title: A parenting intervention for childhood behavioral problems: a randomized controlled trial in disadvantaged community-based settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A community-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in urban areas characterized by high levels of disadvantage to test the effectiveness of the Incredible Years BASIC parent training program (IYBP) for children with behavioral problems. Potential moderators of intervention effects on child behavioral outcomes were also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Families were included if the child (aged 32-88 months) scored above a clinical cutoff on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Participants (n = 149) were randomly allocated on a 2:1 ratio to an intervention group (n = 103) or a waiting-list control group (n = 46). Child behavior, parenting skills, and parent well-being were assessed at baseline and 6 months later using parent-report and independent observations. An intention-to-treat analysis of covariance was used to examine postintervention differences between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences in child disordered behavior favored the intervention group on the ECBI Intensity (effect size = 0.7, p < .001) and Problem subscales (effect size = 0.75, p < .001). Intervention effects on child hyperactive-inattentive behaviors and social competence, as well as parent competencies and well-being, were also found. Moderator analyses showed that the effects of the IYBP intervention on the primary child outcomes were not moderated by child or family demographic characteristics or risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the IYBP in alleviating problem behavior among children and in improving well-being among families living in disadvantaged areas. The findings also highlight the importance of parental intervention in early childhood for parents and children most in need of support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland.
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0988-3201
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGilloway
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland.
authors.forename: Grainne Ni
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Mhaille
authors.affiliation: Institute for Effective Education, University of York.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bywater
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland.
authors.forename: Mairead
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Leckey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Comiskey
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data