Does parent management training reduce behavioural and emotional problems in children with intellectual disability? A randomised controlled trial.
A short group parent-training course reliably lowers disruptive and anxious behaviors in children with intellectual disability.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kostulski et al. (2021) ran a wait-list RCT with parents of children with intellectual disability. Half the families started a tailored parent-management training right away. The other half waited eight weeks.
The program taught positive parenting, clear commands, and calm consequences. Parents met in groups and practiced at home.
What they found
Kids whose parents got the training showed fewer disruptive and anxious behaviors. Parents also felt more confident and less stressed.
The gains were medium-sized and held up when the wait-list families later received the same training.
How this fits with other research
The result lines up with Griffith et al. (2012). Their big meta-analysis of single-case studies also found large drops in challenging behavior when parents used behavioral tactics.
Anonymous (2024) extends the idea to online delivery. They showed real-time Zoom parent groups cut behavior problems just as well as face-to-face classes.
Lotfizadeh et al. (2020) conceptually replicate the finding with a twist. They added video modelling and saw gains in communication and IQ instead of behavior, proving parent training can help multiple child skills.
Why it matters
You now have an RCT showing a ready-made PMT package works for ID. Use it as a first-line option before moving to heavier interventions. Offer it in person or online; both work. Start with group format to save staff time, then add individual coaching if progress stalls.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Children with intellectual disability (ID) are more likely to develop behavioural and emotional problems. However, specific interventions for the treatment of these problems in children with ID have rarely been evaluated. Parent management training (PMT) has been shown to be effective in reducing behavioural and emotional problems for other mental disorders. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a special PMT intervention for parents of children with ID. METHODS: The PMT was developed based on existing programs for children with other mental disorders. The effects of the PMT were analysed in a randomised controlled trial (intervention group: n = 21; waitlist control group: n = 21). The primary outcome was behavioural and emotional problems of children as rated by parents. Additionally, effects on parent-rated family burden and positive and negative parenting were assessed. OUTCOME: For the primary outcome, a statistically significant reduction of behavioural and emotional problems of the children emerged, with moderate effects for disruptive/ antisocial behaviour and anxiety. Family burden was reduced as a trend, with a small effect size. There was a significant increase in positive parenting and no effect on negative parenting.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103958