Engagement and Effectiveness of Parent Management Training (Incredible Years) for Solo High-Risk Mothers: A Multiple Baseline Evaluation

Abstract

The effectiveness of The Incredible Years parent-training program with a small sample of four high risk solo mothers in a public clinic setting was assessed. All families had a number of risk factors for early drop-out and poor outcomes. Mindful of resource limitations in the public setting, economical strategies were used to enhance attendance rates and engagement. For the outcome evaluation, a multiple baseline across participants design was used. Participants attended a 2-hour group treatment session weekly for twenty weeks, with booster sessions at 2 months and 4 months following treatment. Participants had sons aged between 6 years and 9 years diagnosed with ADHD. Family functioning was assessed from a pretreatment interview schedule, measures of child behaviour and parent and family functioning. Participants also completed program satisfaction and program evaluation measures. Results showed: (a) all mothers engaged with and finished the program, (b) improvement in family functioning, (c) improvements in some teacher and parent reports of child behaviour, (d) increased parenting confidence, (e) reduced stress and depression levels for most parent participants, and (f) reports of better parent–child relationships. Additionally, participants all reported being highly satisfied with the program. Findings overall support the use of easy to do engagement strategies and the use of the Incredible Years parent-training program as an effective, low cost and early step intervention for families at higher risk in a day-to-day practice setting. The use of this intervention in an overall stepped care approach is considered and discussed.