The Family Check-Up With High-Risk Indigent Families: Preventing Problem Behavior by Increasing Parents' Positive Behavior Support in Early Childhood

• Published in: Child development Vol. 79; no. 5; pp. 1395 - 1414
• Main Authors: Dishion, Thomas J., Shaw, Daniel, Connell, Arin, Gardner, Frances, Weaver, Chelsea, Wilson, Melvin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.09.2008; Wiley-Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; At Risk Persons; Behavior; Behavior Problems; Behavioural problems; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers; Carers; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - prevention & control; Child Behavior Disorders - psychology; Child Development; Child psychopathology; Child, Preschool; Childhood; Childhood mental disorders; Children; Control Groups; Developmental psychology; Early childhood; Early intervention; Empirical Articles; Families & family life; Family - psychology; Family history; Family Programs; Family studies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health; Humans; Intervention; Male; Measures (Individuals); Parent Child Relationship; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents; Parents - psychology; Positive behaviour support; Poverty; Prevention; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Risk Factors; School age children; Services; Social behaviour; Social support; Social environment; Human; Preschool age; High risk; Socioeconomic status; Poverty; Parent training; Parent child relation; Behavioral disorder; Prevention; Treatment; Sociodemographic factor; Social interaction; Child; Social support
• ISSN: 0009-3920; 1467-8624
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01195.x

Seven hundred thirty-one income-eligible families in 3 geographical regions who were enrolled in a national food supplement program were screened and randomized to a brief family intervention. At child ages 2 and 3, the intervention group caregivers were offered the Family Check-Up and linked parenting support services. Latent growth models on caregiver reports at child ages 2, 3, and 4 revealed decreased behavior problems when compared with the control group. Intervention effects occurred predominantly among families reporting high levels of problem behavior at child age 2. Families in the intervention condition improved on direct observation measures of caregivers' positive behavior support at child ages 2 and 3; improvements in positive behavior support mediated improvements in children's early problem behavior.