The Effectiveness of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy in Korean Families: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis

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.