Helping parents talk with kids about their background

Developing and Testing a Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Communication Competency for Background-Related Conversations

['FUNDING_R21'] · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · NIH-11181494

This project offers a short video-feedback program to help parents become more confident and skilled when talking with their children about their background and experiences.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R21']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorPENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (UNIVERSITY PARK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11181494 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You and your child would complete brief surveys and take part in a short, recorded conversation so researchers can see how you talk about background-related topics. A staff member will interview the parent to learn about concerns and tailor feedback. In a follow-up session, the parent receives guided feedback using clips from the video plus coaching based on motivational interviewing to build skills and reduce stress. The program is being refined using established video-feedback methods and input from families to make it practical and family-centered.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Families with children or adolescents (primarily school-age and teen years) whose parents want help communicating about background-related experiences are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Families who are not willing to be videotaped, who do not want to discuss background topics, or who cannot have a caregiver participate are unlikely to benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help parents support their children’s pride and coping skills, reducing risks for anxiety, depression, and behavior problems.

How similar studies have performed: Related video-feedback and motivational interviewing programs have improved parenting skills in prior research, but applying them specifically to background-related conversations is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

UNIVERSITY PARK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.