Biomedical subjects

C Mockford

Publications and source records attributed to C Mockford.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Parents' perceptions of the value of the Webster-Stratton Parenting Programme: a qualitative study of a general practice based initiative.

BACKGROUND: Parenting styles and parent-child relationships are a determinant of emotional and behavioural problems in children. Controlled trials of parenting programmes have been shown to be effective in helping parents of children with clinical levels of behaviour problems, but there is little research on the impact of such programmes in families where children's development falls in the 'normal' range. Also, such trials do not shed light on why or how programmes do, or do not, work, or how they might be improved. METHODS: A qualitative study of the impact of the Webster-Stratton 'Parents and Children Series' programme on participants in a controlled trial of this programme, whose children's behaviour was below average, but, for the majority, in the normal range. Data were gathered in interviews, open-ended questions on a questionnaire and tape recordings of group leader supervision sessions. RESULTS: Parents reported increased confidence, better relationships with their children, successful use of new behaviour management techniques and improvements in their children's behaviour as a result of the programme. One parent found the programme unsuitable because she was already using the techniques that were taught, and another parent felt the programme was designed for parents of younger children. Many parents reported that additional sessions would have been useful to consolidate what they had learnt, and some parents felt the course would have been more effective if their partners had attended. CONCLUSIONS: The Webster-Stratton Parenting Programme is useful for parents of 'normal' children as well as for parents of children whose behaviour is in the clinical range. Follow-up sessions and attendance by both parents might increase effectiveness. The findings of this study suggest greater benefits to parents and children than were apparent in the controlled trial.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Impact of a general practice based group parenting programme: quantitative and qualitative results from a controlled trial at 12 months.

AIMS: To test the effectiveness at one year of the Webster Stratton Parents and Children Series group parenting programme in a population sample of parents. METHODS: In a multicentre block randomised controlled trial, parents of children aged 2-8 years in 116 families who scored in the upper 50% on a validated behaviour inventory, took part in Webster-Stratton's 10 week parenting programme led by trained and supervised health visitors. The following outcome measures were used: Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory, Goodman Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. RESULTS: The intervention significantly reduced child behaviour problems and improved mental health at immediate and 6 month follow ups. One year differences between control and intervention groups were not significant. Qualitative results suggest that these findings might be attributable in part to either Hawthorne effects or contamination of control group. At interview parents described ways in which the programme had improved their mental health. They reported gains in confidence and feeling less stressed. Some also reported beneficial changes in their own and their children's behaviour and improved relationships with their children. Some spoke of a need for further sessions to support the behaviour changes they had managed to make, and some the desire for attendance by both parents. CONCLUSIONS: Parenting programmes have the potential to promote mental health and reduce social inequalities, but further work is needed to improve long term effectiveness.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Need and demand for parenting programmes in general practice.

AIMS: To establish the prevalence of behaviour problems and the level of interest in parenting programmes in a population sample of parents of children aged 2-8 years, and to assess to what extent they are associated with socioeconomic factors. METHODS: Postal survey of parents of children aged 2-8 years registered with three general practitioner surgeries; 70% response rate. RESULTS: One fifth of parents from this population sample were experiencing difficulties with their children's behaviour. While behaviour problems were more prevalent in the manual social classes, "need" was high across all social groups. Just under a fifth of parents reported prior attendance at a parenting programme and 58% expressed interest in attending in the future. Interest in attending a parenting programme was not class related, but was predicted by the age of the eldest child and the existence of behaviour problems. CONCLUSION: Behaviour problems are an important public health issue. Findings support the use of a non-selective approach to the provision of parenting programmes in the UK.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2002

Improving mental health through parenting programmes: block randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of a parenting programme, delivered by health visitors in primary care, in improving the mental health of children and their parents among a representative general practice population. METHODS: Parents of children aged 2-8 years who scored in the upper 50% on a behaviour inventory were randomised to the Webster-Stratton 10 week parenting programme delivered by trained health visitors, or no intervention. Main outcome measures were the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory and the Goodman Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to measure child behaviour, and the General Health Questionnaire, Abidin's Parenting Stress Index, and Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale to measure parents' mental health. These outcomes were measured before and immediately after the intervention, and at six months follow up. RESULTS: The intervention was more effective at improving some aspects of the children's mental health, notably conduct problems, than the no intervention control condition. The Goodman conduct problem score was reduced at immediate and six month follow up, and the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory was reduced at six months. The intervention also had a short term impact on social dysfunction among parents. These benefits were seen among families with children scoring in the clinical range for behaviour problems and also among children scoring in the non-clinical (normal) range. CONCLUSION: This intervention could make a useful contribution to the prevention of child behaviour problems and to mental health promotion in primary care.

Child↗