摘要：The objectives of this systematic review are as follows: a) To establish whether group‐based parenting programmes are effective in improving the emotional and behavioural adjustment of children less than three years of age; b) To assess the role of parenting programmes in the primary prevention of emotional and behavioural problems. Five randomised controlled trials were included in the review, and there were sufficient data from five studies to combine the results in a meta‐analysis. Meta‐analyses were conducted for both parent‐reports and independent assessments of children's behaviour. The findings of this review provide some support for the use of group‐based parenting programmes to improve the emotional and behavioural adjustment of children under the age of 3 years. There is, however, insufficient evidence to reach any firm conclusions regarding the role that such programmes might play in the primary prevention of such problems. Furthermore, there are limited data available concerning the long‐term effectiveness of these programmes, and the results from the two studies for which data were available produced borderline insignificant findings. Further research is required.
