Perhaps the most carefully evaluated parenting program for young children with conduct problems is the Incredible Years developed by Webster-Stratton. Post-assessments indicated that mothers in the intervention group were observed to use significantly fewer critical remarks and commands at home, to use less harsh discipline, and to be more positive and competent in their parenting when compared to control mothers. Teachers reported that mothers in the intervention condition were more involved in their children s education. Intervention children were observed to exhibit significantly fewer conduct problems, less noncompliance, less negative affect, and more positive affect than control children. When the author evaluated the clinical significance of the findings for the children who were in the clinical range according to standardized measures and independent observations, the obtained effect sizes were comparable to those found in the clinic studies.
Limited reach is one of the biggest failings of behavioral parent training.
When parenting classes are offered, attendance is often poor and because parents are required to attend special parenting classes, they may feel stigmatized. The primary benefit of the Internet as a mode of information and support delivery is that it reduces barriers to access. The Internet has the capacity to provide menus of choices efficiently, tailor information to subject characteristics and interests, manage interactive programming, and provide support to professionals and peers. While an ICMI has high initial start-up and development costs, the marginal costs of delivery are low. Through automated systems, interactive and dynamic interventions as well as data collection can be incorporated with minimal additional costs.