Abstract

Low-income fathers are likely to drop out of parenting service provision, as access and retention in services remain barriers to parenting education. To boost access to evidence-based parenting information, one potential solution is mobile-based parenting apps. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate whether currently available parenting apps in both Google Play and iOS stores contain content for low-income fathers, with specific focus on whether apps are consistent with self-efficacy theory and evidence-based factors associated with father engagement. Utilizing systematic review procedures of search, screening and coding, apps were analyzed for content comprehensiveness and user ratings and evaluated based on theoretical dimensions of paternal self-efficacy and evidence-based factors associated with low-income father engagement. Of the 1,582 apps identified, 65 were included in the review. Of these apps, only one (1.5%) specifically targeted fathers, with the remaining apps (98.5%; n = 64) targeting both mothers and fathers. Results indicate that apps contained limited evidence-based content targeted for low-income fathers. User rating scores were associated with app content related to parenting stress (β = .540, p = .005) and co-parenting (β = −.552, p = .001). Implications include a need for more evidence-based content tailored to low-income fathers.

摘要

低收入父亲可能会退出育儿服务，因为获得和保留服务仍然是育儿教育的障碍。为了促进对循证育儿信息的访问，一种潜在的解决方案是基于移动的育儿应用程序。本系统评价的目的是评估目前在 Google Play 和 iOS 商店中可用的育儿应用程序是否包含针对低收入父亲的内容，特别关注应用程序是否符合自我效能理论和与父亲相关的循证因素订婚。利用搜索、筛选和编码的系统审查程序，分析应用程序的内容全面性和用户评分，并根据父亲自我效能感的理论维度和与低收入父亲参与相关的循证因素进行评估。在确定的 1,582 个应用程序中，有 65 个包含在审查中。在这些应用程序中，只有一个 (1.5%) 专门针对父亲，其余应用程序 (98.5%；n  = 64）同时针对母亲和父亲。结果表明，应用程序包含针对低收入父亲的有限循证内容。用户评分与育儿压力 ( β = .540, p = .005) 和共同育儿 ( β = -.552, p = .001)相关的应用内容相关。这意味着需要为低收入父亲量身定制更多基于证据的内容。