Description

In this talk, Patty Leijten presents new findings on how the estimated effects of behavioural parenting programs evolve over time. She reviews five decades of rigorous research, drawing on 244 randomized trials (1,100 effect sizes, 28,916 families) conducted across 36 countries. The analysis shows that program effects initially decrease and then stabilise. More recent trials tend to use stronger research designs, include older and more gender-balanced samples, and evaluate interventions with fewer sessions, more independent delivery, and less reliance on time-out. Yet none of these developments account for the early decline in effect sizes. Overall, the findings suggest that estimates of parenting program effects are currently stable: effect sizes are no longer reducing but there is also no evidence of increases over time.

Learning Objectives

A. To understand the concept of behavioural parenting programmes for disruptive child behaviour.

B. To understand the potential influences of research design features on estimates of parenting programme effects.

C. To understand how parenting programme effects have evolved over time.

Related Content Links

How can we support parents to reduce disruptive child behaviour?

Paper Link

https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcpp.70049?af=R