ADAPTIVE PARENTING STRATEGIES IN A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD: EFFECTS OF A SIX-WEEK EXPERIENTIAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ARAD COUNTY (ROMANIA)

<doi>10.24250/jpe/1/2026/HT/EMC/</doi>

Abstract

Contemporary parenting increasingly requires adaptive
strategies to address technological, social, and emotional
challenges affecting family life. This study investigated the
outcomes of a six-week non-formal education program that
integrated outdoor experiential learning activities with
multimedia-based workshops, implemented in Arad
County, Romania. A pre post mixed-methods design was
employed. Forty parents participated in the program and
completed the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale
(PSOC) and the Parent Child Relationship Inventory
(PCRI) before and after the intervention. Paired-samples
analyses indicated statistically significant post-intervention
improvements in parenting efficacy and satisfaction, as
well as in key dimensions of the parent child relationship,
including communication, emotional support, and limit
setting (p < .05). In addition, qualitative data obtained
through semi-structured interviews suggested perceived
improvements in parental confidence, emotional
regulation, and family interaction. Although the absence of
a control group limits causal inference, the findings
indicate positive within-participant changes following
program participation. The study highlights the potential
contribution of integrated experiential and multimedia
approaches within non-formal parenting education
programs aimed at supporting adaptive parenting in
contemporary contexts.