Digital Behavioral Parenting Programs With and Without Added Emotion Regulation Strategies to Manage Anger in Parenting

NCT07795684 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-03609-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 5

Brief Summary

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of two digital parenting interventions for parents experiencing difficulties with anger in parenting. The interventions are internet-delivered adaptations of evidence-based parenting programs, collectively called the Supporting Healthier Interactions in Families by Online Tools (SHIFT) parenting programs. The main questions the study aims to answer are:

• Be randomized to SHIFT, SHIFT+ or waitlist control.
• Take part in one of the digital interventions and receive support in text messages and phone calls from a therapist at family support services in Swedish municipalities. Some participants will take part in the intervention after the waitlist period.
• Respond to questionnaires and take part in interviews.

Conditions

Parenting Intervention; Anger; Emotion Regulation Difficulties; Parenting Behaviour; Child Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Keywords

Parenting; Anger management; Parent training; Emotion regulation; Digital intervention; Parenting program; Pilot RCT; Prevention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Participant Recruitment: Number of participants recruited

  The number of eligible participants recruited within 6 months, or the recruitment time if the target sample size is reached before 6 months. For each participant, this is assessed at baseline (i.e., if the participant is included).

  Baseline

• Intervention Completion: Completion of at least 3 of 6 modules

  The proportion of participants who complete at least three of the six online intervention modules. Module completion is assessed through the digital intervention platform from intervention start until intervention completion or dropout.

  From intervention start to intervention completion, approximately 6 weeks

• Change from baseline on the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale version 2

  Parenting practices are assessed using 31 items from the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale Version 2 (MAPS v2), covering six subscales: Proactive Parenting (6 items), Supportiveness (3 items), Positive Reinforcement (4 items), Warmth (4 items), Hostility (7 items), and Lax Control (7 items). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). The four positive parenting subscales are summed to form a Positive Parenting broadband score ranging from 17 to 85, with higher scores indicating more frequent use of positive parenting practices. Hostility and Lax Control are scored separately, with each subscale ranging from 7 to 35 and higher scores indicating more frequent use of the respective negative parenting practice. The Physical Control subscale of the MAPS v2 is not administered; therefore, a Negative Parenting broadband score is not calculated.

  Baseline (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change from baseline on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  Baseline (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

• Change from baseline on the Parental Flooding Scale

  Baseline (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

• Change from screening assessment on the Parent Anger Scale - subscale Experienced Anger

  Screening assessment (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

• Change from baseline on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

  Baseline (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

• Change from baseline on Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) scale

  Baseline (before randomization), 8 weeks (primary endpoint), 6 months

Other Outcomes (11)

• Parents experiences of negative effects of the interventions

  Weekly during intervention and 8 weeks from baseline

• Weekly change during intervention in parental emotion regulation - reappraisal

  Weekly during intervention period (weeks 1-6 from baseline)

• Weekly change during intervention in parenting practices (4 item inspired by the MAPS v2)

  Weekly during intervention period (weeks 1-6 from baseline)

Study Arms (3)

The SHIFT parenting program (behavioral parent training program)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm receive a digitally delivered program with parenting strategies.

Behavioral: Online Behavioral Parent Training Program

The SHIFT+ parenting program (behavioral parent training + emotion regulation strategies)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm receive a digitally delivered program with both parenting strategies and emotion regulation strategies from anger-management treatments.

Behavioral: Online Behavioral Parent Training + Emotion Regulation Program

Waitlist

OTHER

Participants wait 8 weeks + completion of post-assessment before receiving SHIFT or SHIFT+.

Behavioral: Online Behavioral Parent Training Program; Behavioral: Online Behavioral Parent Training + Emotion Regulation Program

Interventions

Online Behavioral Parent Training Program BEHAVIORAL

A 6-week digital parent training program incorporating core components from established behavioral parent training programs. Delivered via a secure digital platform with one module per week, text-based therapist support from family support workers, and two brief check-in telephone calls. Strategies include: strengthening parent-child relationship (e.g., child-directed play), understanding how parents' behavior triggers and reinforces child behavior, selective attention and praise for positive behavior, preparations and effective commands, and natural consequences.

The SHIFT parenting program (behavioral parent training program); Waitlist

Online Behavioral Parent Training + Emotion Regulation Program BEHAVIORAL

A 6-week digital program that integrates the same parenting strategies as SHIFT with additional emotion regulation strategies from anger-management treatments. Matched to SHIFT in duration and therapist contact. Emotion regulation strategies include: early identification and interruption of anger escalation, emotional awareness and self-validation, cognitive reappraisal, effective communication, and managing vulnerability to anger.

The SHIFT+ parenting program (behavioral parent training + emotion regulation strategies); Waitlist

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Parent of a child or adolescent aged 2-17 years.
• Experiences recurring conflicts with the child and recurring anger, irritation, or frustration in parenting situations, and wants strategies to manage situations where conflicts and/or anger occur. Determined via sores above the mean on the Parent Anger Scale (PAS; 10-item Swedish version) based on previous Swedish social service population data, and confirmed in a telephone screening. Another parent in the same family can also participate in the study and program even if they do not experience difficulties with anger.
• Residing in or near a participating municipality.
• Can read Swedish and has access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet.
• Perceives themselves to be able to work relatively independently in a digital intervention and is committed to setting aside time for the intervention.

You may not qualify if:

• Information indicating ongoing or recent violence toward the child perpetrated by parents or other adults in the home.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet: lead
• Forte: Swedish research council for health, working life and welfare: collaborator

Study Sites (5)

Danderyds kommun

Danderyd, Sweden

Location

Gislaveds kommun

Gislaved, Sweden

Location

Linköpings kommun

Linköping, Sweden

Location

Österåkers kommun

Österåker, Sweden

Location

Uppsala kommun

Uppsala, Sweden

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Emotional Regulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Control; Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Livia van Leuven, PhD

  Karolinska Institutet

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Livia van Leuven van Leuven, PhD

CONTACT

+46852482796; livia.van.leuven@ki.se

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Parents are masked to the study hypotheses and to the specific differences between the two parenting programs. They are informed that the study compares two digital parenting interventions and are given general information about the content, but the specific differences are not described in detail. Family support workers are aware of the intervention allocation. This is classified as open label because full blinding of participants and providers is not feasible.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Three-arm parallel pilot RCT. Participants are randomized 1:1:1 to SHIFT (behavioral parent training program), SHIFT+ (behavioral parent training + emotion regulation program), or 8-week waitlist. Waitlisted participants are re-randomized 1:1 to SHIFT or SHIFT+.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2026
• First Posted: August 31, 2026
• Study Start: September 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: September 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (5)