Improving how we assess parenting to support youth health.
Official title: Optimizing the Assessment of Parenting: A Multi-Method and Multi-Informant Approach
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-10901637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make it easier to understand how different parenting styles affect kids by gathering feedback from parents and children and using various methods to get a fuller picture, so we can help improve kids' health and well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $386,076 |
| NIH project number | 1DP5OD036508-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10901637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include parents, particularly those from ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds and fathers, who are involved in the upbringing of youth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who may not benefit from this research include those without children or those not engaged in parenting roles.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the assessment of parenting through a comprehensive approach that includes multiple methods and perspectives. It aims to improve the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS) by incorporating qualitative methods, feedback from both parents and youth, and ecological momentary assessments. By addressing the limitations of current assessments, such as underrepresentation of diverse parenting experiences, this project seeks to create a more effective tool for evaluating parenting practices. The ultimate goal is to provide better insights that can inform interventions aimed at improving youth health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective parenting interventions that significantly improve youth health and development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that enhancing assessment tools through mixed methods can lead to improved measurement quality, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodriguez, Violeta de Jesus — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Rodriguez, Violeta de Jesus
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Enhancing Parenting Support in Peer Recovery Programs
Aimed at helping parents who are recovering from substance use improve parenting with tailored training and ongoing support.
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Hope for Stronger Families: improving children's behavior by boosting family finances and parenting in Uganda
This project combines family savings and parenting support programs to help Ugandan families improve children's behavior and well-being.
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Hope for Stronger Families: supporting family finances and parenting to help children's behavior in Uganda
This project combines savings and economic support with group parenting help to improve children's behavior and family wellbeing in Uganda.
-
Bundle of nutrition, parenting, and health support to boost young children’s development
A group of researchers will test whether adding nutritious foods and responsive caregiving to health services helps children aged 6–30 months grow and develop better.
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Linking Daily Parental Experiences to Kids' Self-Regulation Growth in Preschoolers
This grant aims to understand how everyday parental experiences and stress influence preschoolers’ ability to manage emotions and behavior over time.
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Prevention of Maternal Depression Across 25 Years in Diverse Contexts with a Parenting Support Program
A long-term study in low-income families will explore how mothers’ depression changes over 25 years and whether a family-focused parenting program can help reduce depressive symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.