A Parent-Focused Preventive Intervention for Adolescent Depression: Effectiveness of the Partners in Parenting Program in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Adolescent depression is a major global public health concern associated with emotional, social, and academic difficulties. The present study examined the effectiveness of a parent-focused preventive intervention based on the Partners in Parenting (PiP) program in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents.



A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 61 parent–adolescent dyads (adolescents aged 12–17 years) randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 31) or a waitlist control group (n = 30). Parents in the intervention group participated in an online PiP-based parenting program designed to improve practices associated with preventing adolescent depression and anxiety. Adolescent depressive symptoms were measured using the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI‑2), and parenting practices were assessed with the Parenting to Reduce Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Scale (PRADAS). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post‑intervention, and three months later, and data were analyzed using linear mixed‑effects models.



Results showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms among adolescents in the intervention group compared with the control group, with a significant time × group interaction. Parents in the intervention group also demonstrated improvements in preventive parenting practices. Importantly, reductions in adolescent depressive symptoms were maintained at the three‑month follow‑up.



Overall, the findings suggest that a PiP‑based parent‑focused intervention can effectively reduce adolescent depressive symptoms and improve parenting practices, highlighting the potential of online parent programs as an accessible and scalable strategy for promoting adolescent mental health.