How much do we know about the long-term effectiveness of parenting programmes? Advances, shortcomings, and future directions

Abstract

Purpose

Parenting programmes are seen as feasible and cost-effective in preventing early behavioural problems in children and adolescents. A number of studies have concluded that such programmes are effective in reducing child problem behaviours and improving the skills and well-being of parents. Nevertheless, less is known about long-term programme effects. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A non-meta-analytic discussion.

Findings

Long-term evaluations of parenting programmes suffer from a number of methodological weaknesses resulting in an inability to make robust causal inferences about child and parent outcomes in the longer term. The current evidence is favourable but is likely to be biased by methodological weaknesses. There is a need for more studies of greater methodological strength to obtain conclusive evidence that would guide empirical research, practice and policy.

Originality/value

The paper discusses weaknesses in long-term evaluations of parenting programmes and highlights concrete future directions towards improving the quality of study design, evaluation and data analysis.

Citation

Özdemir, M. (2015), "How much do we know about the long-term effectiveness of parenting programmes? Advances, shortcomings, and future directions", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 120-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-02-2014-0016