Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Treatment for preschool children with interpersonal sexual behavior problems: a pilot study
Jane F Silovsky1, Larissa Niec, David Bard
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. jane-silovsky@ouhsc.edu
Summary
A 12-week group treatment program effectively reduced interpersonal sexual behavior problems (SBP) in preschool children. Treatment effects were incremental and most beneficial for older girls, with caregivers reporting positive outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Preschool children can exhibit interpersonal sexual behavior problems (SBP).
- These behaviors often co-occur with trauma symptoms and disruptive behaviors.
- Evidence-based interventions are needed to address SBP in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a 12-week group treatment program for preschool children with SBP.
- To assess the impact of treatment on SBP and caregiver-reported outcomes.
- To identify factors influencing treatment effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 85 preschool children with SBP.
- 12-week group treatment program.
- Intent-to-treat analysis examining the relationship between session attendance and SBP reduction.
Main Results:
- Significant linear reduction in SBP correlated with the number of treatment sessions attended.
- Treatment effects accounted for over one-third of the variance in SBP reduction.
- Female and older children showed the most significant positive response to treatment.
- Caregivers reported increased knowledge, satisfaction, and perceived usefulness of the treatment.
Conclusions:
- The group treatment program demonstrates efficacy in reducing SBP in preschool children.
- Treatment effects appear incremental and are influenced by child characteristics.
- Further research is recommended to explore environmental factors, treatment effect stability, and integration with comorbid condition treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
01:26Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal
Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...
01:14Psychosexual Theory of Development
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...