University of Warwick Review Advocates Incentives for Parenting Support Groups

A systemic review from the University of Warwick’s Medical School shows that financial incentives can increase the number of parents who attend parenting skills groups focused on disruptive behaviour in children.

Over two years, the systematic review, published here looked at controlled trials offering parents a financial incentive for engagement with parenting programmes targeting disruptive behaviour in children aged under 18, vs those who received no incentive.

Engagement in each group was evaluated at four stages: initial interest in programs, attendance at programs, participation in programs, and change in parenting style. The research identified 2,438 papers and screened 35 at full length as well as 8 independent cohorts from 7 papers.

Nathan Hodson, a psychiatrist and an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at Warwick Medical School said: “This is the strongest evidence yet that we can reach more families by offering a financial incentive for attending parenting groups. Whether it covers transport costs, pays for a meal instead of cooking, or replaces wages for a missed shift at work, a small cash payment means more parents join these groups and ultimately means we can help more children.”

The research demonstrates that financial incentives can increase the number of parents who attend parenting skills group – one promising approach to improving children’s mental health and reducing future social problems.