Mechanisms of Change in a Self-Help Parenting Program for Child Behavioral Difficulties: the Role of Unsupportive Parenting.

Suzanne R C de Jong-Arts, Barbara J van den Hoofdakker, Jos W R Twisk, Jaap Oosterlaan, Marjolein Luman

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial

In one paragraph

Trial report in Research on child and adolescent psychopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Suzanne R C de Jong-ArtsDepartment of Clinical-, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-1690-4667

Barbara J van den HoofdakkerDepartment of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9570-9976

Jos W R TwiskDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9617-1020

Jaap OosterlaanDepartment of Clinical-, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-0218-5630

Marjolein LumanDepartment of Clinical-, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.luman@vu.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-1539-2831

Funding

Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland 11787028ZonMw 737200015

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Self-help parenting programs that are aimed at reducing child behavioral difficulties may be effective and accessible alternatives to face-to-face parenting programs. Insight into the mechanisms of change for such programs is important to enhance their effectiveness. The goal of this study was to examine whether changes in supportive and unsupportive parenting (measured by the Parenting Practices Interview; PPI) and parenting sense of competence (measured by the Parenting Sense of Competence scale; PSOC) mediated the effects of a self-help parenting program on child behavioral difficulties. A total of 110 families were randomized to a 15-week self-help program or waitlist. Outcomes and mediators were measured at pre-, mid- and post-measurement. Outcomes were parent-rated child behavioral difficulties, assessed by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Intensity Scale (ECBI-I), and ecologically momentary assessments (EMA) of child behavior problems. Results showed that reductions in unsupportive parenting significantly mediated reductions in child behavioral difficulties assessed with the ECBI-I. We did not find this mediating effect for the EMA. Supportive parenting and parenting sense of competence did not mediate changes in child behavioral difficulties. Although future research into self-help parent training should provide insight into possible reciprocal interactions between changes in parents and children, reducing unsupportive parenting practices may play a key role in reducing child behavioral difficulties.

Indexed as

Child BehaviorChild Behavior DisordersParentingParentsProblem BehaviorAdultChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleParent-Child RelationsBehavioral difficultiesBehavioral parent training (BPT)MediatorParenting practicesSelf-help parenting program

Identifiers

PMID41231368

DOI10.1007/s10802-025-01378-y

PMCPMC12718222

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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.