A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study of Midwestern Latino Parents Participation and Preferences for Parenting Education Programs

Athena K Ramos; Dejun Su; Antonia Correa; Natalia Trinidad

doi:10.1007/s10826-023-02547-7

A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study of Midwestern Latino Parents Participation and Preferences for Parenting Education Programs

J Child Fam Stud. 2023;32(2):530-543. doi: 10.1007/s10826-023-02547-7. Epub 2023 Feb 9.

Authors

Athena K Ramos¹, Dejun Su¹, Antonia Correa², Natalia Trinidad²

Affiliations

¹ University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Health Promotion, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, College of Public Health, 984340 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4340 USA.
² University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, College of Public Health, 984340 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4340 USA.

Abstract

Parenting programs are an important tool that can provide support for parents and families and improve family functioning. This concurrent nested QUANT + qual mixed methods study sought to better understand parenting education program participation and examine format, delivery, and content preferences for parenting programs among Latino parents in Nebraska. Results from a statewide survey (N = 173) indicated that 31.4% of parents in the sample had participated in a parenting program. Significant predictors of participation in parenting education programs included being unmarried, not working full-time, having a higher income, and having excellent or very good health. Major barriers to participation included lack of information about available programs and logistical concerns. Focus group participants discussed key program design concerns which included: (1) cultural clashes related to acculturation gaps between parents and children; (2) cultural relevance of programming; (3) logistical considerations; and (4) the inclusion of technology to enhance parenting. Overall, participants were particularly interested in group-based learning, flexible scheduling, and improving the cultural relevance of programs. Implications for program design and outreach to improve Latino parents' access and willingness to participate in parenting education programs are presented. Future research should explore the effectiveness of parenting program implementation and dissemination with Latino parents in rural communities, if there are differences in the benefits of parenting programs by Latino subgroup or level of acculturation, and assess the impact of near-peers in the delivery of parenting programs with Latinos.

Keywords: Cultural preferences; Latino/Hispanic; Mixed methods; Parenting program; Program design.

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.