The effect of parental enhancing program with mobile application on parental stress and competence among adolescent postpartum women: A quasi-experimental study in Thailand

Background Adolescent pregnancy constitutes a critical public health issue worldwide. Young mothers face substantial physical and psychological changes as they transition to motherhood, while limited knowledge, experience, and maturity may impair parenting and increase stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the parental enhancing program with mobile application on parental stress and competence among adolescent postpartum women.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted among sixty adolescent postpartum women, aged 15-19. They were randomly assigned to receive parental enhancing program with mobile application in intervention group (n = 30) and standard postpartum care in control group (n = 30). Adolescent postpartum women in intervention group were received two sessions in the parental enhancing program before discharge with weekly follow-up through the Line Official Account™ Parent Paplearn. Data was collected using questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Parenting Stress Index (PSI-4-SF), and Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC). Evaluations were conducted during 6-weeks postpartum. Independent t-test was used to compare post-intervention mean scores of parental stress and competence between groups.

All enrolled participants completed the study (Intervention: 30; Control: 30). At 6-weeks postpartum, adolescent postpartum women in the intervention group who participated in the parental enhancing program with mobile application through ‘Line Official Account™ Parent Paplearn’ demonstrated significantly lower parental stress (t = 4.50, p < .001) and higher parental competence (t = -4.16, p < .001) compared to the control group.

Providing knowledge, skill training, and ongoing support in parenting for adolescent postpartum women through the mobile application significantly reduced parental stress and improved parental competence. Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, are encouraged to integrate such accessible and convenient tools into postpartum care routines. Continuous follow-up post-discharge is recommended to provide ongoing counselling, reduce parental stress, and enhance parental competence in adolescent postpartum women. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Clinical Trial Thai clinical trials registry (TCTR20250309010, https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20250309010) Note: Retrospectively registered Funding Statement Yes Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society (COE No. 001/2566) on February 6, 2023. Participants were informed about the study, assured of confidentiality, and provided written consent, with parental or spousal consent required for those under 18. Participation was voluntary, with the right to withdraw at any time without any consequence. Participants scoring 11 or higher on the EPDS or indicating suicidal thoughts were not excluded. Instead, the researcher provided initial support by actively listening to their concerns and referred them to a nurse who facilitated further consultation with a psychiatrist, ensuring that they received appropriate emotional and mental health care. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data Availability All relevant data are within the manuscript.