Gender Differences in Behavioral Outcomes Among Children at Risk of Neglect: Findings From a Family-Focused Prevention Intervention

Objective: This study examines the impact of the Family Connections (FC) intervention on preventing behavioral problems among urban, predominantly African American children at risk of neglect. Method: Secondary data analyses using mixed model analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures were used to examine gender differences in child behavior outcomes among 111 participating families across three time points (intake, closing, and 6 months following intervention participation). Results: From intake to closing, boys appeared to experience a larger decrease in internalizing and externalizing behaviors than girls. At 6-month follow-up, boys’ behaviors remained stable relative to results at closing; girls showed a slight decrease in behaviors over the same period. Findings also indicate a greater decrease in problem behaviors for participants in the 9-month versus 3-month version of FC. Conclusions: Positive effects of the FC intervention for African American children indicate the potential of this prevention intervention to avert negative behavior trajectories.