A parenting programme has helped improve child behaviour, says aUniversity of Wales study.
The Parenting Intervention in Sure Start Services for Children at Riskof Developing Conduct Disorder: Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trialreport looked at the effectiveness of a programme for parents who havechildren at risk of developing a conduct disorder.
The research studied 11 Sure Starts in Wales. Taking part were 153parents from socially disadvantaged areas who had children aged between36 and 59 months and who were at risk of developing conductdisorders.
The Incredible Years programme taught and developed parenting skills,which could help prevent a child from developing these disorders.Parents were placed on a 12-week programme or put on a waiting list asthe control group.
Assessments were made at the start of the study and again six monthslater.
The researchers reported that "children in the intervention group hadsignificantly reduced anti-social and hyperactive behaviour andincreased self control compared with the control group".
The research also discussed the effect the training had on any siblingsof the children at risk of causing anti-social behaviour. It said:"Compared with parents in the control group, intervention group parentsperceived intensity of problems in siblings as less severe atfollow-up."
The research also found that there was a reduction in stress anddepression levels and improvements in the competency of the parents inthe intervention group compared to the control group parents.
The report, published on the British Medical Journal's web site,concludes: "Incredible Years can reduce key risk factors for thedevelopment of conduct disorders."
Dr Tracey Bywater, project trial co-ordinator on the research, said:"Our good results are put down to the fact that we chose evidence-basedprojects that had been trialled in other countries, and which weredelivered how they should have been delivered."
FACT BOX
- Around five to 10 per cent of UK and US children aged five to 15 showsigns of conduct disorders
- The problem is highest within socially disadvantaged areas
- If left untreated, up to four out of 10 children with earlydifficulties develop conduct disorders, including drug misuse, criminaland violent behaviour
- www.bmj.com.
