Dealing with Childhood Externalizing Behavior: Protocol for a Feasibility RCT of the Being a Parent Program

Concerning numbers of childhood behavior problems have been reported worldwide. Parenting interventions are considered one of the most effective early strategies to intervene with externalizing conduct. This protocol outlines a feasibility RCT that aims to implement a parenting intervention in Portugal and (a) test key feasibility parameters, (b) assess the fidelity and acceptability of the program, and (c) explore its effectiveness in childhood behavior problems, parenting skills, parental concern, and parental sense of competence. A double-blinded, two-arm feasibility RCT is described. The participants are the primary caregivers of children between the ages of two and eleven years old that identify difficulties in managing their child's behavior. Families will be randomly assigned to an intervention arm and a waitlist control arm. Parents in the intervention arm will participate in the Being a Parent program (Portuguese version: Ser Pai & Ser Mãe), an eight-week group intervention. Outcomes will be assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures throughout three assessment periods (pre- and post-intervention, and follow-up). This study marks the first feasibility RCT of the Being a Parent program outside the UK. The findings will provide information on the global strength of this program. Challenges and clinical implications are also discussed.