Detecting Effects of the Indicated Prevention Programme for Externalizing Problem Behaviour (PEP) on Child Symptoms, Parenting, and Parental Quality of Life in a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Behavioural parent training is effective in improving child disruptive behavioural problems in preschool children by increasing parenting competence. The indicated Prevention Programme for Externalizing Problem behaviour (PEP) is a group training programme for parents and kindergarten teachers of children aged 3-6 years with externalizing behavioural problems. AIMS: To evaluate the effects of PEP on child problem behaviour, parenting practices, parent-child interactions, and parental quality of life. METHOD: Parents and kindergarten teachers of 155 children were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 91) and a nontreated control group (n = 64). They rated children's problem behaviour before and after PEP training; parents also reported on their parenting practices and quality of life. Standardized play situations were video-taped and rated for parent-child interactions, e.g. parental warmth. RESULTS: In the intention to treat analysis, mothers of the intervention group described less disruptive child behaviour and better parenting strategies, and showed more parental warmth during a standardized parent-child interaction. Dosage analyses confirmed these results for parents who attended at least five training sessions. Children were also rated to show less behaviour problems by their kindergarten teachers. CONCLUSIONS: Training effects were especially positive for parents who attended at least half of the training sessions.