A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Parental predictors of an Internet-based parenting intervention for child disruptive behavior: an implementation study




AuthorsLi, Yujing; Baumel, Amit; Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki, Susanna; Kinnunen, Malin; Ristkari, Terja; Westerlund, Minja; Sourander, Andre

PublisherSpringer Nature

Publication year2025

Journal: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

ISSN1018-8827

eISSN1435-165X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02928-x

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02928-x

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505668870


Abstract

This study investigates parental factors as predictors of the outcome of an internet-based and telephone-assisted parent training intervention targeting child disruptive behavior, when it was implemented nationwide in Finland. 2,900 families with children who met screening criteria at their 4-year-old health checkup received the 11-week intervention. Potential predictors included parents’ age and educational attainment, family structure, enrollment year, parenting skills, and parental mental health. The outcome was the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 externalizing score, collected at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine changes in the outcome over time. At 6 months, parents of children whose mothers had a college or university degree reported smaller reductions in child externalizing problems compared to those with lower maternal education (β= 0.87, 95% CI [0.28, 1.45], p= .004). At 24 months, greater reductions in externalizing problems were observed in children whose parents had a high parental over-reactivity score at baseline (β= -1.23, 95% CI [-1.97, -0.49], p= .001), as well as a medium or high baseline parental Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale total score (Medium: β= -1.01, 95% CI [-1.65, -0.36], p= .002; High: β= -1.05, 95% CI [-1.82, -0.28], p= .007). There were greater changes in the outcome over time among disadvantaged populations, particularly families with lower education, poorer parenting skills, or more severe parental mental health problems. Future research is needed to examine the consistency of these effects across diverse sociodemographic groups and settings.


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Funding information in the publication
Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital). This work was supported by the European Research Council under Grant 101020767 and the Research Council of Finland under Grant 320162.


Last updated on 2025-01-12 at 12:04