Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 3-3-2026
Publication Title
Research on Social Work Practice
Pages
1-14
Publisher Name
Sage Journals
Abstract
Objectives: Parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT) is an empirically supported treatment (EST) initially developed to help parents manage difficult behaviors in preschoolers aged 2–7 years. Given its proven effectiveness across diverse populations, this meta-analysis aims to evaluate its effectiveness for Koreans using studies from 1991 to 2022. Methods: A total of 11 studies (n = 201 children; 224 parents) met the criteria for this meta-analysis. Results: A robust pooled effect size (μ= –0.31, 95% CI [–0.44, –0.17], p < .001) for PCIT across all study designs were found. Three-level random-effects meta-regressions further confirmed a significant pooled effect (μ = –0.81, 95% CI [–1.12, –0.50], p < .001), indicating that PCIT effects were consistently significant across studies. Subgroup analyses revealed significant reductions in externalizing behavior, parenting stress, and parent depression. Discussion and implications: This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on the cultural applicability of PCIT to Korean families
Recommended Citation
Hong, Rana; Lee, Jeong Ok; Lee, Sanghee; and Singh, Shweta. The Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis. Research on Social Work Practice, , : 1-14, 2026. Retrieved from Loyola eCommons, Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10497315261422605
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Comments
Author Posting © Sage Publications, 2026. This article is posted here by permission of Sage Publications for personal use, not for redistribution. The article was published in Research on Social Work Practice, March 3, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315261422605.