Research on invest in play®
invest in play: A benchmark study
A pilot study compared measurements before and after the intervention from four invest in play (iiP) groups in Denmark. The outcomes were compared to control and intervention groups derived from a meta-analysis of 14 European trials of the Incredible Years (IY) parenting programme.
The results show that:
- The iiP programme effectively reduced child behaviour problems with effects comparable to IY.
- The iiP programme effectively reduced parenting stress with considerably larger effects compared to IY.
- Parents in the iiP groups were more satisfied with the programme materials.
- Fewer sessions were needed.
- Costs by delivering the iiP- programme were 48% lower at a specific clinic in Denmark.
The present findings are meant as a first building block while establishing larger and more rigorous studies of iiP effects. In addition, it is meant to illustrate how integrated assessment and evaluation in iiP may contribute to a continuous loop of learning and improvement as the programme is further developed.
Figure 1. Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory
Figure 2. Parenting stress (PSI)
Theoretical background for invest in play
invest in play is based on over 50 years of theory and research on parent and teacher training that has produced a wealth of information about effective prevention and treatment for reducing children’s challenging behaviours and increasing social emotional resilience. This includes:
- Behavioural theory: The pioneering behavioural parent training interventions.
- Social learning theory: Theory that describes how coercive parent-child interactions lead to and maintain children’s negative behaviours.
- Attachment theory: Theory that describes how strong parent-child attachments are created.
- Cognitive attribution theory: Theory on parental attributions and cognitions, and how thoughts, feelings and behaviours affect each other.
invest in play Mechanisms of Change
