The Pro-Parenting Study: Helping Parents Reduce Behavior Problems in Preschool Children With Developmental Delay

"Participants randomized to the BPT-M condition receive the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention, followed by Behavioral Parent Training (BPT). The MBSR module includes six weekly 2.5 hour group sessions, 30-45 minutes of daily home practice guided by audio CDs, and an MBSR parent workbook. In the sessions, participants practice formal mindfulness exercises, and are provided instruction on stress physiology and using mindfulness for coping with stress in everyday life.~The BPT component of the intervention includes 10 weekly sessions lasting 2.5 hours. Each session is structured around videotape vignettes and uses discussion, role-playing, modeling, and feedback to foster mastery of the material. Parents are given weekly homework assignments and practice their skills."

Participants randomized to the BPT-E condition will received 6 weeks of a psychoeducation program followed by 10 weeks of the Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) used in both conditions. The psychoeducation module consists of 6 weekly 2.5-hour sessions, daily homework that includes monitoring progress on goals identified at the end of each session, and a workbook for parents of children with special needs that provides parents with information regarding their child's development, disability, and associated considerations. Each of the 6 weekly sessions includes a general topic for discussion. These include preparing for IEP meetings, navigating the regional center and developmental service agencies, communicating with teachers, advocacy, sibling issues, and community resources.