Interventions to improving the health and socio-economic wellbeing of young parents

This scoping review examined 13 studies of interventions designed to improve the health and socio-economic wellbeing of young parents (aged 10–24) across seven African countries. Most interventions focused on young mothers. Interventions that provided counselling, peer support, mentoring or group-based psychosocial support were generally associated with improvements in wellbeing, confidence, coping skills and social functioning. Several interventions reported broader benefits beyond mental health, including improved parenting skills, stronger social support, increased school participation, greater financial independence and improved access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Why is this important?

• Becoming a parent while aged 10–18 years (adolescent childbearing) can have significant impacts on young people’s mental health, education, employment opportunities and long-term wellbeing. Young parents may experience stigma, financial hardship, school disruption and mental health challenges that affect both themselves and their children.
• Although various interventions have been developed to support young parents in Africa, there has been limited effort to map existing interventions and examine the outcomes they aim to improve.

What did they do?

• The authors conducted a scoping review of 13 studies of interventions designed to improve the health and socio-economic wellbeing of young parents aged 10–24 years. The studies came from seven African countries and were published between 2000 and 2024.
• The authors explored the types of interventions used, who they targeted, where they were implemented and the outcomes they reported. Outcomes included mental, sexual and reproductive health as well as social, educational and economic outcomes.

What did they find?

• Most interventions focused on young mothers, with very limited attention given to young fathers.
• Interventions that provided counselling, peer support, mentoring or group-based psychosocial support were generally associated with improvements in young mothers’ wellbeing, confidence, coping skills and social functioning.
• Several interventions reported broader benefits beyond mental health, including improved parenting skills, stronger social support, increased school participation, greater financial independence, and improved access to sexual and reproductive health services.
• Young parents were rarely involved in designing interventions. Only three of the 13 studies reported involving young mothers in program design or implementation. No studies reported involving young fathers.

What does this mean for practice?

• Young parents often experience interconnected mental health, social, educational and economic challenges. Support may be most effective when it addresses multiple aspects of wellbeing rather than focusing on a single issue.
• Mental health support can play an important role in helping young parents manage stress, stigma, confidence and adjustment to parenthood. Approaches such as counselling, peer support and group-based interventions showed promise across several studies.
• Practitioners can consider how support is provided across the wider family network and whether all key caregivers are being engaged in ways that support positive outcomes for both young parents and their children.
• The review highlights opportunities to involve young parents more meaningfully in the design and delivery of support programs. Doing so may help ensure interventions reflect the realities, priorities and strengths of the young people they are intended to support.

This summary is one of the child mental health research highlights for September 2026, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).