{"title":"Parents' experiences with the Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) intervention - a scoping review of qualitative studies.","authors":"Kirsten Gudbjørg Øen, Veronica Velde Wold, Hanne Cecilie Braarud, Ingvild Sundfør Rasmussen","doi":"10.1080/17482631.2026.2644584","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research on the Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) program is limited.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The current study was performed to map and synthesize the existing qualitative literature on parents' experiences of participating in the COSP to address gaps in the current knowledge base.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was carried out. Sixteen qualitative studies with samples from well-baby clinics, community health care, child welfare services, specialist mental health care services for children, and specialist mental health care for adults were included in this review. The sample included 172 informants, mostly women.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thematic content analysis found three main themes and eight sub-themes. Theme 1: Parents' journey of self-reflection, self-development, learning and understanding of the parenting role. Sub-theme: (1a) COSP as a source of increased self-understanding and security in the parenting role, (1b) emotionally demanding processes for parents. Theme 2: COSP, a source of changes in the child and parent‒child relationship and interaction with others. Sub-theme: (2a) COSP assessed as having a positive impact on the child. (2b) COSP assessed as improving parent‒child interaction. (2c) COSP as a source of conflict resolution. Theme 3: COSP is assessed as positive, yet sometimes adaptations are needed. Sub-theme: (3a) Parents experience the COSP as useful for their everyday lives and recommend the program to other parents. (3b) Parents have comments and suggestions regarding the implementation of the COSP. (3c) The COSP is recommended by parents outside the target group, but adaptations are required.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The review shows that parents find the COSP intervention to have valuable potential as a health-promoting intervention, but the program should be used with careful consideration to non-target groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":51468,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being","volume":"21 1","pages":"2644584"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2026-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13007396/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2026.2644584","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/3/20 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Research on the Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) program is limited.
Aims: The current study was performed to map and synthesize the existing qualitative literature on parents' experiences of participating in the COSP to address gaps in the current knowledge base.
Methods: A scoping review was carried out. Sixteen qualitative studies with samples from well-baby clinics, community health care, child welfare services, specialist mental health care services for children, and specialist mental health care for adults were included in this review. The sample included 172 informants, mostly women.
Results: Thematic content analysis found three main themes and eight sub-themes. Theme 1: Parents' journey of self-reflection, self-development, learning and understanding of the parenting role. Sub-theme: (1a) COSP as a source of increased self-understanding and security in the parenting role, (1b) emotionally demanding processes for parents. Theme 2: COSP, a source of changes in the child and parent‒child relationship and interaction with others. Sub-theme: (2a) COSP assessed as having a positive impact on the child. (2b) COSP assessed as improving parent‒child interaction. (2c) COSP as a source of conflict resolution. Theme 3: COSP is assessed as positive, yet sometimes adaptations are needed. Sub-theme: (3a) Parents experience the COSP as useful for their everyday lives and recommend the program to other parents. (3b) Parents have comments and suggestions regarding the implementation of the COSP. (3c) The COSP is recommended by parents outside the target group, but adaptations are required.
Conclusions: The review shows that parents find the COSP intervention to have valuable potential as a health-promoting intervention, but the program should be used with careful consideration to non-target groups.
期刊介绍：
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being acknowledges the international and interdisciplinary nature of health-related issues. It intends to provide a meeting-point for studies using rigorous qualitative methodology of significance for issues related to human health and well-being. The aim of the International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being is to support and to shape the emerging field of qualitative studies and to encourage a better understanding of all aspects of human health and well-being.
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