title: Is parenting the mediator of change in behavioral parent training for externalizing problems of youth?
abstract: Change in parenting behavior is theorized to be the mediator accounting for change in child and adolescent externalizing problems in behavioral parent training (BPT). The purpose of this review is to examine this assumption in BPT prevention and intervention programs. Eight intervention and 17 prevention studies were identified as meeting all criteria or all but one criterion for testing mediation. Parenting behaviors were classified as positive, negative, discipline, monitoring/supervision, or a composite measure. Forty-five percent of the tests performed across studies to test mediation supported parenting as a mediator. A composite measure of parenting and discipline received the most support, whereas monitoring/supervision was rarely examined. More support for the mediating role of parenting emerged for prevention than intervention studies and when meeting all criteria for testing mediation was not required. Although the findings do not call BPT into question as an efficacious treatment, they do suggest more attention should be focused on examining parenting as a putative mediator in BPT.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA. Electronic address: Rex.Forehand@uvm.edu.
authors.forename: Rex
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forehand
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lafko
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Keith B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Burt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Behavioral parent training; Mediator; Parenting