Tuning in to Kids®: emotion coaching for parents of 3–6 year-olds in Portugal
Promoting Parental and Child Mental Health Through Emotion-focused Parenting Programs: Adaptation, Implementation, and Evaluation of Tuning in to Kids® in Portugal
This project will test whether a 6-week Tuning in to Kids® group program helps parents of 3–6 year-olds in Portugal improve how they respond to their children's emotions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 152 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Lusofona University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lisbon) |
| Trial ID | NCT07350083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Consenting Portuguese-speaking parents of children aged 3–6 who live in the Lisbon area are randomized to a 6-week, face-to-face Tuning in to Kids® group program or to a waitlist control. The trial measures feasibility, acceptability, implementation fidelity and preliminary efficacy for changing parents' emotion socialization practices and improving child emotion regulation and behavior. TIK sessions use emotion coaching, mindfulness, and emotion regulation principles and are delivered by trained facilitators in community or university settings. Results will inform whether the program can be implemented more widely in Portugal and guide any local adaptations.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Portuguese-speaking parents or legal guardians aged 18+ with at least one child aged 3–6 who lives with them and who reside in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area or Lisbon District.
Not a fit: Parents who cannot speak Portuguese, whose target child is already in elementary school, whose child has a severe communication or developmental disorder, or who are currently enrolled in another structured parenting program are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help parents learn emotion coaching skills that improve children's ability to understand and regulate emotions and reduce emotional and behavioral difficulties.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials of Tuning in to Kids® in other countries have shown improvements in parent emotion coaching and reductions in child behavioral difficulties, so the approach has supportive evidence internationally.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Parents/legal guardians: * with at least one child aged between 3 and 6 years old (inclusive) who lives with the parent/legal guardian, * with at least 18 years old, * who can read, understand, and speak Portuguese * who live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area or Lisbon District. When applicable, both parents will be allowed to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * parents' poor Portuguese language skills * parents' being currently enrolled in another structured parenting program * if the target child is already attending elementary school at the time of recruitment * if the target child has a diagnosis of a severe Communication and/or Developmental Disorder, or * if the target child is under a child protection measure that implies that the child does not live with their parents (e.g., if the child is in foster care). Only participants that give informed consent to participate in the study will be included and randomized to one of the study conditions (TIK vs. waiting list group).
Where this trial is running
Lisbon
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Lusófona University — Lisbon, Portugal (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Stephanie Alves
- Email: stephanie.alves@ulusofona.pt
- Phone: +351 21 751 5500
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.