Moms and Dads Count in a Prevention Program for Kindergarten Children With Behavior Problems

Abstract

The study measured the added effect of father participation in the parent-training component of a violence and school dropout prevention program on quality of parenting practices (from self-report and direct observation) and level of kindergarten child behavior problem (CBP; from teacher and mother report). Pre- and post-test evaluations were conducted with three groups (a) MF: both mother and father participating ( n = 37); (b) M: mother only participating ( n = 13); and (c) C: control group ( n = 18 mother–father pairs). Maternal parenting practices improved in the MF group but deteriorated in the M and C groups, whereas paternal parenting practices remained unchanged in the MF group but deteriorated in the C group. Overall, father participation had no short-term effect on CBPs; the children in all three groups improved their behavior. Results confirm the importance of stepping up efforts to implicate both parents in prevention programs for disruptive children.