By: By Bahar Gholipour, Staff Writer
Published: 11/05/2013 04:47 PM EST on LiveScience
Parents of difficult toddlers can benefit from group training sessions, where parents learn the skills needed to deal with temper tantrums and other disruptive behaviors alongside other parents, researchers say.
In a new study, researchers looked at 150 parents of children ages 2 to 4, and randomly assigned them to either groups of six to 12 parents who received training, or to a control group, on a waiting list group for the training sessions. Parents were included in the study if their child had moderately or severely disruptive behavior, as indicated by a diagnostic test.
Parent-training groups were led by a psychologist or a social worker who taught the parents how to modify behaviors of their children(for example, by reinforcing positive behaviors and avoiding harsh parenting) during a 10-week program. The sessions included group discussion and role-playing, and were held at a pediatrician's office.
A year later, the results from parents' reports and videotaped observations suggested children of parents in the training groups showed less disruptive behavior compared with the beginning of the study. No differences were found in the waiting-list group before and after the year, according to the study published today (Nov. 5) in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. [10 Scientific Tips For Raising Happy Kids]
Growing evidence shows that parent-training groups are cost-effective in reducing children’s disruptive behaviors, the researchers wrote in their study. "Offering them in pediatric practices, using trained practice staff represents a critical opportunity to provide access to effective mental health care to a wide population," the researchers wrote.
What's normal during the terrible 2s?
Behavior problems often happen around age 2 as toddlers go through a normal stage of development, called the terrible twos, when an emerging sense of "an independent self" and a desire for autonomy puts them in clashes with parents, and results in mood changes, temper tantrums and oppositional behaviors.
"In most children, these behaviors are manageable, especially if parents are experienced," said Dr. Martin Stein, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, who wasn't involved with the study.
But some children are more aggressive and disobedient than usual, and persistently show disruptive behaviors that impair child and family function, he said.
"Group care is not the focus of most pediatric practices. We rely on building a relationship with a family, and provide care with one child and one parent or caretaker at a time," Stein told LiveScience.
Location, location, location
But although most pediatricians' offices are probably not equipped to accommodate group sessions, the approach has several potential benefits, Stein said. It provides an opportunity to educate more parents at the same time compared with sitting one-on-one with the physician, and it encourages interaction among parents.
The location itself may be a benefit.
"Often, when we have [children with] behavioral problems, we might refer them to a psychologist in an office 10 miles away, so the chance that parents would follow the referral is not always great," Stein said.
The other problem with current approaches is that the insurance companies don't consistently reimburse referrals for behavioral help.
"If we can incorporate behavioral approaches in a primary care setting such as the pediatrician's office, perhaps we can involve more families," Stein said.
Email Bahar Gholipour or follow her @alterwired. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on LiveScience.
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ]]>
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.