Effectiveness and Cultural Adaptation of Parenting Interventions for South Asian Families: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review Using Bernal’s Ecological Validity Model

Abstract

Highlights: What are the main findings? Culturally adapted parenting interventions improved child outcomes, parenting knowledge, and psychological wellbeing among South Asian families. Deeper cultural adaptation was linked to stronger and more consistent effects on children’s cognitive development. What are the implications of the main findings? Policymakers and practitioners should prioritise the development and evaluation of culturally grounded parenting interventions that integrate psychosocial support for low mood, tailored to South Asian contexts. Future research should employ robust study designs and clearly document adaptation processes to strengthen the evidence base. Background: Although parenting interventions are effective in improving parenting practices and child development, most are developed within Western cultural frameworks that may not align with South Asian collectivist values and family structures. The extent to which cultural adaptation influences the effectiveness of parenting interventions in South Asian populations remains unclear. Aim: To systematically review the effectiveness of parenting interventions on child developmental outcomes, parenting outcomes, and parental health among South Asian families, and to examine whether the depth of cultural adaptation, assessed using Bernal’s Ecological Validity Model (EVM), is associated with intervention effectiveness. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. We systematically searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, Science Direct, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane library. Data were extracted from six electronic databases up to August 2023. Quality and risk of bias were appraised using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials for the quantitative studies and the Critical Appraisal Skill Program (CASP) checklist for the qualitative studies. Results: Seventeen studies (fifteen quantitative, two qualitative) involving 8088 participants were included; ten studies contributed data to meta-analysis. Parenting interventions were associated with moderate improvements in parenting knowledge (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.76) and small improvements in parental involvement (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.72). Significant reductions in parental depression (SMD = −0.77, 95% CI −1.20 to −0.34) and disability symptoms (SMD = 0.82, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.96) were observed, though effects on post-natal depression (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI −1.00 to 1.30) and physical quality of life (SMD = −0.27, 95% CI −1.22 to 1.75) were non-significant. For children, large improvements were found in cognitive (SMD = 0.84–1.48), language (SMD = 0.79, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.33), and social development (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.91), but not in emotional or motor development. Sensitivity analyses indicated larger effects for studies demonstrating deeper cultural adaptation. Qualitative findings highlighted maternal empowerment, improved mental wellbeing, and the importance of family support and culturally congruent facilitators for engagement. Overall certainty of evidence was rated as low due to high heterogeneity, risk of bias, and imprecision. Discussion: Culturally adapted parenting interventions show promising benefits for parenting practices, parental mental health, and child developmental outcomes among South Asian families, particularly when adaptations extend beyond surface-level changes. However, evidence quality is low and inconsistent, highlighting the need for more rigorous trials and clearer reporting of cultural adaptation to optimize effectiveness.