Role of healthcare in utilizing parenting programs to support childhood development: a bioethical analysis

Early childhood development is a uniquely sensitive time period which is shaped by social disparities. Environmental inputs including caregiver interactions mediate developmental outcomes. Parenting programs were created as an educational resource for parents to help foster child development. In Chapter 1, the current research on early development is explored including the plasticity of this time period and how parenting interactions can affect outcomes. Evidence shows these programs are effective tools for improving child developmental outcomes. These programs have an even stronger impact on children who experience inequities. Despite their equitable effectiveness, medicine still utilizes them in a reactive manner rather than as anticipatory guidance. Primary care is a key access point into supporting child development yet this lack of incorporation of parenting programs into standard care results in the underutilization of these programs. Chapter 2 examines this information utilizing a bioethical lens. The four foundational ethical principles of Justice, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, and Autonomy are examined regarding how these programs should be used to uphold the ethical responsibilities of physicians. Ethical reasoning supports the claim that these programs should be provided to all parents as a standard option for anticipatory guidance. There are several tangible avenues for physicians to support these programs including incorporation, advocation, and normalization. Ethical analysis reveals that given the critical window for child development, effects of disparities, and equitable outcomes of programs, supporting these programs goes beyond best medical practice and becomes a bioethical obligation.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Jones, Collin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tuohy, Brian

• Medical ethics
• Pediatrics
• Bioethics
• Child development
• Parenting
• Health justice and bioethics

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarshare.temple.edu/handle/20.500.12613/12175

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/12175