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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
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Have parenting programs for disruptive child behavior become less effective?
Patty Leijten1, G J Melendez-Torres2, Sophia Backhaus1
1Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Behavioral parenting program effects initially decreased then stabilized. More rigorous trials did not explain this trend, suggesting a need for innovation in program design and delivery to enhance outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Child Development
- Evidence-Based Interventions
Background:
- Behavioral parenting programs have been extensively researched for over 50 years.
- Previous research provides a substantial foundation for analyzing trends in program effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the historical evolution of effect size estimates for behavioral parenting programs.
- To determine if changes in trial, sample, or intervention characteristics explain observed time trends in effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was conducted using data from a systematic search of numerous databases and trial registries.
- Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of behavioral parenting programs.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 244 trials (1,100 effect sizes; 28,916 families) from 36 countries.
- Effect sizes initially decreased and subsequently stabilized over time.
- More recent trials exhibited enhanced rigor but did not account for the initial decline in effect estimates.
Conclusions:
- Effect size estimates for behavioral parenting programs are currently stable, showing neither reduction nor increase.
- Further innovation in program content, delivery methods, and personalization is necessary to improve effectiveness.
Keywords:
Behavioral parenting programdisruptive child behaviormeta‐analysissystematic reviewtime trendsMore Related Videos
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