Parent Experiences of Empowerment: Understanding the Role of Parent Empowerment in Child Health Promotion.

Abstract

Establishing healthy behaviors during a child's first 5years is essential for healthy growth. Parents are targeted as agents of change because they serve as primary models of behavior during this period. Although parent-focused interventions often target empowerment as a driver of change, our understanding of how parents experience the process of empowerment in the context of child health promotion remains limited. This qualitative study explored the process by which parents gain empowerment through participation in a health promotion intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 low-income parents who participated in Parents Connect for Healthy Living (PConnect), a 10-week empowerment-centered obesity prevention intervention. Data were analyzed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis and guided by empowerment theories. Most parents were Hispanic/Latino (41%) and female (97%). Five themes emerged that correspond to the process by which parents gained empowerment: (1) friendships formed and relationships strengthened during PConnect, (2) parents strengthened relationships with their children and believed in their ability to parent successfully, (3) the experience of knowledge led to behavior change, (4) parents used new resources to improve family health, and (5) parents took action. Empowerment theory should be a component of health promotion programs.