Effects of "Parenting in Sweden" on Trust in Social Services

NCT06874998 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-06868-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Supporting Parents in a New Country Adjusting to parenthood in a new country presents significant challenges. Many immigrant parents face language barriers, financial difficulties, and cultural differences that can complicate their ability to support their children's adaptation to Swedish society. These challenges can contribute to increased stress within the family and, in some cases, elevate the risk of child maltreatment-particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. However, research suggests that strong social support and positive parenting strategies can mitigate these risks. Sweden, known for its high levels of trust in authorities, has implemented various initiatives to assist families, especially those new to the country. One such initiative is Parenting in Sweden (PiS), a structured program designed to help foreign-born parents navigate Swedish society, understand their rights, and support their children's development. Delivered in five sessions, the program covers key topics such as the Swedish school system, healthcare services, parental rights, and challenges related to raising teenagers. This study aims to assess whether participation in PiS increase parents' trust in social services. Additionally, it explores whether the program encourages parents to enroll their children in extracurricular activities, which are known to support child development. Another important aspect under investigation is whether the program can help reduce the risk of parents resorting to harsh disciplinary practices. To evaluate these outcomes, the study follows a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Immigrant parents of children aged 0-17 are invited to participate, with half assigned to complete the full five-session program and the other half (control group) placed on a waiting list, receiving a group meeting to discuss films related to moving to Sweden. All participants will complete surveys assessing their trust in social services, their children's participation in extracurricular activities, and their parenting practices. These surveys will be administered before and after the program, as well as six months later, to track any changes over time. The primary objective is to determine whether participation in PiS leads to increased trust in social services. Additional expected benefits (exploratory analysis) include promoting positive parenting behaviors, such as seeking help when needed and actively engaging children in structured activities outside of school. By examining the effectiveness of parental support programs facilitating integration, this study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how structured interventions can help families navigate life in Sweden. If the program proves successful in fostering trust and encouraging positive parenting, it may have long-term benefits for both parents and children, ultimately supporting their well-being and integration into Swedish society.

Conditions

Parent-Child Relations; Immigrant

Keywords

Parental support programs; Parenting; Immigrant parents; Trust in social services; Cultural adaptation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• What are the effects of PiS on the level of trust in social services among parents born outside of Sweden?

  The research question will be assessed through the question, "Overall, to what extent do you trust that those who work in Social services (SS) do their job?" ranked on a 5-point Likert scale.

  From enrollment to 6 months after.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• How valid and reliable is an adapted government trust scale for measuring trust in social services?

  From enrollment to 6 months after.

• Does participating in PiS increase enrollment of children in organized after-school activities

  The question is asked in the baseline survey at enrollment and asked again at the 6-month follow-up.

• Does participating in PiS decrease risk factors of child maltreatment?

  From enrollment to 6 months after.

Other Outcomes (1)

• What are the mechanisms behind the effectiveness of the program?

  From enrollment to 6 months after.

Study Arms (2)

Parenting in Sweden

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will be given the full program straight after recruitment ("Structured group discussions"). The program consists of five 3-hour sessions once a week. The themes for the five sessions are: Family in a new country, School, girls and boys, Health and health care system, Parents rights and obligations and parenting a teenager. Each session combines lectures and group discussions on topics critical to families adapting to life in Sweden. The sessions are held by a trained group leader and, if needed, interpreters.

Behavioral: Structured group discussions

Waitlist

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The control group will be placed on a waiting list for 6 months ("Unstructured group meeting"). After 6 weeks the control group is offered a session with two short films from the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company (UR), followed by a brief discussion. The first film explores how one can establish a place in society, the second film illustrates how hard it can be to create a new social context. The intention with the short films is not to give a short version of PiS, but to engage parents in the study and the program so they will complete them. The control group is then offered to participate in the whole program after 6 months.

Behavioral: Unstructured group meeting

Interventions

Structured group discussions BEHAVIORAL

A group-based program for immigrant parents of children aged 0-17, providing essential information on key aspects of family life in Sweden. The intervention consists of five weekly three-hour sessions, combining lectures, group discussions, and interactive exercises, led by a trained group leader and, when necessary, an interpreter. The following topics are discussed: * Parenting in a New Country - Adapting to cultural changes and supporting children's integration. * Education \& Child Development - School system, parental involvement, and learning support. * Healthcare \& Well-being - Access to healthcare, preventive care, and mental health. * Parents' Rights \& Responsibilities - Child welfare laws, positive discipline, and social services. * Parenting Teenagers - Navigating adolescence, peer relationships, and risk prevention.

Also known as: Structured parenting support, Structured parenting guidance

Parenting in Sweden

Unstructured group meeting BEHAVIORAL

Parents in the control group are asked to participate in a gathering where they will watch two short films from the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company (UR), followed by a brief discussion. The films have been handpicked by representatives from BRIS and PLUS together with the researchers to create an opportunity for a meeting. The first film "A way in - first meeting" shows a family from Iran living in Sweden for 1,5 years and explores how one can establish a place in society. In the second film "Make new friends" it is illustrated how hard it can be to create a new social context. The intention with the short films is not to give a short version of PiS, but to engage parents in the study and the program so they will complete them.

Also known as: Community Orientation Session, Informational Meeting on Family Life in Sweden

Waitlist

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• All parents invited to participate in PiS can take part in the study.
• Eligibility extends to parents born outside of Sweden who have children aged 0 to 17 years.
• There are no restrictions regarding the length of time since their migration to Sweden; i.e., participants may have lived in Sweden for decades prior to joining. - - Literacy is not a requirement for participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who are unable, physically or not willing, to sign a consent form will not be eligible to participate in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet: lead
• Stockholm City Council: collaborator
• Children's right in society: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Stockholm - distibuted

Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden

Location

Central Study Contacts

Anna MS Dahl, Medical Doctor

CONTACT

+46735350411; anna_dahl@live.se

David Ebbevi, Md, PhD

CONTACT

+468-12383373; david.ebbevi@ki.se

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Model Details: Parenting in Sweden (Pis) will be evaluated in a prospective, multicenter, RCT in a ratio of 1:1 to be block randomized to intervention or control group. The groups will be given the same questionnaires at the start of the program, at 5 weeks and after 6 months.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)