBASE was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials of web‐based interventions for parents or expectant parents with severe mental illness. Data on intervention and participant characteristics, sample size, outcomes (e.g., parenting skills, child behavior, and parental mental health), intervention duration, follow‐up interval, and user engagement were extracted. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials, and findings were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity. Results Five published studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified, encompassing diverse populations and intervention formats. Interventions varied from self‐help modules to guided programs based on cognitive‐behavioral and psychoeducational principles. A few studies reported significant improvements in parenting practices and efficacy, reductions in parental stress, and better child behavior outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large. Follow‐up rates were generally high, indicating good acceptability. However, studies varied in methodological quality and long‐term outcome sustainability. Conclusion Web‐based parenting interventions show plausible promise in supporting parents with severe mental illness. Nonetheless, further rigorous research is needed to establish their long‐term efficacy, cost‐effectiveness, and strategies to enhance engagement. These digital approaches could become vital components of comprehensive mental health support for parents facing significant mental health challenges

Checklist · Cochrane Library · Critical appraisal · Inclusion (mineral · Intervention (counseling · Mental health · Psychological intervention · Randomized controlled trial · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

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