Abstract
BackgroundAnxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health problem and begin early in life. Early intervention to prevent anxiety problems in young children who are at risk has the potential for long-term impact. The ‘Cool Little Kids’ parenting group program was previously established to prevent anxiety disorders in young children at risk because of inhibited temperament. This group program was efficacious in two randomised controlled trials and has recently been adapted into an online format. ‘Cool Little Kids Online’ was developed to widen and facilitate access to the group program’s preventive content. A pilot evaluation of the online program demonstrated its perceived utility and acceptability among parents. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Cool Little Kids Online in a large randomised controlled trial.Methods/DesignParents of young children who are 3–6 years old and who have an inhibited temperament will be recruited (n = 385) and randomly assigned to either immediate access to Cool Little Kids Online or delayed access after a waiting period of 24 weeks. The online program contains eight modules that help parents address key issues in the development of anxiety problems in inhibited children, including children’s avoidant coping styles, overprotective parenting behaviours, and parents’ own fears and worries. Intervention participants will be offered clinician support when requested. The primary outcome will be change in parent-reported child anxiety symptoms. Secondary outcomes will be child internalising symptoms, child and family life interference due to anxiety, over-involved/protective parenting, plus child anxiety diagnoses assessed by using a new online diagnostic tool. Assessments will take place at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks after baseline.DiscussionThis trial expands upon previous research on the Cool Little Kids parenting group program and will evaluate the efficacy of online delivery. Online delivery of the program could result in an easily accessible evidence-based resource to help families with young children at temperamental risk for anxiety disorders.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 12615000217505 (registered 5 March 2015)Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1022-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health problem and begin early in life
This trial expands upon previous research on the Cool Little Kids parenting group program and will evaluate the efficacy of online delivery
This study will provide important information about the efficacy of an online parenting program that aims to prevent anxiety problems in young children. It will build on previous efficacy [16] and translational [18] research into the Cool Little Kids parenting group program by broadening the program’s potential reach to an online audience
Summary
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health problem and begin early in life. The ‘Cool Little Kids’ parenting group program was previously established to prevent anxiety disorders in young children at risk because of inhibited temperament. This group program was efficacious in two randomised controlled trials and has recently been adapted into an online format. Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health problem in children and adolescents and occur early in development [1]. Childhood anxiety is associated with lower educational attainment [8], lower earnings in adulthood [9], and greater risk of developing other mental health problems such as depression and substance misuse [5, 10]. Given the low rates of treatment utilisation [11] and often long delays before seeking help [12], there is a clear rationale to intervene early with children at risk.
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