Incredible Years Follow-up Study

The Incredible Years Follow-up Study investigated the outcomes 30 months on (range 28–32 months) for 136 (82%) of the 166 children and parents who participated in the Pilot Study, published in July 2013.

The Incredible Years Pilot Study evaluation report was published in July 2013. The Pilot Study assessed the efficacy of the Incredible Years Parent (IYP) programme in New Zealand. The Incredible Years Follow-up Study investigated the outcomes 30 months on (range 28–32 months) for 136 (82%) of the 166 children and parents who participated in the Pilot Study. The Follow-up Study Family Interview retained the suite of child behaviour, parenting practices and relationships and family context items used in the Pilot Study. No differences were found between the original and follow-up samples across a number of demographic variables, behaviour and parenting practices scores, and participation in the IYP programme.

The key finding of the Follow-up Study is that the IYP programme outcomes were maintained over the 30-month follow-up with no diminution in the size of effects for almost all of the outcome measures. These findings demonstrate that IYP is a programme that can be equally effective for both Māori and non-Māori families, with benefits that persist in the long term. The Incredible Years Follow-up Study is an important contribution to the evidence base on effective parenting programmes in New Zealand. It adds to the small number of international studies that have examined the long-term benefits of IYP.