How Well Do Evidence-Based Universal Parenting Programs Teach Parents About Psychological Maltreatment?: A Program Review

• NCJ Number: 237904
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 35 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 855-865
• Author(s): Amy J.L. Baker; Marla R. Brassard; Mel S. Schneiderman; Laura J. Donnelly; Anjam Bahl
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined evidence-based parenting programs to determine their effectiveness at teaching parents about the problem of psychological maltreatment.

Abstract

The study found that for all 10 evidence-based parenting programs, not a single program contained content related to most psychological maltreatment (PM) types, nor did any of the programs have complete content related to teaching parents what not to do in regards to the 18 identified psychologically maltreating behaviors. PM has been found to be a widespread form of child maltreatment in both at-risk families in the general population of parents. This study examined evidence-based parenting programs to determine their effectiveness at teaching parents about the problem of PM. Data for the study were obtained by examining 10 evidence-based, manualized, universal parenting programs that covered 18 types of PM. The programs were evaluated for how well any type of PM was included in the content, and whether the program contained content designed to teach parents how to prevent PM. The study findings show that existing parenting programs do not currently contain adequate content for teaching parents about the problem of psychological maltreatment of children and how to prevent it. Figures, tables, and references