SCRIPT (Screening and Intervention of Problem Behavior in Toddlerhood) Study

SCRIPT (SCREENING AND INTERVENTION OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR IN TODDLERHOOD) STUDY

OVERVIEW

The SCRIPT Study is a home visiting program for parents of children ages one to three that uses Video-feedback to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) to encourage mothers to use parenting techniques that are associated with positive development. This program has been found to impact maternal attitudes toward sensitivity and sensitive discipline, but not maternal sensitivity. The program has also been found to significantly impact positive maternal discipline, but not negative maternal discipline.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target Population: Children ages one to three with high externalizing (acting out) scores

This intervention consists of six home visits lasting about 1.5 hours each. The first four visits occur every month and the last two are every other month. Parent-child interaction is videotaped and for the following visit, the program facilitator shows sections of the video and provides prepared comments to the parent. The video is used to show positive parenting and where that can be used in other video-taped situations as well as negative parenting.

The sessions focus on the following topics: session 1, exploration versus attachment; session 2, speaking for the child and reinforcing positive behavior; session 3, interaction chains; session 4, setting limits; sessions 5 and 6, video feedback and discussion.

In session 1 the parent learns the difference between “exploratory behavior” and “contact seeking.” The home visitor also suggests using distraction for some difficult child behaviors. Session 2 involves encouraging the mother to reinforce positive behavior and to ignore negative attention-seeking behaviors. Session 3 teaches the mother about interaction chains, which has three parts: the child’s signal, the mother’s response, and the child’s reaction to that response. This session also introduced the idea of time-out to calm a child down during a temper tantrum. In session 4, the mother is encouraged to share both positive and negative emotions with her child and to set consistent limits. In sessions 5 and 6, the home visitor reviews all feedback and information with the mother.

EVALUATION OF PROGRAM

Van Zeijl, J., Mesman, J., Van IJzendoorn, M. H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Juffer, F., Stolk, M., et al. (2006). Attachment-based intervention for enhancing sensitive discipline in mothers of 1- to 3-year-old children at risk for externalizing behavior problems: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(6), 994-1005.

Evaluated Population: The sample consisted of Dutch, two-parent families from several cities and towns in the western region of the Netherlands. There were 237 mother-child dyads in the study. In 64 percent of the sample, one or both parents had a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The mean age of the mothers was 33, and 59 percent of the children had siblings.

Approach: The mothers reported on the following: daily hassles/stressful events, marital discord, maternal well-being, child difficult temperament, externalizing problems, maternal attitudes toward sensitivity and sensitive discipline, maternal sensitivity, and maternal discipline.

Results: The program was found to impact sensitive maternal discipline, maternal attitudes toward sensitivity, and maternal attitudes toward sensitive discipline. The program had no significant impact on child externalizing behaviors, maternal sensitivity or negative maternal discipline. Subgroup analyses found fewer overactive behaviors among children in families with greater baseline marital discord and daily hassles.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

References:

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated population ages: 1-3 years old

Program components: Home visiting, Parent or family component

Program outcomes: Behavioral problems

KEYWORDS: Toddlers (12-36 months), Home-based, Home Visitation, Aggression/Bullying, Other Behavioral Problems, Parent Training/Education, White/Caucasian, Males and Females (co-ed).

Last Updated: 6/30/10