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Systematic review and meta-analysis of parent group interventions for primary school children aged 4-12 years with externalizing and/or internalizing problems

journal contribution
posted on 2018-04-01, 00:00 authored by Sarah Buchanan-Pascall, Kylie M Gray, Michael Gordon, Glenn MelvinGlenn Melvin
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of parent training group interventions to treat child externalizing and/or internalizing problems. A search identified 21 randomized controlled trials of parent group interventions aimed at ameliorating child externalizing and/or internalizing problems in children aged 4-12 years. Random effects meta-analyses yielded significant pooled treatment effect size (g) estimates for child externalizing (g = -0.38) and internalizing problems (g = -0.18). Child anxiety symptoms or internalizing problems evident in children with externalizing behavior problems did not change significantly following intervention. Study quality was a statistically significant moderator of treatment response for child externalizing problems, however hours of planned parent group treatment and treatment recipient were not. Findings support the use of parent group interventions as an effective treatment for reducing externalizing problems in children aged 4-12 years. Whilst statistically significant, programs had a limited impact on internalizing symptoms, indicating a need for further investigation.

History

Journal

Child psychiatry and human development

Volume

49

Issue

2

Pagination

244 - 267

Publisher

Springer

Location

New York, N.Y.

eISSN

1573-3327

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC