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The present meta-analysis integrates the effects of randomized controlled trials that focus on promoting effective parenting in the transition to parenthood. We included 142 papers on interventions which started during pregnancy or in the first 6 months after birth. Computations were based on random-effects models. On average, interventions had small to very small significant effects on parenting (d = .35 SD units), parental stress (d = .20), child abuse (d = .13), health-promoting behavior of parents (d=.15), cognitive development (d = .24), social development (d = .30), motor development of the child (d = .15), child mental health (d = .40), parental mental health (d = .31), and couple adjustment (d = .13). Most of the effects were maintained at follow-up. Effects varied by onset of the intervention, delivery mode, qualification of the intervener, length of intervention, intervention goals, and gender distribution. In addition, we found that older studies reported greater effect sizes. We conclude that parenting-focused interventions are effective and should be made accessible to more expectant and new parents.

The present meta-analysis integrates results of 21 controlled couple-focused interventions with expectant and new parents. The interventions had, on average, small effects on couple communication (d = .28 standard deviation units) and psychological well-being (d = .21), as well as very small effects on couple adjustment (d = .09). Stronger effects emerged if the intervention included more than five sessions, included an antenatal and postnatal component, and was led by professionals rather than semiprofessionals.

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This study introduces an inventory that assesses coparenting from the perspective of parents and their adolescent offspring. Within two independent samples of families, we examined reliability and validity of the Coparenting Inventory for Parents and Adolescents (CI-PA). We postulated a model that consists of cooperation, conflict, and triangulation as dimensions of coparenting. Our results showed that this three-factor solution, compared to two- or one-factor solutions, fit the data best. Convergence between mothers and fathers was satisfactory, whereas convergence between parents and their adolescent offspring was weaker, but mostly significant. Moreover, the concurrent validity of the CI-PA was supported by high correlations with a conceptually related questionnaire, and discriminant validity by small to moderate correlations with scales assessing parents’ marital quality as well as their individual parenting. Concerning criterion validity, the subscales of the CI-PA accounted for 20% of variance of adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Finally, we discuss implications and limitations of our results.

Systemic therapy is a frequently used form of psychotherapy for the treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. The present study reports the results of the first meta-analysis on the effects of systemic treatment of mental disorders and behavior problems in children and adolescents. Based on systematic search in electronic databases (PsycINFO, Psyndex, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL), k = 56 randomized, controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. We computed a random-effects meta-analysis. Systemic therapy showed small-to-medium effects in comparison with an untreated control group (posttest: k = 7, g = .59 standard deviation units, follow-up: k = 2, g = .27) and alternative treatment (posttest: k = 43, g = .32, follow-up: k = 38, g = .28). At follow-up, longer interventions produced larger effect sizes. No other moderator effects were identified. Although available randomized, controlled trials show convincing results, their effects refer to a limited number of systemic approaches and mental disorders, and also pertain to adolescents rather than younger children. Thus, more research is needed before more general conclusions about the effects of systemic therapy can be drawn.

We conclude that the present meta-analysis found some evidence for the efficacy of systemic therapy on five disorders, but the number of available RCT is still limited. More research is needed on systemic therapy of other disorders, such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.

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