Parents in prevention: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of parenting interventions to prevent internalizing problems in children from birth to age 18

Abstract

Purpose of the research Burgeoning evidence that modifiable parental factors can influence children's and adolescents’ risk for depression and anxiety indicates that parents can play a crucial role in prevention of these disorders in their children. However, it remains unclear whether preventive interventions that are directed primarily at the parent (i.e. where the parent receives more than half of the intervention) are effective in reducing child internalizing (including both depression and anxiety) problems in the longer term. Principal results Compared to a range of comparison conditions, parenting interventions reduced child internalizing problems, at a minimum of 6 months after the int..