Evaluation of the Parent Centre's Positive Parenting Skills Training: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Change in levels of poor and positive parenting on the Parenting Scale (PS), from baseline to post-assessment, to the one-year follow-up.

Time Frame: Baseline (prior to programme initiation), post-assessment (shortly after programme conclusion), one-year follow-up (one year after programme conclusion).

The PS is a self-report measure that can be used to assess dysfunctional discipline practices of parents of young children. It has been validated on a sample of parents who had children between the ages of 5-12 years. The scale is comprised of three factors: verbosity, overreactivity and laxness. It consists of 30 items which can be answered on a 7-point scale. Scale anchors vary per question but are essentially parenting mistakes paired with more effective parenting behaviours (e.g., "I often hold a grudge" vs. "things get back to normal quickly").

Change in levels of poor and positive parenting on the Parent Behaviour Inventory (PBI), from baseline to post-assessment, to the one-year follow-up.

Time Frame: Baseline (prior to programme initiation), post-assessment (shortly after programme conclusion), one-year follow-up (one year after programme conclusion).

The PBI is a self-report measure that is suggested to reflect two dimensions of parenting behaviour: (1) hostile/coercive "behaviour which expresses negative affect or indifference toward the child" and could include using physical punishment, threat or coercion to influence child behaviour; and (2) supportive/engaged parenting which reflects parental acceptance of a child through signs of affection, instrumental and emotional support and shared activities. It is suitable for use with parents of children who are young school-age. The PBI consists of 20 items which can be answered on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Scale anchors range from "not at all true" to "very true".

Change in levels of child problem behaviour on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) - Externalising Problem subscale, from baseline to post-assessment, to the one-year follow-up.

Time Frame: Baseline (prior to programme initiation), post-assessment (shortly after programme conclusion), one-year follow-up (one year after programme conclusion).

Only the Externalising Problem subscale of the CBCL/6-18 school age version will be used in this study. This subscale is made up of 35 items which assess aggressive and rule breaking behaviour. The subscale assesses such behaviours on a three-point Likert-type scale with options ranging from 0 "not true", to 2 "very true". There is strong support for this scale's psychometric properties.

Change in levels of poor and positive parenting on the Parenting Young Children Scale (PARYC) - Setting Limits subscale, from baseline to post-assessment, to the one-year follow-up.

Time Frame: Baseline (prior to programme initiation), post-assessment (shortly after programme conclusion), one-year follow-up (one year after programme conclusion).

The PARYC is a self-report measure which assesses the frequency of engagement with particular parenting behaviours towards children, on a 7-point Likert scale from "not at all" to "most of the time". It also determines whether performing this behaviour is seen as a problem for the parent with response options including either "yes" or "no". This evaluation will only utilise the Settling Limits subscale which consists of 7 items. The convergent validity of the scale is supported.

Change in levels of child problem behaviour on the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI), from baseline to post-assessment, to the one-year follow-up.

Time Frame: Baseline (prior to programme initiation), post-assessment (shortly after programme conclusion), one-year follow-up (one year after programme conclusion).

The ECBI can be used to assess behaviour problems in children from 2 to 16 years old. It is comprised of 36 items. Each item is assessed on two dimensions; how often it occurs (i.e., frequency) and identification of the behaviour as a problem for the parent. Frequency ratings are answered on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from "never occurs" to "always occurs". By summing these answers together one is provided with an overall problem behaviour Intensity Score. Parents when identifying whether a behaviour is a problem for them answer either "yes" or "no" when asked about the particular behaviour. These answers can also be summed to create a total Problem Score. There is ample evidence for the ECBI to be a psychometrically sound measure, demonstrating its validity and reliability in measuring child problem behaviours.