A mobile application for managing children's behavioral problems: Protocol for the non-randomized pilot study using the ADDIE model.
Lee et al. will soon test an ADDIE-built phone app that aims to boost parent confidence and cut child problem behavior.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lee et al. (2026) wrote the recipe for a new phone app. They used the ADDIE steps: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate.
The app will coach parents of children with mixed diagnoses. It aims to raise parent confidence and lower child problem behavior.
Recruitment starts in May 2026. No kids have used the app yet, so no scores exist.
What they found
Nothing yet. This paper only gives the plan. The team will share results after the pilot ends.
How this fits with other research
Ni et al. (2025) already showed that eight live Zoom sessions plus ACT lessons cut parent stress and child behavior problems for autism families. Lee’s app extends this work by putting parent training in a pocket and opening it to any clinical diagnosis.
PCummings et al. (2024) ran an AI-powered ABA app for autism toddlers and saw large gains on ADOS-2 scores. Lee uses the same phone-delivery idea but adds Bandura self-efficacy sources and plans to test a wider age and diagnosis mix.
Melegari et al. (2025) ran three short crisis-prep calls and lifted caregiver readiness, yet child irritability stayed flat. Lee’s always-on app may solve the “no immediate child change” gap by giving parents in-the-moment tips right when behavior starts.
Why it matters
If the pilot shows parents like the app and feel more confident, you could offer it as a low-cost step before full parent-training. Watch for Lee’s data in late 2026; if positive, ask your agency to beta-test the app with families on your wait-list.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The objective of this article is to describe the protocol for a non-randomized pilot study of a theory-driven mobile parenting intervention designed to enhance parental self-efficacy and reduce children's problem behaviors. The intervention was developed using the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model. The analysis phase involved a narrative review and application market research to inform the theoretical framework and benchmarking elements. Guided by these findings, the design phase applied Bandura's self-efficacy theory, with behavior change techniques mapped to the four sources of self-efficacy. A beta version will undergo expert validation and small-scale user testing, followed by a non-randomized pilot study with 30 caregivers. Feasibility and possible effectiveness will be evaluated using application usage data, questionnaires, and user interviews. The analysis phase reviewed 54 studies and 18 parenting-related mobile applications, identifying parental self-efficacy as a central intervention target and highlighting limitations in existing applications. In response, the proposed application was designed to address all four sources of self-efficacy through theory-aligned functions, including behavior tracking, peer support, positive feedback, and personalized education. The development phase is currently underway, and the pilot study is scheduled for May 2026. This protocol outlines the systematic development of a theory-driven mobile parenting intervention and is expected to inform the feasibility of a self-efficacy–focused digital approach to supporting parents of children with behavioral problems.
Digital Health, 2026 · doi:10.1177/20552076261430090