Identifying Effective Components in Preventive Parenting Behaviour Change Interventions: A Meta-Analysis

Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 34, pp. 867–882

Abstract

Abstract This meta-analysis looks at the effect of preventive parenting interventions and which categories of behaviour change techniques are effective in preventing adverse parenting behaviour and child psychosocial development outcomes. A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on studies with a randomised controlled trial or controlled trial design reporting a post-intervention assessment of a parenting behaviour measure for a preventive parenting intervention for parents who are expecting a child or who have a child aged 0 to 4. We included 79 studies reporting 86 interventions (N = 14,877 participants) on primarily American (33%) and European (29%) populations with a mean parent age of 30.4 and a mean child age of 1.6 years. We found a moderate positive effect both for parenting (g = 0.28) and child (g = 0.25) outcomes. Effect sizes were significantly larger for interventions targeting parents with lower socioeconomic status and for indicated prevention interventions. Interventions providing information on the consequences of specific behaviour yielded smaller effect sizes for both outcomes, whereas interventions aimed at parental involvement resulted in better child outcomes. Some behaviour change technique categories were often applied in interventions and had moderate effect sizes. We recommend continuing the use of these techniques.

Authors 8

1. Krista van Mourik

   Movisie

   Affiliation as printed

   Movisie, Utrecht, the Netherlands

2. Erica D. Joosse Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Public Health and Primary Care/Health Campus The Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

3. Shelley van der Veek Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

4. Clemens M. H. Hosman

   Radboud University Nijmegen

   Affiliation as printed

   Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

5. Harrie Jonkman

   Verwey Jonker Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Verwey-Jonker Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands

6. Jessica C. Kiefte–de Jong Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Public Health and Primary Care/Health Campus The Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

7. Winifred A. Gebhardt Aachen Health Medical and Neuropsychology Unit Institute of Psychology, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

8. Mathilde R. Crone Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

   Public Health and Primary Care/Health Campus The Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands