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Evaluation of a community intervention programme for preschool behaviour problems.
J Elliot1, M Prior, C Merrigan
1Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Latrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|March 1, 2002
Summary
This study found that combined parent behavior management and child prereading interventions reduced hyperactivity in 4-year-olds. While prereading skills didn't improve, the combined approach showed lasting positive effects on child behavior.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Early Childhood Education
- Behavioral Interventions
Background:
- Early intervention programs aim to enhance child development and address behavioral challenges in preschoolers.
- Parenting skills and early literacy are crucial for a child's long-term adjustment and academic success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of an early intervention targeting prereading and parent behavior-management skills in 4-year-old children.
- To evaluate the impact of separate and combined interventions on child behavioral and learning outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A sample of preschoolers was screened, and participants were assigned to four groups: prereading intervention, behavior management training, combined intervention, or a control group.
- Intervention effects were measured using pre-, post-, and 1- and 2-year follow-up assessments of child behavior and learning.
Main Results:
- The combined intervention group showed significantly reduced hyperactive/distractible behavior at 2-year follow-up.
- Anxiety problems were also reduced in the post-treatment phase for the combined group.
- The prereading intervention alone did not significantly improve reading skills and was considered insufficiently intensive for disadvantaged preschoolers.
Conclusions:
- Community-based interventions can yield positive behavioral outcomes for young children, even with low intensity.
- Parent behavior management training, especially when combined with other interventions, shows promise for reducing hyperactivity.
- Further efforts are needed to enhance recruitment of at-risk families into early intervention programs to maximize community impact.