Journal Article

“Tuning into Kids”: Reducing Young Children’s Behavior Problems Using an Emotion Coaching Parenting Program

Havighurst, Sophie S., Harley, Ann E., Kehoe, Christiane, Prior, Margot R., Wilson, Katherine R., Efron, Daryl

2013

Overview

This study evaluated a 6-session group parenting program, Tuning into Kids (TIK), as treatment for young children (aged 4.0–5.11 years) with behavior problems. TIK targets parent emotion socialization (parent emotion awareness, regulation and emotion coaching skills). Fifty-four parents, recruited via a child behavior clinic, were randomized into intervention (TIK) or waitlist (clinical treatment as usual). Parents reported emotion awareness/regulation, emotion coaching, empathy and child behavior (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 6-month follow-up); teachers reported child behavior and observers rated parent–child emotion coaching and child emotion knowledge (pre-intervention, follow-up). Data were analyzed using growth curve modeling and ANCOVA. Parents in both conditions reported less emotional dismissiveness and reduced child behavior problems; in the intervention group, parents also reported greater empathy and had improved observed emotion coaching skills; their children had greater emotion knowledge and reduced teacher-reported behavior problems. TIK appears to be a promising addition to treatment for child behavior problems.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescents / Behavior / Behavior disorders / Behavior Problems / Behavior Therapy - methods / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Behaviour disordered children / Biological and medical sciences / Child and School Psychology / Child Behavior / Child Behavior - psychology / Child Behavior Disorders - psychology / Child Behavior Disorders - therapy / Child clinical studies / Child Health / Child Rearing / Child, Preschool / Children / Children & youth / Clinics / Coaching / Coaching (Performance) / Emotional regulation / Emotional Response / Emotions / Empathy / Female / Humans / Intervention / Male / Medical sciences / Medical treatment / Observation / Original Article / Outcomes of Treatment / Parent Child Relationship / Parent Education / Parent-Child Relations / Parenting - psychology / Parents / Parents & parenting / Parents - education / Parents - psychology / Preschool Children / Psychiatry / Psychology / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Regulation / Self Control / Skills / Social behavior disorders / Socialization / Statistical Analysis / Teachers / Training / Treatment Outcome