Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

11.6K

Does behavioural parent training reduce internalising symptoms (or not) among children with externalising problems?

Christy Bloss1, Sophie Brown1, Vilas Sawrikar2,3

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|December 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Behaviour parent training (BPT) effectively reduces child externalizing problems. While evidence for reducing internalizing symptoms is unclear, a meta-analysis found BPT shows a small benefit for these issues in children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Behaviour parent training (BPT) is established for reducing child externalizing problems.
  • The efficacy of BPT for secondary benefits, specifically reducing internalizing symptoms, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of BPT on internalizing symptoms in children aged 2-12 years with externalizing problems.
  • To assess the reliability and robustness of BPT's impact on internalizing outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic search of multiple electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS).
  • Inclusion of 24 studies examining internalizing outcomes following BPT in children with elevated externalizing problems.
  • Meta-analysis of internalizing problem outcomes, including heterogeneity and moderation analyses.

Main Results:

  • A significant small treatment effect size (g = -0.41) was found for reducing internalizing symptoms immediately post-BPT.
  • Moderate heterogeneity (I² = 44%) was observed across studies.
  • Moderation analyses suggested the overall treatment effect was robust to variations in study characteristics, despite methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

  • BPT programs targeting externalizing problems demonstrate a potential to improve associated internalizing symptoms.
  • Current evidence suggests a small but significant effect, though limitations in study methodology and heterogeneity necessitate cautious interpretation.
  • Further research is required to confirm the reliability and clinical significance of these findings.

Keywords:
Behaviour parent trainingComorbidityExternalisingInternalisingTransdiagnosis

More Related Videos

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children07:01

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.0K
Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers09:16

Use of a Video Scoring Anchor for Rapid Serial Assessment of Social Communication in Toddlers

Published on: March 14, 2018

10.3K

Related Concept Videos

Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant 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...
100
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
216
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
107
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling 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...
135
Behavior Therapy01:22

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
95
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs01:23

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
460