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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Improving preschoolers' mental health through parenting programs

Official title: Improving Vulnerable Preschoolers' Mental Health: A Superiority Trial Assessing the How-to Parenting Program

Run by Université de Montréal · NCT05796466 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests if a parenting program can help parents support their preschoolers better and reduce behavior problems in kids from families that need extra help.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment320 (estimated)
SponsorUniversité de Montréal
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Montreal, Quebec)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 1, 2023
Main results expectedJune 15, 2029
Study endsJune 15, 2030
Registry record updatedJune 3, 2024
Trial IDNCT05796466 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are parents with at least one child aged 3 to 4 years who reside in low- or middle-income neighborhoods.

Probably not a fit

Parents who have previously attended a How-to Parenting Program or cannot communicate in French may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized control trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the How-to Parenting Program in enhancing parental autonomy support and reducing externalizing problems in preschoolers from vulnerable families. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the How-to Parenting Program or the Nobody's Perfect program, both consisting of six weekly sessions. Parents will complete questionnaires and engage in filmed interactions with their children at various points throughout the study to assess changes in parenting quality and child mental health. The study seeks to determine if teaching specific parenting skills leads to better outcomes compared to a program that does not focus on skill development.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the mental health of preschoolers by enhancing parenting practices.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with similar parenting programs, indicating potential for positive outcomes in this trial.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

\- Parents need to have at least one child aged between between 36 and 59 months at pre-intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parents will be excluded if they have previously attended a How-to Parenting Program
* Parents who are unable to communicate in French will be excluded.

Recruitment procedure:

\- To target more more vulnerable families, parents will primarily be recruited in ECCs located in low- or middle-income neighbourhoods of the greater Montreal (Canada) according to the Montreal's 2018 Poverty Map of Families with Children.

Where it's running

  • Université de Montréal
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Mental Health Issue 52Parenting 140Université de Montréal 5
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.