Three-year follow-up of a family support service cohort of children with behavioural problems and their parents

The influence of home-rearing environment on children's behavioral problems 3 years' later

Reduction of children's behavioral problems has the potential to ameliorate parental stress, mental health problems, and family dysfunction. The current study was designed as a 3-year longitudinal study with secondary data. A total of 99 caregivers with preschool aged children were required to complete two self-reported questionnaires: the Index of Child Care Environment and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. It demonstrated that a positive home-rearing environment had a positive influence on children's behavioral problem 3 years' later. Our study suggests that we may reduce behavioral problems in children's later development by providing a positive home rearing environment.

A Comparison of Family Interventions to Address Adolescent Risky Behaviors

The purpose of this integrative review is to describe, compare, and synthesize traditional and computer-based family interventions that aim to change adolescents’ risky sexual behaviors and substance abuse. Family interventions have been shown to generate protective effects for preventing adolescents from risky behaviors. It is not clear, however, whether there are significant differences or similarities in the designs and effects of traditional and computer-based family interventions. An integrative literature review was conducted to describe and compare the designs and effects of traditional and computer-based family interventions. Both interventions have generated significant effects on reducing risky behavior among adolescents. Interventions guided by theory, tailored to participants’ culture/gender, and which included sufficient boosting dosages in their designs demonstrated significant short- or long-term effects in terms of reducing adolescents’ risky behaviors. Regardless of delivery method, well-designed family interventions are noted to maximize familial protective effects and reduce risky behaviors.

Impact of psychosocial interventions on children with disruptive and emotional disorders treated in a health camp

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a health camp psychosocial intervention on children with behavioural and emotional problems and the impact of a parenting programme for their parents. The practical utility of introducing two outcome measures was also evaluated.

METHOD

A total of 157 consecutively referred children, with a range of emotional and behavioural problems, were rated by parents and teachers, before and after their residential stay, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Concurrent change in parenting attitudes was assessed using the Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2. One hundred parents participated in a parenting programme. Both child and parent outcomes for these parents were contrasted with those of the 57 non-participating parents.

RESULTS

The whole group showed significant improvements in SDQ rated Emotional, Conduct, Hyperactive and Total problems. These were of moderate effect size. The parenting programme had minimal impact on parenting attitudes and no adjunctive value was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

The Health Camp intervention appeared moderately beneficial for a range of common childhood emotional and behavioural problems. In contrast, there was no demonstrable effect from the parenting programme on either parenting attitudes or child outcomes. The SDQ appeared to have clinical utility as an outcome measure.

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: research and clinical applications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To critically discuss recent findings from studies using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, in relation to different research designs and clinical purposes.

RECENT FINDINGS

A substantive body of research exists on the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in different cultures. This body supports the validity and reliability of its versions for the parent, teacher and self-reporting purpose, despite some variation in cut-off scores. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is increasingly being used as a measure of child psychopathology in other types of research, that is, aetiological, longitudinal and service evaluation studies. Future studies need to address in more detail the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire diagnostic algorithms, added value score, impact and burden items and a preschool version.

SUMMARY

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire has been established as the most widely used instrument in child mental health research. It is easy to complete, is user friendly because of its positive attributes items, allows comparisons to be made between different populations and is sensitive to change.