A pair of psychology professors at Florida International University (FIU) released a study showing that telehealth programs for parents and caregivers improves behavioral problems of children with developmental delays.
FIU psychology professors Daniel Bagner and Jonathan Comer headed teams that found live coaching of caregiver-child interactions helped limit child behavior issues, such as aggression, according to a press release. They also found there were improvements in a child’s ability to follow instructions of the caregiver, as well as directions that prepare them for kindergarten.
“Even with the increase in telehealth mental health services during the pandemic, there's very little scientific evidence that this type of treatment works, especially for families with young children with developmental delays,” Bagner told Cision PR Newswire. “Our findings show the benefits of telehealth and the promise it can have in expanding the service and care, especially for underserved families and children at risk for more severe problems later in life.”
Bagner and Comer investigated the use of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The PCIT therapists give caregivers guidance on how to manage a child’s behavior and improve the relationship between the child and the caregiver. They used an internet version called iPCIT where parents are coached through a webcam. Through this, they found that children had reduced behavior problems and also that caregiver behavior had improved, meaning there was a decrease in “harsh and inconsistent discipline and an increase in positive behaviors, such as praise.”
One hundred fifty children with developmental delays and behavior problems were recruited from Florida's early-intervention system called Early Steps. The study noted that about 90% of the children belonged to ethnic or racial minorities, and more than half lived in poverty. Bagner said that iPCIT showed promise in terms of service and care expansion, and for underserved families and children at risk in particular. The intervention focuses on treating the delays, but it does not address associated behavior problems.
This study was made possible by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
