Peer-reviewed article
Effects over time of parenting interventions to reduce physical and emotional violence against children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Sophia Backhaus, Patty H. O. Leijten, Janina Jochim, G. J. Meléndez‐Torres, Frances E. M. Gardner ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 346 randomised controlled trials of parenting interventions designed to reduce physical and emotional violence against children aged 2-10 years. The analysis included trials from 22 countries, with 60 trials reporting outcomes on violence. Parenting interventions based on social learning theory reduced violent parenting behaviours immediately after intervention and up to 24 months later, but effects became smaller over time. The authors conclude that while these interventions work, longer-term follow-up studies are needed to understand how to sustain their benefits.
Key points
- Parenting interventions reduced physical and emotional violence immediately after intervention (effect size d = −0.46)
- Effects persisted at 1-6 months follow-up (d = −0.24) and 7-24 months follow-up (d = −0.18), but declined over time
- The review included 346 RCTs across 22 countries, though only 60 reported violence outcomes and most data were from parent self-report
- Risk of bias was high across various domains in the included studies
- Research beyond 2 years is needed to understand long-term sustainability of intervention effects
Limitations
The review is limited by reliance on parent self-report measures rather than independent observation of violence, and high risk of bias in many included trials. Outcome data are limited to 2 years follow-up, so the long-term durability of effects remains unknown.
Abstract
Background Violence against children affects over one billion children globally. International organisations promote parenting interventions as a main strategy to reduce violence against children. Parenting interventions have therefore been implemented rapidly across the globe. Yet, evidence for their longer-term effects remains unclear. We integrated global evidence to estimate effects over time of parenting interventions to reduce physical and emotional violence against children. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched 26 databases and trial registries (14 non-English: Spanish, Chinese, Farsi, Russian, Thai) and conducted an extensive grey literature search up to August 01, 2022. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of parenting interventions based on social learning theory for parents of children aged 2–10 years, without time or context restrictions. We critically appraised studies using Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool. Data were synthesised using robust variance estimation meta-analyses. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019141844. Findings We screened 44,411 records and included 346 RCTs. Sixty RCTs reported outcomes on physical or emotional violence. Trials were distributed across 22 countries (22% LMICs). Risk of bias was high for various domains. Outcome data ranged from 0 weeks to 2 years after the intervention, and was largely based on parent self-report. Parenting interventions reduced physical and emotional violent parenting behaviours immediately after the intervention (n = 42, k = 59; d = −0.46; 95% CI: −0.59, −0.33), at 1–6 months follow-up (n = 18, k = 31; d = −0.24; 95% CI: −0.37, −0.11) and at 7–24 months follow-up (n = 12, k = 19; d = −0.18; 95% CI: −0.34, −0.02), but effects were smaller over time. Interpretation Our findings suggest that parenting interventions can reduce physical and emotional violence against children. Effects are maintained up to 24 months follow-up, but with diminished effect sizes. With global policy interest and imminent importance, research beyond 2 years and how effects can be better sustained over time is urgently needed. Funding Student scholarship from the Economic Social Research Council, Clarendon, and Wolfson Isaiah Berlin Fund.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Parenting interventions based on social learning theory
- Population
- Parents of children aged 2-10 years across 22 countries, 22% from low and middle-income countries
Key finding
Immediate post-intervention effect on reducing physical and emotional violence: d = −0.46 (95% CI: −0.59, −0.33) based on 42 studies with 59 effect sizes