Added effect of the fathers’ participation in a family intervention
This study evaluates the added effect of the father’s participation in the family intervention, as outlined in the Fluppy prevention program, on the quality of the parents’ practices (measured by direct observation of a parent-child interaction) and on the level of problem behaviour presented by the children (measured according to accounts obtained from teachers and mothers). Pretest and post-test evaluations were carried out among three equivalent groups. In a first group, both parents participated in the intervention (group PM, n = 37 children, 37 fathers and 37 mothers); in a second group, only the mother participated (group MS, n = 13 children and 13 mothers) and in a control group, neither the mother nor the father participated (group T, n = 18 children, 18 fathers and 18 mothers). Results show a significant time x group effect that translates into improved parental practices of mothers in group PM and a deterioration of parental practices in the MS group as well as a deterioration in fathers’ and mothers’ practices in group T. Further analyses did not demonstrate that the father’s involvement had any short term effect on problem behaviour modification in children. Overall, the results bring out interesting leads for intervention, in particular with regards to the importance of thoroughly evaluating the father’s practices as well as those of the mother, and the potential advantages of efforts made to reach both parents of children who present problem behaviour at an early age.