The Incredible Years Parenting and Child Treatment Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a Child Welfare Setting in Spain

Incredible Years (IY) is a well-established multicomponent group-based program designed to promote young children’s emotional and social competence, to prevent and treat child behavioral and emotional problems, and to improve parenting practices and the parent-child relationship. This study presents the first randomized controlled trial carried out in Spain to test the effectiveness of the Incredible Years Basic Parenting and Small Group Dinosaur Programs in a sample of families involved in child welfare due to substantiated or risk for child maltreatment. One hundred and eleven families with 4- to 8-year-old children were randomly allocated to IY or to a control group who received standard services. Baseline, post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up assessments were compared. Results showed that compared to the control group, the IY intervention made a significant positive difference in parents’ observed and reported use of praise, and a significant reduction in reported use of inconsistent discipline, parenting stress, depressive symptomatology, and perception of child behavior problems. A full serial mediation effect was found between participation in IY, changes in parenting practices, subsequent parenting stress reduction, and both final child abuse potential reduction and perception of child behavior problems. No moderating influence on IY effects was found. Findings provide evidence that transporting the IY Basic Parenting and the Small Group Dinosaur Programs with fidelity is feasible in Child Welfare Services in Spain. (AU)

Incredible Years (IY) es un programa de intervención grupal multicomponente con base empírica sólida diseñado para promover la competencia emocional y social de los niños y niñas, prevenir y tratar problemas emocionales y comportamentales y mejorar las prácticas parentales y la relación paterno-filial. Este estudio presenta el primer ensayo controlado aleatorizado llevado a cabo en España para probar la eficacia de los subprogramas dirigidos a padres y madres y a niños y niñas en familias atendidas en los Servicios Sociales de Infancia debido a la existencia o riesgo de maltrato infantil. Ciento once familias con niños y niñas de 4 a 8 años fueron asignadas al azar a IY o a un grupo control que recibió los servicios de apoyo habituales. Se llevaron a cabo evaluaciones preintervención, post-intervención (6 meses) y de seguimiento (12 meses). Los resultados mostraron que, en comparación con el grupo control, los padres y madres del grupo IY informaron de más cambios positivos significativos en el uso de elogios e incentivos y una reducción significativa en el uso de disciplina inconsistente, estrés parental, sintomatología depresiva y percepción de problemas de conducta en sus hijos e hijas. Se encontró un efecto de mediación serial entre la participación en IY, cambios en las prácticas parentales, la posterior reducción del estrés parental y la reducción final del potencial de maltrato y de la percepción de problemas de conducta en los hijos e hijas. No se identificó ninguna variable moderadora en los efectos de IY. Los resultados proporcionan evidencia de que es factible aplicar el programa IY con fidelidad en los Servicios Sociales de Infancia en España. (AU)

The Incredible Years Parenting and Child Treatment Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a Child Welfare Setting in Spain.

Incredible Years (IY) is a well-established multicomponent group-based program designed to promote young children's emotional and social competence, to prevent and treat child behavioral and emotional problems, and to improve parenting practices and the parent-child relationship. This study presents the first randomized controlled trial carried out in Spain to test the effectiveness of the Incredible Years Basic Parenting and Small Group Dinosaur Programs in a sample of families involved in child welfare due to substantiated or risk for child maltreatment. One hundred and eleven families with 4- to 8-year-old children were randomly allocated to IY or to a control group who received standard services. Baseline, post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up assessments were compared. Results showed that compared to the control group, the IY intervention made a significant positive difference in parents' observed and reported use of praise, and a significant reduction in reported use of inconsistent discipline, parenting stress, depressive symptomatology, and perception of child behavior problems. A full serial mediation effect was found between participation in IY, changes in parenting practices, subsequent parenting stress reduction, and both final child abuse potential reduction and perception of child behavior problems. No moderating influence on IY effects was found. Findings provide evidence that transporting the IY Basic Parenting and the Small Group Dinosaur Programs with fidelity is feasible in Child Welfare Services in Spain.

Incredible Years (IY) es un programa de intervención grupal multicomponente con base empírica sólida diseñado para promover la competencia emocional y social de los niños y niñas, prevenir y tratar problemas emocionales y comportamentales y mejorar las prácticas parentales y la relación paterno-filial. Este estudio presenta el primer ensayo controlado aleatorizado llevado a cabo en España para probar la eficacia de los subprogramas dirigidos a padres y madres y a niños y niñas en familias atendidas en los Servicios Sociales de Infancia debido a la existencia o riesgo de maltrato infantil. Ciento once familias con niños y niñas de 4 a 8 años fueron asignadas al azar a IY o a un grupo control que recibió los servicios de apoyo habituales. Se llevaron a cabo evaluaciones preintervención, post-intervención (6 meses) y de seguimiento (12 meses). Los resultados mostraron que, en comparación con el grupo control, los padres y madres del grupo IY informaron de más cambios positivos significativos en el uso de elogios e incentivos y una reducción significativa en el uso de disciplina inconsistente, estrés parental, sintomatología depresiva y percepción de problemas de conducta en sus hijos e hijas. Se encontró un efecto de mediación serial entre la participación en IY, cambios en las prácticas parentales, la posterior reducción del estrés parental y la reducción final del potencial de maltrato y de la percepción de problemas de conducta en los hijos e hijas. No se identificó ninguna variable moderadora en los efectos de IY. Los resultados proporcionan evidencia de que es factible aplicar el programa IY con fidelidad en los Servicios Sociales de Infancia en España.

Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Factorial Structure and Concurrent Validity.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive family assessments in Child Protection Services should include instruments with suitable psychometric characteristics. The present study aims to provide initial evidence of the factorial structure and other psychometric properties of the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). METHOD: Participants were 80 mother-child dyads with children aged 4-8 who received family support from Child Protection Services in Spain. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit for a four-factor solution (Praise, Questions, Clear commands and Negative talk) with 15 items. Inter-rater reliability indices were optimal. Evidence of concurrent validity found that DPICS factors were related to self-reported parenting and teacher-informed child behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence of the DPICS's psychometric properties for assessing mother-child interaction within Child Protection Services. Further research with larger samples of mother-child and father-child dyads is still needed to confirm the four-factor solution.

Parenting Stress Index-Short Form: psychometric properties of the Spanish version in mothers of children aged 0 to 8 years / Propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Parenting Stress Index Short Form en madres con niños o niñas de 0 a 8 años

The Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) is one of the most commonly used measures of parenting stress both in clinical and research contexts. The PSI-SF is a 36-item, self-report measure with three subscales: Parental Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI), and Difficult Child (DC). The objective of this study was to analyse the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of PSI-SF. Two different samples (N = 309) of mothers with children under 8 years old participated in the study. The first sample comprised 203 mothers with difficulties managing their children's behaviour. The second sample comprised 106 mothers from the general population. Factor structure of the PSI-SF, convergent validity, and differences between groups were analysed. The expected three-factor structure was confirmed for both samples. Findings suggested that the total PSI-SF scale and the three subscales had adequate internal consistency and convergent validity. Differences between both samples, and between age and economic subgroups in the first sample were tested. The Spanish version of the PSI-SF can be considered an adequate measure of parenting stress in mothers of children under 8 years old with difficulties to manage their children's behaviour. Further studies with extended samples from the general population are needed

El Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) es uno de los instrumentos más utilizados para evaluar el estrés parental tanto en el contexto clínico como en el de investigación. El PSI-SF es un autoinforme de 36 ítems con tres subescalas: malestar parental (PD), interacción disfuncional padre/madre-hijo (PCDI) y niño difícil (DC). El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la estructura factorial y las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del PSI-SF. Dos muestras diferentes (N = 309) de madres con hijos o hijas menores de 8 años participaron en el estudio: la primera muestra estuvo compuesta por 203 madres con dificultades para gestionar la conducta de sus hijos o hijas y la segunda por 106 madres de la población general. Se analizó la estructura factorial del PSI-SF, la validez convergente y la diferencia entre grupos de madres, confirmándose la estructura de tres factores para las dos muestras. Los resultados sugieren que la escala completa del PSI-SF y las 3 subescalas presentaban una adecuada consistencia interna y validez convergente. Se analizaron las diferencias en todas las puntuaciones del PSI-SF entre ambas muestras y entre subgrupos (edad y situación económica) de la primera muestra. La versión española del PSI-SF puede considerarse un instrumento adecuado para medir el estrés parental en madres con niños o niñas menores de 8 años con dificultades para manejar su comportamiento. Se necesitan estudios con muestras más representativas de la población general

Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Factorial Structure and Concurrent Validity / Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Estructura Factorial y Validez Concurrente

Background: Comprehensive family assessments in Child Protection Services should include instruments with suitable psychometric characteristics. The present study aims to provide initial evidence of the factorial structure and other psychometric properties of the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). Method: Participants were 80 mother-child dyads with children aged 4-8 who received family support from Child Protection Services in Spain. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit for a four-factor solution (Praise, Questions, Clear commands and Negative talk) with 15 items. Inter-rater reliability indices were optimal. Evidence of concurrent validity found that DPICS factors were related to self-reported parenting and teacher-informed child behavior problems. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence of the DPICS’s psychometric properties for assessing mother-child interaction within Child Protection Services. Further research with larger samples of mother-child and father-child dyads is still needed to confirm the four-factor solution. (AU)

Antecedentes: la evaluación de familias en los Servicios de Protección Infantil debería incluir instrumentos con características psicométricas adecuadas. El objetivo principal de este estudio es proporcionar evidencia de la estructura factorial y otras propiedades psicométricas del Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). Método: la muestra estuvo formada por 80 díadas madre-hijo/a con niños/as de 4 a 8 años que recibieron servicios de apoyo familiar de los Servicios de Protección Infantil en España. Resultados: el análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró un buen ajuste para la estructura de cuatro factores (Elogio, Pregunta, Orden Clara y Verbalización Negativa) con 15 ítems. Los índices de fiabilidad interjueces fueron adecuados. Las evidencias de validez concurrente mostraron que los factores del DPICS estaban relacionados con las competencias parentales autoinformadas y con los problemas de conducta infantil informados por los profesores. Conclusiones: el presente estudio proporciona evidencia preliminar sobre las propiedades psicométricas del DPICS para la evaluación de la interacción madre-hijo/a en los Servicios de Protección Infantil. Sería necesario continuar investigando con muestras más amplias de díadas madre-hijo/a, así como díadas padre-hijo/a para confirmar la estructura de cuatro factores. (AU)

Implementation of an early preventive intervention programme for child neglect: safecare / Implantación de un programa de intervención de prevención temprana para la negligencia infantil: SafeCare

BACKGROUND: Child neglect is the most prevalent type of child maltreatment. Research has shown that its sequelae can be more harmful than physical or sexual abuse, particularly at early ages, supporting the importance of preventive and early interventions. This paper presents the results of the first pilot implementation in Spain of SafeCare, a home visiting evidence-based programme for the prevention and treatment of child neglect in families with children aged 0-5 years old. METHOD: Between 2014 and 2017, 89 families were referred from Child Protection Services of Gipuzkoa and San Sebastian to SafeCare. Of these, 46 finished the programme. Parenting skills, depressive symptomatology, child abuse potential, parental stress, and child behavioural problems were measured at baseline and after treatment. Parental satisfaction with the programme was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: High levels of parental satisfaction, significant improvements in parenting skills, and significant decreases in child abuse potential, parental stress, and perception of child behavioural problems were found after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that SafeCare can be useful for families with early signs of child neglect. The study also confirmed the feasibility of implementing such an evidence based programme in Child Protective Services in Spain. More studies with larger samples and experimental designs are necessary

ANTECEDENTES: la negligencia es la tipología más frecuente de maltrato infantil. Sus secuelas pueden ser incluso más dañinas que el maltrato físico o el abuso sexual, particularmente a edades tempranas, apoyando la importancia de intervenciones preventivas y precoces. En este artículo se presentan resultados de la primera implantación piloto en España de SafeCare, un programa basado en la evidencia para la intervención con familias negligentes o en riesgo con niños 0-5 años. MÉTODO: entre 2014 y 2017, los Servicios de Protección Infantil de Gipúzkoa y San Sebastián derivaron 89 familias al programa. De ellas, 46 lo completaron. Antes y después del tratamiento se evaluaron competencias parentales, sintomatología depresiva, potencial de maltrato físico, estrés parental y percepción de problemas de conducta. RESULTADOS: se observaron mejoras significativas en competencias parentales, potencial de maltrato físico, estrés parental y percepción de problemas de conducta, y una elevada satisfacción de los padres y madres participantes. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados sugieren que SafeCare puede ser útil para familias con signos tempranos de negligencia. Se constató también la viabilidad de la implantación de un programa basado en la evidencia en Servicios de Protección Infantil en España. Sería necesario replicar estos hallazgos con muestras más amplias y diseños experimentales

Implementation of an Early Preventive Intervention Programme for Child Neglect: SafeCare.

BACKGROUND: Child neglect is the most prevalent type of child maltreatment. Research has shown that its sequelae can be more harmful than physical or sexual abuse, particularly at early ages, supporting the importance of preventive and early interventions. This paper presents the results of the first pilot implementation in Spain of SafeCare, a home visiting evidence-based programme for the prevention and treatment of child neglect in families with children aged 0-5 years old. METHOD: Between 2014 and 2017, 89 families were referred from Child Protection Services of Gipuzkoa and San Sebastian to SafeCare. Of these, 46 finished the programme. Parenting skills, depressive symptomatology, child abuse potential, parental stress, and child behavioural problems were measured at baseline and after treatment. Parental satisfaction with the programme was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: High levels of parental satisfaction, significant improvements in parenting skills, and significant decreases in child abuse potential, parental stress, and perception of child behavioural problems were found after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that SafeCare can be useful for families with early signs of child neglect. The study also confirmed the feasibility of implementing such an evidence based programme in Child Protective Services in Spain. More studies with larger samples and experimental designs are necessary.

Adaptation of the Evidence-Based Practices Attitude Scale in Spanish child welfare professionals / Adaptación de la escala de actitudes hacia la práctica basada en la evidencia en profesionales de protección infantil

BACKGROUND: Implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) into real-world settings represents an organizational change that may be limited or facilitated by provider attitudes towards the adoption of new interventions and practices. The objective of the present study was to analyze psychometric properties of the Evidence Based Practices Attitude Scale (EBPAS) Spanish version in Child Welfare professionals. METHOD: The EBPAS 50-item version was administered to a sample of professionals (N = 240) providing services to children/adolescents and their families in Child Welfare Services from three Spanish regions. RESULTS: Most of the dimensions measured by the EBPAS (50 items) were confirmed in the Spanish version administrated to Child Welfare professionals. Internal consistency reliabilities were fair to excellent. Provider attitudes varied by professional discipline and organizational context.CONCLUSIONS: The EBPAS Spanish version is an adequate instrument to be used as a measure of attitudes toward implementation of evidence-based practices

ANTECEDENTES: la implantación de programas basados en la evidencia (PBEs) representa un cambio organizacional que puede ser limitado o facilitado por las actitudes de los profesionales hacia la adopción de nuevas prácticas. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión en español de la Escala de Actitudes para la Práctica Basada en la Evidencia (EBPAS) en profesionales de la Protección Infantil. MÉTODO: se administró la versión traducida del EBPAS-50 a una muestra de 240 profesionales de los servicios de Protección Infantil en tres regiones españolas. RESULTADOS: la mayoría de las dimensiones medidas por el EBPAS (50 ítems) fueron confirmadas en la versión española aplicada a profesionales de la Protección Infantil. Los índices de consistencia interna fueron adecuados. Las puntuaciones en las actitudes variaron en base a algunas variables personales y contextuales. CONCLUSIONES: la versión española del EBPAS puede ser un instrumento adecuado para ser utilizado en España como medida de actitudes hacia la implantación de prácticas basadas en la evidencia

Adaptation of the Evidence-Based Practices Attitude Scale in Spanish child welfare professionals.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) into real-world settings represents an organizational change that may be limited or facilitated by provider attitudes towards the adoption of new interventions and practices. The objective of the present study was to analyze psychometric properties of the Evidence Based Practices Attitude Scale (EBPAS) Spanish version in Child Welfare professionals. METHOD: The EBPAS 50-item version was administered to a sample of professionals (N = 240) providing services to children/adolescents and their families in Child Welfare Services from three Spanish regions. RESULTS: Most of the dimensions measured by the EBPAS (50 items) were confirmed in the Spanish version administrated to Child Welfare professionals. Internal consistency reliabilities were fair to excellent. Provider attitudes varied by professional discipline and organizational context. CONCLUSIONS: The EBPAS Spanish version is an adequate instrument to be used as a measure of attitudes toward implementation of evidence-based practices.

Implantación piloto de dos programas basados en la evidencia (SafeCare e Incredible Years) en los Servicios de Protección Infantil de Gipuzkoa (España) / Pilot Implementation of two evidence based programs (SafeCare and Incredible Years) in Child Protection Services in Gipuzkoa (Spain)

El presente artículo describe el proceso de implantación de dos la primera letra de las tres palabras minúscula en el Sistema de Protección Infantil de Gipuzkoa (España): SafeCare e incredible years. El primero es un programa de intervención en el domicilio para familias negligentes o en riesgo de negligencia con niños menores de 5 años. El segundo es un programa terapéutico grupal para familias con niños entre 4 y 8 años con problemas de comportamiento cuyos padres tienen dificultades significativas para su manejo. Se describe el proceso por el que las instituciones responsables de la protección infantil en Gipuzkoa iniciaron un cambio desde los modelos actuales de intervención hacia programas más estructurados, focalizados y breves que han mostrado resultados positivos en aplicaciones previas en otros países. Se tratan cuestiones relacionadas con la adaptación de los programas, la selección y formación de profesionales y se presentan los resultados pre- y post- obtenidos en la aplicación preliminar de ambos programas a un número limitado de familias. Se presenta el diseño de la siguiente fase del proceso (implantación piloto con diseño experimental para evaluación de resultados). Se discuten cuestiones relevantes de este proceso, que pueden ser de utilidad para aquellas administraciones e instituciones que pretendan llevar a cabo un proceso similar

This paper describes the implementation process of two evidence-based programs in Gipuzkoa’s Child Protection System (Spain): SafeCare and Incredible Years. SafeCare is a home visiting program for high-risk and neglectful families with children under 5 years. Incredible Years is a parenting skills training program for families with children between 4 to 8 years with behavior problems whose parents have significant difficulties to manage. The paper describes the process by which public institutions responsible for child protection in Gipuzkoa decided to shift from current intervention programs towards more structured, focused, and short-term programs that have shown positive results in previous applications in other countries. Issues related to programs adaptation, selection, and training of professionals and pre- and post- results obtained in the preliminary application of SafeCare and Incredible Years to a limited set of families are presented. Finally, the next step of the implementation process (pilot implementation with a randomized control trial design) is described. The paper discusses a significant number of issues that have been important throughout this process and that may be useful for administrations and institutions that wish to undertake a similar process

Psychologists and child psychological maltreatment severity assessment / Los profesionales de la psicología en la evaluación de la gravedad de las situaciones de maltrato psicológico infantil en la familia

Background: Psychological maltreatment (PM) is probably the most difficult child maltreatment form to detect and evaluate. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of an instrument developed to improve accuracy in the assessment of PM severity in Child Protection Services (CPS). Method: Case vignettes representing different severity levels of PM situations were used. 146 CPS psychologists participated in the study. A first group was made up of 115 psychologists who had been trained in the use of the instrument for 4 hours. The second group was made up of 31 psychologists who had been using the instrument for more than 12 months at the time of the study. Psychologists from the first group rated the severity of the vignettes in two ways: applying their own daily work criteria and applying the instrument after the training. Results: Accurate ratings clearly improved when psychologists used the instrument criteria. However, only psychologists who had used the instrument for more than 12 months at the time of the study obtained more than 80% of accurate ratings. Conclusions: Results support the importance for CPS psychologists to use psychological maltreatment severity assessment instruments and show the conditions under which they could be effective(AU)

Antecedentes: el maltrato psicológico en la familia es una de las tipologías de maltrato infantil que presenta mayores dificultades para su identificación y evaluación. El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer el efecto de un nuevo instrumento diseñado para mejorar la valoración de la gravedad de situaciones de maltrato psicológico en los Servicios de Protección Infantil (SPI). Método: se utilizaron doce viñetas que representaban situaciones de maltrato psicológico de diferente gravedad. El estudio se realizó con 146 psicólogos de SPI. Un primer grupo (n = 115) calificó la gravedad de las viñetas antes y después de recibir formación básica sobre el instrumento. Un segundo grupo (n = 31) llevaba ya más de doce meses utilizándolo. Resultados: los resultados mostraron un claro incremento en el porcentaje de psicólogos que calificaron correctamente las viñetas cuando utilizaron el instrumento en comparación a sus criterios previos. Sin embargo, solo alcanzaron un 80% de calificación correcta los profesionales que llevaban más de doce meses utilizándolo en su actividad profesional. Conclusiones: los resultados apoyan la importancia de que los psicólogos de SPI dispongan de instrumentos que les ayuden a valorar la gravedad del maltrato psicológico y muestran las condiciones en que pueden resultar eficaces (AU)

Psychologists and child psychological maltreatment severity assessment.

BACKGROUND: Psychological maltreatment (PM) is probably the most difficult child maltreatment form to detect and evaluate. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of an instrument developed to improve accuracy in the assessment of PM severity in Child Protection Services (CPS). METHOD: Case vignettes representing different severity levels of PM situations were used. 146 CPS psychologists participated in the study. A first group was made up of 115 psychologists who had been trained in the use of the instrument for 4 hours. The second group was made up of 31 psychologists who had been using the instrument for more than 12 months at the time of the study. Psychologists from the first group rated the severity of the vignettes in two ways: applying their own daily work criteria and applying the instrument after the training. RESULTS: Accurate ratings clearly improved when psychologists used the instrument criteria. However, only psychologists who had used the instrument for more than 12 months at the time of the study obtained more than 80% of accurate ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the importance for CPS psychologists to use psychological maltreatment severity assessment instruments and show the conditions under which they could be effective.

Evaluation of a treatment program for abusive and high-risk families in Spain.

This article describes a six-year evaluation of a comprehensive treatment program for abusive families in Spain. The evaluation involved practitioners' clinical judgments, standardized measures, and follow-up data about children's living situations. The results were similar to those obtained by similar programs from the United States and other developed countries. The analysis obtained the lowest rates of success for neglectful and abusive-neglectful families. Dropout and nondropout families differed in two paternal characteristics: alcohol problems and childhood experience of out-of-home care. Rehabilitated and nonrehabilitated families differed in several variables, including time elapsed between case detection and referral to the treatment program. Scores on measures showed significant changes during treatment.