New Beginnings Podcast: brief parenting program for divorced and separated parents
"The New Beginnings Podcast: A Small-scale Randomized Controlled Trial of a Parenting Podcast to Improve Outcomes for Children From Divorced Families"
This study will test whether a short podcast can help divorced or separated parents improve parenting and support their children's mental health.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 8 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Arizona State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tempe, Arizona) |
| Trial ID | NCT07529548 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized trial compares families who listen to the New Beginnings Podcast to families placed on a waitlist to see if the audio program changes parent behavior and child outcomes. Parents listen to brief podcast episodes teaching evidence-based parenting skills and complete surveys about usability, relevance, and helpfulness. Child outcomes (ages 8–18) are tracked via parent- and child-report measures of mental health and parent–child relationship quality. The study emphasizes feasibility, acceptability, and short-term effects of delivering proven parenting content in a podcast format.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are English-speaking parents who are divorced, separated, or in the process of separating within the past two years, have at least one child aged 8–18, have regular in-person contact with that child (≥3 hours/week or at least one overnight every other week), and have a smartphone and internet access.
Not a fit: Parents without regular contact with their children, non-English speakers, those lacking a smartphone or internet access, or parents whose children are outside the 8–18 age range are unlikely to benefit from this podcast intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the podcast could provide an easy, low-cost way for separated or divorced parents to strengthen parenting and reduce children's emotional or behavioral problems.
How similar studies have performed: Related parenting programs delivered in person and online have shown benefits in prior randomized trials, but delivering those same skills via a brief podcast is a newer approach with limited direct testing to date.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: For Parents, eligibility criteria are: 1. divorced, separated, separated but never married, or divorcing/separating within the last two years; 2. one or more children between the ages of 8-18 years old; 3. have in-person contact with their child(ren) at least three hours per week or have at least one overnight visit every other week; 4. have access to a smartphone with internet that can play audio files; 5. English speaking. For children, eligibility criteria are: 1. have a parent who is participating in the trial; 2. be between the ages of 8-18 and 3. have access to a computer to complete assessments. If a parent has more than one child aged 8-18 interested in participating, we will randomly select one child to ensure independence of responses. Exclusion Criteria: \-
Where this trial is running
Tempe, Arizona
- ASU Dept of Psychology — Tempe, Arizona, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Charla A Rhodes, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology
- Email: carhode1@asu.edu
- Phone: (602) 767-2426
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.