Identifying Effective Components of Child Maltreatment Interventions: A Meta-analysis

• Published in: Clinical child and family psychology review 2018-06, Vol.21 (2), p.171-202
• Main Authors: van der Put, Claudia E., Assink, Mark, Gubbels, Jeanne, Boekhout van Solinge, Noëlle F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - prevention & control; Child Abuse - rehabilitation; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Child and School Psychology; Child, Preschool; Children; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive Restructuring; Effect Size; Emotional support; Home Care Services - statistics & numerical data; Home Visits; Humans; Independent Study; Intervention; Meta Analysis; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Parent training; Parenting; Parenting Skills; Parents & parenting; Prevention programs; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Psychotherapy - statistics & numerical data; Social Sciences; Substance abuse; Systematic review; Visitation
• ISSN: 1096-4037; 1573-2827
• DOI: 10.1007/s10567-017-0250-5

There is a lack of knowledge about specific components that make interventions effective in preventing or reducing child maltreatment. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to increase this knowledge by summarizing findings on effects of interventions for child maltreatment and by examining potential moderators of this effect, such as intervention components and study characteristics. Identifying effective components is essential for developing or improving child maltreatment interventions. A literature search yielded 121 independent studies ( N  = 39,044) examining the effects of interventions for preventing or reducing child maltreatment. From these studies, 352 effect sizes were extracted. The overall effect size was significant and small in magnitude for both preventive interventions ( d  = 0.26, p