Prevention of child behavior problems through universal implementation of a group behavioral family intervention

The aim of this mental health promotion initiative was to evaluate the effectiveness of a uni-versally delivered group behavioral family intervention (BFI) in preventing behavior prob-lems in children. This study investigates the transferability of an efficacious clinical pro-gram to a universal prevention intervention delivered through child and community health services targeting parents of preschoolers within a metropolitan health region. A quasi-experimental two-group (BFI, n = 804 vs. Comparison group, n = 806) longitudinal design followed preschool aged children and their parents over a 2-year period. BFI was associated with significant reductions in parent- reported levels of dysfunctional parenting and parent-reported levels of child behavior problems. Effect sizes on child behavior problems ranged from large (.83) to moderate (.47). Positive and significant effects were also observed in par-ent mental health, marital adjustment, and levels of child rearing conflict. Findings are dis-cussed with respect to their implication for significant population reductions in child behavior problems as well as the pragmatic challenges for prevention science in encouraging both the evaluation and uptake of preventive initiatives in real world settings. KEY WORDS: prevention; conduct problems; parent training. Approximately 11–15 % of children under 13 years of age, and 13–17 % of young people aged 14–18 years experience significant mental health problems (Sawyer et al., 2000; Silburn et al., 1996; Zubrick et al., 1995, 1997). These findings and others which highlight the global burden of mental health problems (Murray & Lopez, 1996), have moved Australian health authorities to promote an evidence-based action plan for a comprehensive population approach to promotion, prevention, and early intervention in mental health (Commonwealt