Efficacy of the parenting support program on child behavior problems.

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the efficacy of the Parenting Support Program (PSP) for reducing problem behaviors and increasing adaptive behaviors in young children aged 3 to 6. The PSP focuses on effective parenting skills and building positive interactions between parents and their children. Parents of children (n=18 mothers and 11 fathers) were randomly assigned to an experiment group (EG) and a wait-list (WL) group. The EG attended a total of 12 individually delivered sessions. Data was gathered via parent and teacher report measures, observation and semi-structured interviews. The PSP was effective in increasing adaptive behaviors and decreasing behavior problems in children. The change in the children's score which fulfills the Reliable Change Index criteria in the EG was found to be higher than the WL group. However, fathers reported fewer improvements than mothers in the EG. Qualitative data supported the experimental study results demonstrating the efficacy of the PSP, and met the expectations of parents. Consequently, the PSP could be used as an intervention tool to decrease behavior problems and increase adaptive behaviors in young children.