Can early support for parents help prevent problems in children?

This project explores a new guidance programme for parents of children aged 4–12 who struggle with anxiety, low mood, and behavioural challenges, but whose symptoms are not severe enough to qualify for specialist mental health services.

The aim is to give parents practical tools to better support their children in managing difficult emotions.

The programme targets families who need support but do not necessarily receive follow-up from specialist services. Parents are offered concrete advice and support in everyday life—early enough to make a real difference.

Several hundred families are taking part in the study, where researchers track both children’s development and parents’ sense of coping. They also examine how the programme affects the need for more intensive support later on.

The goal is to understand how early support for parents can strengthen children’s mental health—and help prevent more serious challenges over time.

Scientific contributions

Anette Arnesen Grønlie: Presentation at NIMP conference (Nasjonalt nettverk or implementeringsforskning), “Unpacking contexts: barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of a preventive parent training intervention in Norwegian municipalities”, 31. januar 2024, Oslo.

Anette Arnesen Grønlie: Poster at NIMP conference (Nasjonalt nettverk or implementeringsforskning), «Supportive Parents – Coping Kids (SPARCK): an implementation study», 31. januar 2024, Oslo

Line Ragna Karlson & Görel Eriksson Bringedal, presentation at European Society for Prevention Research EUSPR 2024 conference, «Recruitment challenges in randomized controlled effectiveness trials: Identifying facilitators and co-designing strategies to overcome barriers”.