Parenting training in the community: linking process to outcome

Abstract

This pilot study examines the effectiveness of the Parents Together Community Course(i) (a six week preventative version of the Parents Plus Early Years Programme) in reducing parent-reported behaviour problems in pre-school and school aged children. It also investigates if there is an association between process ratings on a weekly session rating form (WSRF) and client outcome. Thirty-one parents who completed the course filled out pre and post outcome measures (namely the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and a specially designed Client defined Problem and Goals form (CPG)), and a process measure during the course of the group. It was found that 45% of children in the community sample had behavioural problems in the borderline or clinical range, and significant reductions in these problem behaviours and gains towards parent-defined goals were observed following the course. Results also showed a number of correlations between high ratings on the WSRF and positive outcome as measured by the CPG and SDQ indicating a possible link between this process measure and outcomes. This highlights the importance of early community interventions in dealing with childhood behaviour problems and the possible utility of a process measure for identifying contributing factors to change.

Parenting groups, how long is enough? The efficacy of a community-run Parents Plus Early Years Program as a preschool parenting intervention of modifiable duration

“…Furthermore both PPEY group formats significantly reduced parent-reported child total difficulties and significantly improved parenting satisfaction. This supports the findings of Kilroy et al, (2011) that a preventative version of the PPEY program in the community was effective in reducing parent-reported behavior problems in preschool and school-aged children and Hand et al, (2013) who found the Parents Plus Children's Programme delivered in community settings significantly improved measures of child behavior, parental stress, and parent satisfaction. These findings demonstrate that both the seven-week and single workshop PPEY group intervention may be effective early interventions as part of a community-led approach to child and adolescent mental health.…”

“…In particular, the PPEY Program has been shown to reduce conduct problems, hyperactivity, and parental stress and to help parents move significantly closer to their goals when conducted in a clinical setting by mental health professionals (Griffin, Guerin, Sharry, & Drumm, 2010); however, many parents display limited attendance with clinic-based programs and are less likely to complete treatment (Kazdin, Mazurick, & Bass, 1993), with some parents reporting feeling stigma attached to attending child and adolescent mental health services (Bradby et al, 2007). To overcome these challenges, there is growing interest in delivering communitybased parenting programs (Hand, Ní Raghallaigh, Cuppage, Coyle, & Sharry, 2012;Kilroy, Sharry, Flood, & Guerin, 2011;McGilloway et al, 2012).…”

“…Program in the community have been found effective in improving parental stress and satisfaction and reducing parent-reported behavior problems in preschool and schoolaged children (Kilroy et al, 2011;Hand, McDonnell, Honari, & Sharry, 2013). Thorell (2009) found a community-based group parenting program significantly reduced child problem behaviors and parental stress for a non-clinical group, but not a clinical group in comparison to waitlist controls.…”

“…The manualized program included positive parenting topics (e.g., child-centered play and communication, encouraging and supporting children) and positive discipline topics (e.g., establishing rules and routines, managing misbehavior, and solving problems) (Kilroy et al, 2011).…”

Enhancing Positive Parenting Through Metacognition with the Program ‘Lou & us’

“…It is therefore impossible to disentangle the relative efficacy of each process in isolation (Kaminski et al 2008). The existing literature on parenting programs is thus mostly oriented towards effectiveness of outcomes rather than towards processes used to induce change over time (Hogard 2008;Kilroy et al 2011;Westen et al 2004). By contrast, 'Lou & us' attempts to isolate metacognition as the core process that promotes positive parenting.…”