Effects of parenting programs on child abuse prevention: a meta-analytic study

Abstract

Objectives: Parenting programs are a key component of child and family services to prevent child abuse. By using randomized controlled trials, a number of parenting programs have been proven effective in preventing child abuse. This study is a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of these high-quality evidences and aims to: (1) test the effect sizes of primary, secondary and tertiary parenting intervention; (2) test the effect sizes of various outcomes related to child abuse prevention; (3) explore factors associated with program effectiveness.

Method: Nine databases were searched to identify studies published in English on or before September 2013, reporting the effects of parenting programs in preventing child abuse and neglect. We only included randomized controlled trials with valid and sufficient data for analysis.

Results: Thirty programs identified from 3578 studies were eligible for inclusion. The total weighted effect size (ES) was 0.309 (95% CI 0.188-0.431) under the random-effects model, which meant a moderate positive effect of parenting programs in preventing child abuse. The effect sizes are 0.230, 0.345 and 0.284 for primary, secondary and tertiary parenting programs. However, there is no significant heterogeneity between the three levels of interventions. The study found that parenting programs successfully reduced substantiated child abuse reports (ES=0.208), self-reported cases (ES=0.208) and child abuse potential (ES=0.112). The programs also reduced risk factors (ES=0.281) and enhanced protective factors associated with child maltreatment (ES=0.381). Several moderator variables were analyzed and five moderator variables contributed to between-group variance: country income level, study sample size, program dosage, early start and gender of participants.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that parenting programs are effective public health approaches to preventing child abuse. Parenting programs could be widely applied in future practices. We suggest that more manpower and material resources be devoted to programs in low- and middle-income countries.