Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
Parental predictors of an Internet-based parenting intervention for child disruptive behavior: an implementation
Yujing Li1,2, Amit Baumel3, Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki4,5
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, Turku, 20014, Finland. yujili@utu.fi.
Insights
Parental mental health and lower education predicted better outcomes for child disruptive behavior interventions. Disadvantaged populations showed greater positive changes, highlighting intervention effectiveness across diverse groups.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Child disruptive behavior is a common concern for parents.
- Parent training interventions aim to improve child behavior and family functioning.
- Understanding predictors of intervention success is crucial for optimizing outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parental factors predicting outcomes of a nationwide internet- and telephone-assisted parent training intervention for child disruptive behavior in Finland.
- To examine how parental education, mental health, and parenting skills influence intervention effectiveness.
- To identify potential disparities in intervention outcomes across different sociodemographic groups.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide sample of 2,900 families with 4-year-old children exhibiting disruptive behavior participated.
- An 11-week internet- and telephone-assisted parent training intervention was delivered.
- Hierarchical linear models analyzed changes in the Child Behavior Checklist externalizing score over 24 months, examining predictors like parental education, mental health, and parenting skills.
Main Results:
- Maternal college education was associated with smaller reductions in externalizing problems at 6 months.
- High parental over-reactivity and elevated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale scores at baseline predicted greater reductions in externalizing problems at 24 months.
- Disadvantaged populations (lower education, poorer parenting skills, severe parental mental health issues) showed greater positive changes over time.
Conclusions:
- Parental mental health and specific parenting factors significantly predict intervention outcomes for child disruptive behavior.
- The intervention demonstrated effectiveness, particularly among disadvantaged populations, suggesting potential for broad public health impact.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings across diverse settings and sociodemographic groups.
Abstract:
This study investigates parental factors as predictors of the outcome of an internet-based and telephone-assisted parent training intervention targeting child disruptive behavior, when it was implemented nationwide in Finland. 2,900 families with children who met screening criteria at their 4-year-old health checkup received the 11-week intervention. Potential predictors included parents’ age and educational attainment, family structure, enrollment year, parenting skills, and parental mental health. The outcome was the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 externalizing score, collected at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine changes in the outcome over time. At 6 months, parents of children whose mothers had a college or university degree reported smaller reductions in child externalizing problems compared to those with lower maternal education (β= 0.87, 95% CI [0.28, 1.45], p= .004). At 24 months, greater reductions in externalizing problems were observed in children whose parents had a high parental over-reactivity score at baseline (β= -1.23, 95% CI [-1.97, -0.49], p= .001), as well as a medium or high baseline parental Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale total score (Medium: β= -1.01, 95% CI [-1.65, -0.36], p= .002; High: β= -1.05, 95% CI [-1.82, -0.28], p= .007). There were greater changes in the outcome over time among disadvantaged populations, particularly families with lower education, poorer parenting skills, or more severe parental mental health problems. Future research is needed to examine the consistency of these effects across diverse sociodemographic groups and settings.
More Related Videos
08:59The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
Published on: October 13, 2017
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:27Parenting Styles
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...
02:04Bullying
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:30Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
01:21Behavior Modification
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...