Optimizing Parenting Assessments to Help Families and Youth
Official title: Optimizing the Assessment of Parenting: A Multi-Method and Multi-Informant Approach
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11413537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to improve how we measure parenting so researchers and clinicians can better support healthy youth development.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $385,440 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD036508-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable as written, this is a measure development project; future users include families and parents across diverse backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Participants may not directly receive a treatment or intervention from this study, though their input helps refine the measurement tool.
What this research studies
This project focuses on refining the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS) to address gaps like missing parenting dimensions, lack of multi-informant input, and limited cultural and family diversity. It will combine qualitative interviews with parents and quantitative methods, including modern psychometrics and validation across different groups, to create a more accurate, reliable parenting measure. The goal is to provide researchers and clinicians with a stronger tool to understand parenting practices and their impact on youth health outcomes, guiding more effective interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the enhanced MAPS could lead to better identification of parenting strengths and needs, informing targeted support for families and ultimately improving youth health behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that improvements in parenting assessments can lead to better alignment with child outcomes, with mixed-methods research enhancing measurement quality.
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.
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Bundle of nutrition, parenting, and health support to boost young children’s development
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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.