Factors Associated with the Rate of Initial Parental Engagement in a Parenting Program Aimed at Preventing Children's Behavioural Problems.

Abstract

Parenting programs have been shown to be effective in preventing and reducing externalising problems in young children. Despite their efficacy, the low rate of initial parental engagement in these programs is a major challenge for clinicians and researchers. Few studies have examined factors associated with rates of initial engagement in parenting prevention programs, most probably due to limited data on families refusing intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic characteristics as well as child and parent characteristics in the prediction of parents' refusal to engage in a randomised control trial (RCT) evaluating the parenting program ÉQUIPE (French version of COPE) offered as a prevention intervention to families with preschool children (4-5 years) who showed low self-control at the age of 2 years. A total of 268 families were recruited from a longitudinal community sample followed from pregnancy (3D study), with 162 parents accepting to be randomised to a control or intervention group and 106 families refusing to engage in the RCT. Of the 83 families randomised to the intervention condition, 32 accepted, and 51 refused to participate in the intervention before or during the transition to formal schooling. ANOVAs and logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with parents' refusal to engage in (1) the RCT and (2) the intervention. Results showed that parents who reported lower scores on perceived parental efficacy and higher perceived relationship quality had higher odds of refusing to participate in the study. Also, participating parents who refused to participate in the intervention were more likely parents of girls and reported significantly higher parental efficacy and impact. The findings of the current study could guide clinicians and researchers in improving parental recruitment strategies.