The effectiveness of a parent emotion socialization intervention in Norway

Parent emotion socialization (ES) interventions have been found effective in improving children's emotional and behavioral functioning but have not been widely tested in non-English speaking countries. The current study was an effectiveness trial of the Australian ES program, Tuning in to Kids, with Norwegian parents of kindergarten children. 261 parents were randomized into intervention or 12-month waitlist control. Parent questionnaires measured ES, parent functioning, child temperament, behavior and anxiety. Findings showed the program was effective in reducing child behavior problems and parent emotion dismissiveness, and increasing emotion coaching parenting. Exploratory moderation analyses found parents who self-reported having lower affect integration made greater changes. Children with higher temperamental shyness had lower anxiety at follow-up. Findings suggest the program was effective in improving ES and reducing child behavior problems when delivered by professionals in Norway. Anxiety, while unchanged for the total sample, improved for children with higher shyness.