Assess the practical applications of the study by O’Connor et al. (2013).(8)

Question 1

88 ‘high risk’ participants were assigned to an intervention group for a parenting programme aiming to promote changes in parent-child relationships.

Answer 1

Successful strategies from the parenting intervention group could be used with other families deemed as ‘high risk’ to improve their parent-child relationships.

Question 2

The intervention programme consisted of a 12-week parenting programme and a 6-week literacy programme.

Answer 2

O’Connor et al. (2013) adapted their 28-week programme to an 18- week programme so this is a more cost-effective model that children services can access for their support of ‘high risk’ families.

Question 3

The 12-week parenting programme included observing videos of parents and children in common situations which either calmed or made the children miserable.

Answer 3

Having the opportunity for group discussions, role play and observing videos to improve parenting skills may not be practical for all parents as they are not given the chance to join parenting skills programmes.

Question 4

The mean number of sessions attended overall by parents was 5 out of the 18 that were made available to them.

Answer 4

The programme may be of limited value in helping parents to change their parenting styles if they choose not to take part in the full range of sessions available.