Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30256794›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2018

Meta-meta-analysis on the effectiveness of parent-based interventions for the treatment of child externalizing behavior problems.

Tanja Mingebach, Inge Kamp-Becker, Hanna Christiansen, Linda Weber

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 94 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
94citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

94 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  3. Have parenting programs for disruptive child behavior become less effective?Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2026
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  4. A Systematic Review of Parenting Programs for Southeast Asian Families.Clinical child and family psychology review · 2025
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34 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Tanja MingebachDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Marburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0946-4218
Inge Kamp-BeckerDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Marburg, Germany.
Hanna ChristiansenDepartment of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg Germany.
Linda WeberDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Marburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of this study is to perform the first meta-meta-analysis on the effectiveness of parent-based interventions for children with externalizing behavior problems. Even though parent-based interventions are considered as effective treatments the effects reported in meta-analyses are heterogeneous and the implementation in clinical practice is suboptimal. Recapitulative valid effect predictions are required to close the still existing gap between research findings and clinical practice. The meta-meta-analytic results on changes in child behavior shall result in a clear signal for clinical practice.

methodsThis meta-meta-analysis encompasses 26 meta-analyses identified via search in electronic databases (PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed). Meta-analyses had to report effects of parent-based interventions on child behavior and focus on children under the age of 13 years with externalizing behavior problems in a clinical setting. Analyses were based on random-effects models. To combine results, the effect estimates of the meta-analyses were transformed to SMD and weighted to correct for primary study overlap. The meta-meta-analysis is registered on PROSPERO, registration number CRD42016036486 and was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA).

resultsThe results indicate a significant moderate overall effect for child behavior (SMD = 0.46) as well as for parent reports (SMD = 0.51) and observational data (SMD = 0.62). Further analyses focusing on child externalizing behavior yielded significant and moderate effects (SMD = 0.45). All effects remained stable to follow-up. Considerable heterogeneity was observed within results.

conclusionParent-based interventions are shown to be effective in improving behavior in children with externalizing behavior problems, as assessed using parent reports and observational measures. The present results should encourage health care providers to apply evidence-based parent-based interventions.

Indexed as

ParentingChildChild Behavior DisordersChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleMeta-Analysis as TopicProblem BehaviorProgram EvaluationTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID30256794
PMCPMC6157840

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.