Parent–Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers in a community‐based setting: Improvements in parenting behavior, emotional availability, child behavior, and attachment

ABSTRACT Parent–Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers (PCIT‐T) is a new attachment‐based parenting intervention designed to meet the needs of children aged 12–24 months presenting with challenging behaviors. This study examined outcomes of the first phase of PCIT‐T, Child Directed Interaction–Toddler (CDI‐T), 4‐months post treatment. Participants were 56 toddlers (Child Mage = 19.13 months) referred to receive CDI‐T over an 8‐week period at an Australian community‐based child behavior treatment clinic for treatment of difficult toddler behaviors. Participants completed questionnaires and observational measures at baseline (Time 1), post‐treatment (Time 2), and 4‐month follow‐up (Time 3). At both Time 2 and Time 3, there were statistically significant increases in observed positive parenting skills and emotional availability and decreases in negative parenting behaviors and child noncompliance. There were also significant improvements in parent‐reported child externalizing and internalizing behaviors, parental stress, and maternal depression. There was a pattern of a shift away from attachment insecurity and attachment disorganization. Results suggest that the CDI‐T phase of PCIT‐T is a promising intervention for toddlers presenting with behavioral issues. Future studies should be conducted to assess efficacy in other settings, using larger samples and utilizing randomized controlled designs. RESUMEN La terapia de interacción progenitor‐niño con niños pequeñitos (PCIT‐T) es una nueva intervención de crianza con base en la afectividad y diseñada para cubrir las necesidades de niños de edad de 12 a 24 meses que enfrentan retos de comportamiento. Este estudio examinó los resultados de la primera fase de PCIT‐T, Interacción Dirigida del Niño – Niño Pequeñito (CDI‐T), 4 meses después del tratamiento. Participaron 56 niños pequeñitos (Edad promedio del niño = 19.13 meses) que habían sido referidos para recibir el CDI‐T en un período de 8 semanas en una clínica en Australia con base comunitaria de tratamiento de comportamiento del niño, dedicada al tratamiento de comportamientos difíciles de niños pequeñitos. Los participantes completaron cuestionarios y medidas de observación al momento básico (Primer momento), posteriormente al tratamiento (Segundo momento) y en el seguimiento a los 4 meses (Tercer momento). Tanto en el momento segundo como en el tercero, se dieron mejorías estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a las observadas habilidades positivas de cri