RI-MUHC researcher Marilyn Ahun publishes new work on the effects of multi-component parenting and mental health interventions on child and parent outcomes
Research indicates that over 250 million children worldwide are not reaching their developmental potential. Despite global efforts by experts, agencies, and public health organizations to support both parents and children, studies suggest there is often insufficient focus on the mental health of parents, which is critical for a child’s development.
In a recent review published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Marilyn N. Ahun, PhD, from the Centre for Outcomes and Research and Evaluation (CORE) of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) seeks to understand the impact of different kinds of interventions on child development and outcomes for parents. Appointed to the RI-MUHC in 2024, Prof. Ahun’s research is focused on the impact of parental mental health and parenting behaviors on child development and mental health across different global contexts. She uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the factors that influence the link between parental depression and child outcomes in high-, low-, and middle-income countries.
The primary aim of this research was to determine whether, on average, multi-component parenting and mental health interventions lead to improvements in children’s cognitive and socioemotional outcomes, parenting practices, and parent mental health outcomes. It also sought to identify whether specific intervention features and study characteristics moderated intervention impact.
Prioritizing mental health
The findings from the review were surprising. Although all interventions aimed to improve both parenting practices and parental mental health, most focused primarily on parenting, dedicating only one or two sessions to mental health. This is important because parental mental health is a crucial predictor of both child outcomes and parenting practices.
“We found that while these interventions aimed to address both areas, their content was largely focused on improving parenting practices, with minimal attention to mental health,” explains Prof. Ahun. “This review underscores the potential of multi-component interventions to enhance child development and family well-being, while also highlighting gaps that need to be addressed.”
These findings are highly relevant for caregivers and their young children worldwide, as they highlight the benefits of early interventions that address both parenting practices and parental mental health to promote child development and family well-being.
In addition to her review, Prof. Ahun, who is also a junior scientist in the Child Health and Human Development (CHHD) Program at the RI-MUHC, recently published a commentary in Nature Human Behavior, offering specific recommendations for applying behavioural science insights to parenting intervention research. Her recommendations aim to enhance transparency in the development, testing, and reporting of these interventions.
“Despite decades of research on parenting interventions, significant gaps remain in our understanding of their core elements, mechanisms, and implementation,” explains Prof. Ahun. “Insights from behavioral science—the study of human behavior and decision-making aimed at promoting positive behaviors—can help bridge these gaps, enhancing the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of parenting interventions to improve both parenting and child development outcomes.”
The next phase of Marilyn Ahun’s work involves creating a multi-component parenting and mental health intervention for both mothers and fathers, aiming to improve child development outcomes and family well-being in Ghana. Prof. Ahun plans to collaborate with community members, local researchers, and decision-makers to adapt two existing interventions—one focused on parenting and the other on mental health promotion—into a comprehensive program tailored to community needs.
About the studies
Effects of multi-component parenting and parental mental health interventions on early childhood development and parent outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Marilyn N Ahun, Alya Al Sager et al., was published in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. 2024 Sep;8(9):656-669.
Behavioural science can improve parenting interventions by Ahun, M.N., Bacon, S.L., was published in Nature Human Behavior (2024).
The review was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Postdoctoral Fellowship.