Chen, M. and K. L. Chan (2016). "Effects of Parenting Programs on Child Maltreatment Prevention: A Meta-Analysis." Trauma, Violence, and Abuse 17(1): 88-104.
This meta-analysis reviewed parenting programs aiming to reduce risk of future child maltreatment. The researchers searched electronic databases and grey literature for articles published on or before September 30, 2013 to identify potential studies to be included in the meta-analysis. Studies were selected if they included the following components: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with a minimum of one control group and one intervention group; prevention programs targeting child maltreatment; an intervention group involving home visits or parent training, and a control group involving standard agency services; multiple trials; and sufficient data to calculate effect sizes. A final total of 37 randomized controlled trials studies evaluating 31 programs were included in this analysis. The reviewers used a modified CONSORT checklist to assess methodological quality. There were 7,142 total participants, with sample sizes within studies ranging from 30 to 1,173. Program effects were evaluated through instances of substantiated child maltreatment, self-reported child maltreatment, and potential for child maltreatment. Participant and intervention characteristics were coded as moderator variables.
Out of the 31 different programs that were evaluated, 29 demonstrated positive effects on the prevention of child maltreatment and only 2 yielded negative effects. While the effect sizes of individual studies varied, the total effect size was 0.296. The parenting programs were related to lower levels of child maltreatment risk factors, such as ineffective parenting (d = .612), and higher levels of positive factors, such as positive parenting skills (d = .523). However, they had little effect on parental stress and depression. Authors identified 5 moderator variables that had a significant impact on between-group variance: sample size, country income level, type of participant, program dosage, and early start. Participation in parenting programs was found to be more beneficial for mothers than fathers, and more beneficial for participants in developing versus developed countries. Depending on families’ levels of risk, parenting programs contributed to prevention or risk reduction of child maltreatment. Participation in these programs was most effective when begun before or during pregnancy. Overall, the results of the analysis suggested that participation in parenting programs was related to reduced likelihood of child maltreatment and reduced instances of neglect, physical punishment, severe discipline, psychological aggression, and substantiated reports of child maltreatment.
Strengths of this meta-analysis include its exclusion of studies that were not randomized controlled trials, its strengths-based analysis of protective factors against child maltreatment, and its specific focus on parenting programs that involved both parent training and home visits. Limitations include a lack of detailed information, such as specific participant characteristics and categorization in a number of reviewed studies.