Family-based prevention of offending: A meta-analysis

This paper presents a review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of family-based crime prevention programs. Programs were included in this review if (a) the family was the focus of the intervention, (b) there was an outcome measure of delinquency or antisocial child behaviour, (c) the evaluation used a randomised or well controlled experiment and (d) the original sample size was at least 50 persons. Forty evaluations were found that met the criteria for inclusion. In general, these family-based programs had desirable effects in reducing delinquency (especially) and antisocial child behaviour. Over all delinquency outcomes, the weighted mean effect size of .321 corresponds approximately to a decrease in offending from 50% in a control group to 34% in an experimental group. Furthermore, the effects on delinquency persisted in longterm evaluation studies. The most effective types of programs used behavioural parent training, while the least effective types were those based in schools. Home visiting, day care/preschool, home/community and multi-systematic therapy programs were generally effective. Effect sizes were greater in smaller scale studies. Research on the monetary costs and benefits of family-based programs is also reviewed.