Group-Based Parenting Program to Improve Executive Function in Low-Income Preschool Children Ages 4 to 5

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore whether executive functioning EF, which supports self-regulation, can be improved in low-income children aged 4 to 5 years with moderate-to-severe EF delays but no diagnosed disruptive behavior disorder. The study will evaluate if caregiver involvement in the Chicago Parent Program CPP, a group-based parenting intervention, can directly modify EF and reduce disruptive behavior problems, thus addressing mental health risks linked to poverty-related stress and parenting styles. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will join the CPP, which involves 12 group sessions where parents learn positive parenting and child behavior management skills through videos, discussions, role-playing, and homework. The other group will not receive any intervention. The CPP sessions are co-led by certified leaders and focus on skills such as supporting attention, literacy, social skills, and stress management. Throughout the study, childrens EF will be assessed using behavioral and brain-based measures at about four months, while disruptive behaviors will be tracked for up to 16 months. Parents and children will complete questionnaires and computerized interviews, and researchers will monitor changes in parenting skills and child behavior. The goal is to understand how changes in parenting influence improvements in EF and behavior over time.

Executive Function and Parenting in Childhood