Parenting Interventions for Behavioral Problems

Overseen By Christopher J Mehus

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: Danger to child, Psychological inability

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

600 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve children's mental health by making parenting programs more accessible through primary care. It involves two separate studies: one trains pediatric care clinicians on effective referral practices, and the other tests a digital parenting program called Empowered Generations (eGen) to assess its effectiveness in helping parents manage their children's behavioral issues. Parents with children aged 3 to 8 who have been referred by a primary care provider may be eligible to participate. Pediatric care clinicians who treat children in the same age range and have clinic approval can also join. The goal is to reduce behavioral health problems by improving access to effective parenting support. This unphased trial offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative approaches in enhancing children's mental health care.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on parenting interventions and does not mention medication requirements.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's interventions are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that the Empowered Generations (eGen) program receives positive feedback from participants. An initial study found that parents participating in the online eGen sessions improved their parenting skills and observed fewer behavior problems in their children. The study reported no major side effects, indicating the program's safety for both parents and children. This parenting program emphasizes positive behavior support, making it suitable for families with children aged 3 to 8 who have moderate behavior issues. The absence of negative effects in these early results supports confidence in the safety of joining the eGen program. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Empowered Generations (eGen) program because it offers a fresh approach to tackling behavioral problems in children by focusing on empowering parents. Unlike traditional methods that primarily target the child, eGen emphasizes strengthening parenting skills, providing parents with practical tools to manage and improve their child's behavior. This method could lead to more sustainable and long-term improvements in family dynamics, as it addresses the root of behavioral issues through parental guidance and support. By shifting the focus to parents, eGen has the potential to create a more nurturing environment that benefits the entire family.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for preventing behavioral health problems?

Research has shown that parenting programs like Empowered Generations (eGen), which participants in this trial may receive, help reduce behavior problems in children. Families participating in eGen have reported fewer behavior issues and improved parenting skills. In this trial, some parents will receive eGen, while others will receive a one-session control. Other programs, such as GenerationPMTO, have also improved child behavior, reduced caregiver stress, and enhanced parenting. Online parenting programs have effectively reduced emotional problems in children and teens. These findings suggest that eGen, by supporting parents, can effectively address behavior problems in children. ^{4 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Christopher J Mehus

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pediatric primary care clinicians (PCCs) and parents of children with behavioral issues. PCCs are trained to refer patients effectively, while parents receive the eGen parenting program. Clinicians must be willing to learn new referral skills, and parents need access to participate in eGen.

Inclusion Criteria

I am the parent or caregiver of a child aged 3-8 referred to a therapist.

I am a primary care clinician who treats children aged 3-8 and have my clinic's approval to join.

Exclusion Criteria

I am mentally and emotionally capable of participating without harming my child.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Referral Training

Primary care clinicians receive training on effective referral practices

10 weeks

Weekly sessions

eGen Parenting Intervention

Parents participate in the eGen parenting intervention provided by therapists

10 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in child behavior and parenting practices

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Empowered Generations (eGen)

Trial Overview

The study tests two interventions: For PCCs, it's about learning better referral techniques; for parents, it's participating in the eGen program designed to help manage their child's behavior. The goal is improving access and effectiveness of parenting programs through referrals.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Primary care clinicians group 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PCCs with pediatric patients randomized to experimental group

Group II: Parent group 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

assigned to receive eGen

Group III: Primary care clinicians group 2 Active Control 1 Intervention

PCCs with pediatric patients randomized to control group

Group IV: Parents group 2 Active Control 1 Intervention

assigned to receive one-session control

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A parent skills training and education group for parents of adolescents with ADHD showed significant improvements, with 163 parents reporting decreased conflict and problem behaviors after participation.

Parents felt more confident in their parenting skills and found the program very helpful, indicating its potential effectiveness in managing ADHD-related challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting adolescents with ADHD: evaluation of a psychoeducation group. McCleary, L., Ridley, T.[2019]

The study identified four key components of the GenerationPMTO (GenPMTO) intervention—emotion regulation, effective communication, problem solving, and monitoring—that significantly influenced reductions in coercive parenting practices over a 2-year period among 153 participants.

While these components were effective in reducing coercive parenting, the study did not find significant predictors for improvements in positive parenting, suggesting a need for further exploration of effective strategies in that area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigating active ingredients of the GenerationPMTO intervention: Predictors of postintervention change trajectories in parenting practices. Holtrop, K., Durtschi, JA., Forgatch, MS.[2023]

The adaptive recruitment strategy successfully enrolled 73% of two-parent immigrant Latino families, ensuring both caregivers participated in the parenting program, which is crucial for addressing adolescent risks.

The intervention showed high participation rates, with 75% or more of families completing it, and received positive feedback, particularly from fathers who engaged more with the one-to-one components, indicating its potential effectiveness and satisfaction among participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptive Recruitment and Parenting Interventions for Immigrant Latino Families with Adolescents. Garcia-Huidobro, D., Diaspro-Higuera, MO., Palma, D., et al.[2021]

Errorless compliance training effectively improved child compliance in 12 oppositional children aged 2-7 years, demonstrating significant and lasting behavioral changes after the intervention.

The training also positively impacted parent self-esteem, suggesting that it can be beneficial for parents with cognitive and behavioral challenges, making it a suitable alternative to traditional parenting methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Errorless compliance training: building a cooperative relationship between parents with brain injury and their oppositional children. Ducharme, JM., Spencer, T., Davidson, A., et al.[2019]

A culturally adapted version of the GenerationPMTO© parent training intervention was found to be acceptable and useful by 24 Chilean caregivers, indicating its relevance to local parenting practices.

The positive feedback from caregivers suggests that this adapted intervention could be effectively disseminated across Chile to promote better parenting and prevent child behavioral issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A culturally adapted parenting intervention for the Chilean context: Qualitative indicators of participant satisfaction and contextual and cultural relevance. Parra-Cardona, R., Retamal, VM., Fajuri, PP., et al.[2023]

The culturally adapted Parent Management Training intervention was feasible to implement with 73 Spanish-speaking Latino parents, showing high satisfaction and participation rates over approximately 5 months.

The intervention led to significant improvements in both parenting practices and youth behavior, reducing aggression and the likelihood of substance use among participants, with varying effects based on the nativity status of the youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of culturally adapted parent management training on Latino youth behavioral health outcomes. Martinez, CR., Eddy, JM.[2021]

Community-based parenting skills training can effectively improve parenting knowledge and skills, leading to positive changes in challenging adolescent behaviors, as shown by systematic review results.

Both group and individual formats of parenting interventions appear to be equally effective, and involving the adolescent in the intervention does not provide additional benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of community-based parenting interventions for adolescents with challenging behaviours. Medlow, S., Klineberg, E., Jarrett, C., et al.[2018]

The semi-structured psychoeducational group model for parents of aggressive children in Taiwan effectively enhanced the social competence of five aggressive children by promoting positive family interactions.

Key topics included identifying parenting styles and fostering mutual compliance, with pre- and post-group comparisons indicating significant improvements in the children's behavior and family dynamics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A model parent group for enhancing aggressive children's social competence in Taiwan. Li, MH.[2010]

The study involved 114 parents of 9-12-year-old children with conduct problems, comparing the Coping Power program to individualized parent-child treatment.

Both interventions significantly improved parenting efficacy and satisfaction, with no notable difference in effectiveness between the two approaches, indicating that Coping Power is a valid option for enhancing parenting skills in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the Multicomponent Coping Power Program to Individualized Parent-Child Treatment for Improving the Parenting Efficacy and Satisfaction of Parents of Children with Conduct Problems. Ludmer, JA., Sanches, M., Propp, L., et al.[2018]

The adaptation of the Canadian parenting program 'Nobody's Perfect' into the Japanese public health system was successful and well-received, particularly among first-time mothers with low psychological status.

The program showed potential benefits in improving mothers' mood and their self-evaluation of societal abilities, indicating its efficacy as a supportive intervention in parenting practices in Asia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term operational evaluation of a group-parenting program for Japanese mothers with poor psychological status: adopting a Canadian program into the Asian public service setting. Goto, A., Yabe, J., Sasaki, H., et al.[2019]

Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) is the standard treatment for young children (ages 3 to 8) with disruptive behavior disorders and may also help reduce internalizing problems and improve family dynamics.

The review explores the mechanisms by which BPT may lead to broader treatment effects, including alleviating caregiver depressive symptoms, suggesting that understanding these mechanisms could enhance future clinical research and practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cascading effects of BPT for child internalizing problems and caregiver depression. Gonzalez, MA., Jones, DJ.[2023]

The Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) Being a Parent (BAP) program effectively reached 930 parents in socially disadvantaged areas, demonstrating its potential to address childhood behavioral problems in communities that often lack access to traditional interventions.

Participants in the BAP program reported significant improvements in child behavior, parenting skills, and overall parent wellbeing, with effect sizes indicating meaningful benefits comparable to those seen in controlled trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a peer-led, community-based parenting programme delivered at a national scale: an uncontrolled cohort design with benchmarking. Day, C., Harwood, J., Kendall, N., et al.[2022]

GenerationPMTO is an effective behavioral parenting program that significantly improves parenting practices and child adjustment, as shown in a systematic review of 20 studies involving 3893 families across six countries.

The program notably enhances parental discipline and monitoring, as well as reduces child externalizing and internalizing problems, with robust effects observed despite some variability across different demographic groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of GenerationPMTO to Promote Parenting and Child Adjustment: A Meta-Analytic Review. Cai, Q., Chan, ACY., Lee, SK., et al.[2022]

The PR-ESSENCE intervention, a ten-week program for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental issues, showed significant improvement in overall symptoms and functioning, with a large effect size of 1.48 on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale, indicating its efficacy compared to usual treatment.

Over half of the participants (51.4%) in the PR-ESSENCE group reported much or very much improvement, while only 5.6% of the control group experienced similar benefits, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in addressing behavior problems associated with conditions like autism and ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of a new intervention in early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examinations: PR-ESSENCE. Johnson, M., Gillberg, C., Vinsa, I., et al.[2023]

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Conclusions Online parent programs have positive effects on reducing emotional symptoms in children and adolescents. Future research will need ...

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