Wim De Mey

Prevention of antisocial behaviour: Evaluation of an early intervention programme

The prognosis of children showing antisocial behaviour is not favourable. Longitudinal research shows a high level of stability of antisocial behaviour. The present study aims to evaluate an early intervention project to reduce antisocial behavioural problems in at-risk children (4 – 7 years). Parent Management Training (PMT) was chosen because it was evaluated as a promising intervention in previous research. The training is based on social learning principles and teaches parents to manage their childs behaviour through behaviour modification. Parents were randomly assigned to two conditions: an intervention condition (PMT; n = 34) and a waiting list condition (WL; n = 30). The PMT consists of 11 sessions spread over a 6-month period. Parents were trained in groups of 8 – 10 parents. A multi-method multi-informant methodology was designed to evaluate the programme. Measures were assessed before and after treatment and at 1-year follow-up. Both short- and long-term results revealed positive effects of the intervention with respect to the childs behaviour. In addition, parental stress reduced, whereas parental skills and mother – child interactions improved. However, no time by group interaction effects were found. Implementations and limitations of early intervention and prevention of antisocial behaviour are discussed.

Evaluatie van een multimodale behandeling voor kleuters met ernstige gedragsproblemen

SamenvattingDit artikel presenteert de effecten van Samen Sterker Terug Op Pad (stop4-7), een in Vlaanderen ontwikkeld multimodaal gedragstherapeutisch programma voor kinderen met ernstige gedragsproblemen. Het onderzoek laat zien dat kinderen en ouders die het programma volgen, vooruitgang boeken. Na de behandeling vertonen de kinderen volgens de ouders significant minder externaliserend, minder internaliserend en meer prosociaal gedrag. Het externaliserende gedrag blijft echter voor veel kinderen (60%) in de klinische range. Ouders zijn meer consequent in hun opvoeden en ervaren minder opvoedingsbelasting. Leerkrachten zien weinig vooruitgang op externaliserend gedrag, maar wel op internaliserend en prosociaal gedrag. De gevonden effecten zijn voor het merendeel klein tot middelgroot.SummariesVan Brussel, A., De Meyer, R. E., Veerman, J. W., & De Mey, W. (2009). Evaluation of a multimodal treatment for young children with severe behavioural problems. Kind en Adolescent, 30 (2), 66-81This article presents the effects of stop4-7, a multimodal behavioural therapeutic programme for young children with severe behaviour problems. The programme was developed in Flanders. The results show that children and parents who followed the programme make significant progress. According to the parents, following treatment the children exhibit significantly less externalizing behaviour and less internalizing behaviour, and more prosocial behaviour. However, as far as the externalizing problems are concerned, the scores of 60% of the children remain in the clinical range. Parents show more consistent parenting behaviour and feel less stressed. Teachers report little progress regarding externalizing behaviour, but they do notice progress concerning internalizing and prosocial behaviour. The effects are generally small to medium.

STOP4–7, an early intervention for children with behavioural disorders: Client characteristics and preliminary findings

STOP4–7 is a multimodal early intervention programme for children (4–7 years) with behavioural problems. The programme is based on the research of the Oregon Social Learning Center. The present pilot study evaluates its feasibility in a European sample. Method: 201 children were involved and 90% of the participants completed the treatment. Results: On all outcome measures children and parents show a significant progress. The effect sizes range from small to moderate.