Being a Parent: Evaluation of a Parenting Intervention for Childhood Behavioral Problems

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This randomized controlled trial aims to test the efficacy of an early parenting intervention for childhood behavior problems in the portuguese community. More specifically, this research intends to: 1) examine the effects of the parenting intervention in childhood behavior problems, positive parenting skills and parental concerns; 2) test participants' adherence, acceptability and dropout rates of the parenting intervention; and 3) qualitatively analyze the experience of parents' who received the intervention. Researchers will compare an intervention group with a waitlist control group to see if there are any significant differences between these groups regarding childhood behavior problems and the aforementioned parenting dimensions. Participants in both groups will be able to participate in the parenting intervention that has a duration of 9 weeks. Furthermore, they will be asked to fill in pre and post data.

Official Title
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Ser Pai & Ser Mãe: Avaliação de Uma intervenção Parental Para crianças Com Problemas

Conditions
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Childhood Behavior Problems, Positive Parenting Skills, Parental Concerns, Parents' Sense of Competence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Being a Parent


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primary caregivers who identify difficulties managing the behavior of a child between the ages of 2 and 11 years old. Exclusion Criteria: Primary caregivers of children with serious neurodevelopmental or cognitive disorders diagnosed; Primary caregivers of children institucionalized; Primary caregivers who do not comprehend, read or write in portuguese; Primary caregivers inability to commit to weekly sessions.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This randomized controlled trial will have two arms, namely the intervention group and the waitlist control group.
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention Group<br>The intervention group will be receiving the parenting intervention (name of the intervention: Being a Parent). | Behavioral: Being a Parent<br>* Being a Parent (BaP) is a group parenting intervention for parents of children (2-11 years old) with behavioral problems. It consists of 2-hour sessions facilitated by psychologists for between 8-12 parents. Based on attachment, family systems, and cognitive-behavioral theories, BaP successfully integrates knowledge acquisition, behavior change with adult learning and social support. Each course session is highly interactive involving an engaging blend of small and large group discussion, role play, demonstrations, information sharing and reflection. This enables parents to practice and use new skills to achieve specific goals (Day et al., 2020).<br>|
| No Intervention: Waitlist Control Group<br>The control group will be in a waitilist condition, in which they will not receive any intervention during the trial, but posteriorly will have the opportunity to receive the parenting intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the Child Behavior Checklist for Preschool and School Years (CBCL; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001; Portuguese version: Achenbach et al., 2014) | Based on parents' reports, it assesses behaviors that have been present for the past six months in youth between the ages of 1.5 and 18 years old. Each item is assessed using a 3-point Likert scale, ranging from Not True to Completely True. Only the broadband Externalizing Domain and its subdimensions will be used, which assesses behavioral problems, and comprises 28 items for the Preschool Years and 71 for the School Years. | Through study completion, up to 11 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the Parental Concerns Scale (Castro, 2012) | It is constituted by 21 items, divided into five concern dimensions, namely family and school problems; eating, sleep and physical complaints; preparation; fears; and negative behaviors. Parents must answer using a 5-point Likert scale (Not concerned to Extremely concerned). | Through study completion, up to 11 months | 
| Change in the Parental Sense of Competence (PSOC; Johnston & Mash, 1989; portuguese version: Nunes et al., 2014) | Measures parental sense of competence as perceived by parents, by examining two dimensions, namely Efficacy and Satisfaction. | Through study completion, up to 11 months | 
| Change in the Parental Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ; Robinson et al., 2001; portuguese version: Pedro et al., 2015) | Analyzes dysfunctional parenting practices. | Through study completion, up to 11 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Parenting Interventions, Childhood, Behavior Problems, Positve Parenting