Effects of Parenting Program Components on Parental Stress: A Systematic Review and Component Network Meta-Analysis

The present study tested the effectiveness and ranking of the different combinations of parenting program components in reducing parental stress at the first posttreatment measurement in treatment settings for parents of children with disruptive behaviors. Fifty-seven studies were identified. Six different combinations of parenting program components were compared to the inactive component (control group), based on five active components (psychoeducation [PE], behavior management [BM], relationship enhancement [RE], parental self-management [SM], and parent as a coach [PC]). Except for BM with PE, all treatments, namely (a) BM with RE, (b) BM with SM, (c) BM with PE and SM and PC, (d) BM with RE and SM, and (e) BM with PE and RE and SM and PC, were effective in reducing parental stress when compared to the control group. The ranking of combinations provided evidence that BM with RE (e.g., parent–child interaction therapy) was the most effective combination for reducing parental stress. The evidence also indicated that more comprehensive parenting program components (BM with PE and RE and SM and PC, e.g., The Incredible Years) were less effective in reducing parental stress. The current findings indicate that parenting programs have the potential to reduce parental stress, even if programs are primarily aimed at improving children’s behaviors.