The professionals’ characteristics and behaviors and their relation to change processes in parent interventions directed at behavior problems

Despite the emphasis on implementing evidence-based parent interventions directed at behavior problems and the need to ensure their effectiveness across a variety of settings, a research gap still exists with respect to the study of the role of therapist factors on parenting interventions. However, there is some evidence that certain professionals’ behaviors or characteristics are frequently related to the change occurred in parents’ perceptions and parental practices, as well as to parents’ engagement in the intervention sessions.

Main goal of the study: to understand the role of behaviors and characteristics of facilitators of the Incredible Years Basic Parent Program in the promotion of parent self-efficacy and children’s behavior change.

Methodologies (qualitative + quantitative): exploring parents and professionals perceptions (self-rated questionnaires and focus-groups); describing professional characteristics and behavior coding through the observation of video recorded sessions (using and adapting an observation assessment tool).

Expected results: identification of the professionals’ characteristics and behaviors more related to the efficacy of this parent intervention.