Parenting: There is an app for that. A systematic review of parenting interventions apps

Abstract

BackgroundTechnology is widely used by people of various ages and backgrounds. It has become an easy, affordable, and discrete means to learning and development. Parenting apps can be easily accessed through digital distribution platforms, which is both an opportunity and a challenge for technology users when it comes to choosing the right app for their needs. The present review aims at summarizing the characteristics of parenting apps available online and identifying the areas where improvement is needed to deliver the best services for parents in need of guidance. MethodA systematic search of parenting apps that targeted parents of children aged between 2 and 12 years old was carried out on the Google Play and Apple App stores. The characteristics of the apps were verified based on previously set inclusion criteria in two steps: using in-platform descriptions and by downloading and testing the in-app features. ResultsOut of 522 apps that were relevant to our search, only 53 apps met our criteria to provide parenting interventions. Although 86.7% could be downloaded for free, 32% of them required subscription and payment after the trial version. Most of the apps were dedicated to the assessment of children’s development, rewards usage, or behavior tracking. Only a few apps offered features such as personalized content, parent mood tracking, and action planning. Most of the apps relied on behavior therapy techniques or positive psychology and none of the apps employed studies to investigate their effects.