Designing effective interventions for working parents: a web‐based survey of parents in the UK workforce
| Published date | 16 September 2011 |
| Pages | 186-200 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17466661111176042 |
| Date | 16 September 2011 |
| Author | Matthew R. Sanders,Divna M. Haslam,Rachel Calam,Clare Southwell,Helen M. Stallman |
Designing effective interventions for
working parents: a web-based survey
of parents in the UK workforce
Matthew R. Sanders, Divna M. Haslam, Rachel Calam, Clare Southwell and
Helen M. Stallman
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine working parents’ experiences and attitudes and to
determine if these differ according to gender.Three areas were investigated: level of reported difficulties
in parenting and balancing work and family; parental perceptions about the workplace as a context for
the delivery of parenting support; and employee preferences for intervention features.
Design/methodology/approach – In total, 721 employed parents in the UK were recruited via their
organisation and completed a web-based survey.
Findings – A total of 41 percent of parents reported their children had significant behaviour problems
and 85 percent stated that worksite parenting interventions should be made available. A clear
preference was found for evidence-based interventions delivered by trained practitioners. The vast
majority of men (86 percent) and women (90 percent) reported they would attend a workplaceparenting
intervention if one were available.
Originality/value – The need to tailor programmes to the needs of parents is increasingly accepted.
This paper analyses the potential for tailoring an evidence-based programme for parents in the
workplace. It suggests that the provision of workplace parenting programmes may benefit the
organisation and the individual and increase parental access to services.
Keywords Working parents, Work-family balance, Parenting interventions, Employee preferences,
Consumer preferences, Work and family conflict, Parents, Quality of life
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Researchers and policy makers now agree that a populati on level approach for evidence-based
parenting support is needed (Prinz et al., 2007; Sanders et al.,2008a,b;Scott,2010;World
Health Organisation (WHO), 2009). This approach emphasises the importance of tailoring
programmes to the needs of parents and ensuring an ecological fit between programme
characteristics and participants’ needs. It also specifically aims to reduce identified barriers and
ensure accessibility( Prinzand Sanders, 2007). To date tailoring has largely focused on theneeds
of socioeconomically disadvantaged or ethnicallydiverse parents who are under-represented in
efficacy studies (Sanders et al., 2007). However,one large group who may experience difficulties
but rarely access support is working parents (Sanders et al., 2008a, b).
As more women have joined the workforce demographic trends have changed and two
income families are now the norm (Pocock, 2003). In the UK, for example, 57 percent
of mothers with children under 5 work outside the home (Crosby and Hawkes, 2007).
Working parents are at a particular disadvantage resulting from competing work and family
responsibilities that can make both roles more demanding (Duxbury and Higgins, 1994).
Difficulties balancing work and family are common with up to 75 percent of parents reporting
it challenging (Barnett and Rivers, 1996). Further, work-and-family conflict (WFC) is highest
among parents of young children indicating that difficulties associated with work-life
PAGE 186
j
JOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
j
VOL. 6 NO. 3 2011, pp. 186-200, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660 DOI 10.1108/17466661111176042
Matthew R. Sanders,
University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Australia.
Divna M. Haslam, Training
and Curriculum
Development at the
Parenting and Family
Support Centre, University
of Queensland, Brisbane,
Australia. Rachel Calam,
School of Psychological
Sciences, University of
Manchester, Manchester,
UK. Clare Southwell,
Business in the Community,
London, UK.
Helen M. Stallman, Clinical
Psychology at the
University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Australia.
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