Older siblings benefit from a family-based preventive intervention for preschoolers at risk for conduct problems.
This study evaluated sibling effects of a family-based intervention aimed at preventing conduct problems in preschool-age siblings of adjudicated youths. Ninety-two families of preschoolers who had older siblings adjudicated for delinquent acts were randomly assigned to intervention and control conditions. Of these, 47 families had nontargeted school-age (5-11 years) or adolescent siblings (12-17 years) living at home. These families were considered in this report. The authors hypothesized group differences on antisocial behavior and positive peer relations for older siblings of targeted preschoolers. The authors examined outcomes of parent- and teacher-reported behavior immediately postintervention and 8 months postintervention. Findings revealed significant intervention effects 8 months following intervention for adolescent siblings on parent-reported antisocial behavior and positive peer relations. Teacher reports confirmed group differences for antisocial behavior immediately postintervention. Findings document benefits for adolescent siblings.
Brotman
Laurie Miller
LM
New York University Child Study Center, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016, USA. laurie.brotman@med.nyu.edu
Dawson-McClure
Spring
S
Gouley
Kathleen Kiely
KK
McGuire
Kristina
K
Burraston
Bert
B
Bank
Lew
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors