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Randomized prevention trial for early conduct problems: effects on proactive parenting and links to toddler

Frances Gardner1, Daniel S Shaw, Thomas J Dishion

  • 1Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, UK. frances.gardner@socres.ox.ac.uk

Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)
|September 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study found that a brief parenting intervention for toddlers improved proactive parenting skills. Enhanced parenting skills were linked to modest but significant reductions in child disruptive behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Preventive Interventions

Background:

  • Early conduct problems are linked to disruptive behavior pathways.
  • Proactive and positive parenting can reduce preschooler conduct problems.
  • Few interventions target toddler disruptive behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine if a brief family-centered intervention increases proactive and positive parenting in toddlers.
  • To explore if changes in parenting predict changes in disruptive behavior.
  • To assess the impact of a multifaceted preventive intervention on early conduct problems.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized trial with 120 low-income 2-year-old boys.
  • Intervention focused on reducing disruptive behavior and enhancing parenting skills.
  • Assessed parenting skills and child disruptive behavior changes from toddlerhood to age 3.

Main Results:

  • Parents in the intervention group showed increased proactive and positive parenting skills.
  • Changes in proactive parenting correlated with changes in child disruptive behavior.
  • The mediating effect of positive parenting on child behavior change was borderline significant.

Conclusions:

  • Brief, multifaceted interventions can modestly improve proactive parenting.
  • Enhanced proactive parenting skills contribute to reducing child disruptive behavior.
  • Targeting parenting in toddlerhood is a viable strategy for early conduct problem prevention.

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