The effect of parent education program for preschool children with developmental disabilities: A randomized controlled trial

• The Happy Parenting Program is effective in reducing behavior problems in children.
• The Happy Parenting Program can reduce parenting stress in parents.
• The Happy Parenting Program can improve discipline strategies in parents.
• Change in discipline strategies is a mediator for change in child behavior.

AimThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a parent education program, the Happy Parenting program, for Chinese preschool children with developmental disabilities.MethodsThis study adopted randomized controlled trial design without blinding. Participants were randomized into intervention group (n = 62) who were offered the Happy Parenting program delivered by educational psychologists and trainee educational psychologists, and a control group (n = 57) who were offered a parent talk after the intervention group had completed treatment. Parent participants were requested to complete questionnaires on their children’s behavior, their parenting stress, and discipline strategies.ResultsAnalysis was by intention-to-treat. The results indicated significant decrease in child problem behaviors, parenting stress and dysfunctional discipline strategies in the intervention group at post-intervention.ConclusionThis study provided promising evidence on the effectiveness of a parent education program, the Happy Parenting program, for Chinese preschool children with developmental disabilities.