As practitioners in the field of speech-language pathology, we are often on the lookout for effective strategies to support the healthy development of children. One significant area of concern is the impact of excessive television watching on children's developmental, social, and psychological well-being. A recent study titled "The effect of educational programs based on the theory of planned behavior on parental supervision in students’ television watching" offers valuable insights that can enhance our practices and encourage further research.
The study, conducted by Moshki et al. (2016), explores how educational programs grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) can positively influence parents' supervision skills regarding their children's TV watching habits. The research involved 120 parents of primary school students, divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in educational sessions designed to enhance their knowledge and attitudes towards controlling their children's TV watching.
The results were promising. After the intervention, significant improvements were observed in the intervention group, including:
- Reduction in mean hours of TV watching (from 6.74±2.02 to 4.28±2.40; p=0.039)
- Increased knowledge scores (from 5.8±2.1 to 7.7±1.9; p=0.001)
- Enhanced attitudes towards less TV watching (from 35.5±11.5 to 48.4±8.9; p=0.003)
- Improved subjective norms (from 11.8±8.1 to 24.5±8.6; p>0.001)
- Strengthened behavioral intention (from 18.6±7.4 to 31.8±5.1; p=0.001)
These findings highlight the effectiveness of TPB-based educational interventions in modifying parents' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions towards supervising their children's TV watching. As practitioners, we can incorporate these insights into our practice by:
- Encouraging parents to participate in educational programs that focus on the risks of excessive TV watching and strategies for effective supervision.
- Utilizing the TPB framework to design our own educational interventions tailored to the specific needs of the families we serve.
- Collaborating with schools and community organizations to implement these programs on a broader scale.
Furthermore, this study opens avenues for additional research. Future studies could explore the long-term effects of such educational programs, investigate the impact on different age groups, or examine other behavioral issues that could benefit from similar interventions.
In conclusion, the research by Moshki et al. underscores the potential of educational programs based on the Theory of Planned Behavior to improve parental supervision of children's TV watching. By integrating these findings into our practice, we can make data-driven decisions that lead to better outcomes for the children we serve.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The effect of educational programs based on the theory of planned behavior on parental supervision in students’ television watching.
