Randomised trial of the effectiveness of the Incredible Years parent training for low SES and migrant youth in deprived neighbourhoods

Externalising problem behavior in children is often observed and has severe
consequences for the child as well as its environment (SCP, 2006). Behavior
parent training is shown effective in reducting aggressive behavior in young
children (McCart et al., 2006). Research on the effectiveness of behavior
parent training in the Netherlands, however, is usually conducted among
caucastion, middle-class parents while especially children of parents with low
SES living in deprived neighborhoods have the highest prevalence of problem
behavior (e.g. Orobio de Castro & Junger, 2008).

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Incredible Years
(IY) training to reduce behavior problems in young children. Also, the effect
of IY on parenting skills and parenting stress will be examined.

A randomized controlled trial with a waiting list control condition.

The IY program is a 12-week training where parents learn parenting skills
specifically tailored to reduce the problem behavior of children with ODD or
CD. Parents watch video's together, discuss them, and practice in rolesplays
with different parenting techniques. Trainers are not prominently teaching
parents new skills, but are part of the group and guide the discussion by
asking open-end question and emphasis positive parenting techniques. This way,
parents are encouraged to come up with their own solutions to their problems
and will not develop a dependency upon the professionals.

We expected parental load to be minimal in the study. Participants are not at
any risk for injury caused by participating in the study. Studying the
effectiveness of the IY program for this specific population is important due
to the absence of evidence for the effectiveness of behavior parent training
programs for immigrant and low SES families in the Netherlands.