Evaluation of a Brief Parent Group Intervention for Child Bedtime Problem Behaviours

Abstract

Research indicates that behavioural parenting interventions are effective in the treatment of children with problem behaviours at bedtime and during the night (Seymour, Brock, During & Poole, 1989). However, studies on brief and group-based parenting interventions are lacking. Thus, this study evaluates the effectiveness of a 2-hour discussion group for 14 parents with normally developing children aged 3 to 5 who displayed difficult behaviours at bedtime and during the night. This modality of intervention is part of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Programme intervention model (Sanders, 2008) and has demonstrated effectiveness with other common childhood problem behaviours (Joachim, Sanders, & Turner, 2009). Parents completed questionnaire measures of child bedtime problems, general behaviour, parenting, and parental and relationship well-being at pre-intervention (T1) and postintervention (T2). Parents also completed diary records of bedtime and other behaviour problems at both time points. After the intervention, parents participated in a telephone interview to assess their adherence to the treatment recommendations and their satisfaction with the parent training discussion group. Significant intervention effects (p< .05 and p< .01, large and medium effect sizes) were found for bedtime and daytime childhood behaviour in some of the scales, and for parenting confidence. No significant effects were found for parenting style and knowledge, parental depression, anxiety, and stress, or relationship functioning. Qualitative outcomes showed that most parents successfully implemented an action plan at home to address their child's bedtime problems and reported improved childhood bedtime and sleep behaviour, as well as other daytime behaviours. The clinical implications of these results are discussed, particularly in relation to the use of interventions for bedtime and sleep behaviour that are time- and cost-effective and accessible at a community level.