Building Bridges Through Cultural Adaptation: Examining the Initial Impact of a Culturally Adapted Parent Training Intervention for the Chilean Context

Child exposure to maltreatment and a significant public health problem throughout Latin American and evidence-based parent training (PT) interventions constitute an empirically demonstrated alternative to prevent child maltreatment and neglect, multiple implementation barriers have determined the extremely limited dissemination of evidence-based PT interventions across LAC countries. This prevention study consisted of an exploratory quasi-experimental design, aimed at examining the initial impact of a culturally adapted version of the evidence-based PT intervention known as GenerationPMTO©, implemented in Chile. The parenting intervention was adapted in a small previous pilot study, according to a rigorous model of cultural adaptation. According to self- reports completed by 281 caregivers, when compared to baseline measurements, significant improvements at intervention completion were observed on the majority of caregivers’ parenting practices, as well as child internalizing and externalizing problematic behaviors. This study provides evidence that efficacious PT interventions developed in the US can be transported to Latin American contexts, as long as they are thoroughly adapted to achieve high contextual and cultural relevance. The concerning high rates of child maltreatment across LAC countries, constitute an urgent and permanent call for strongly promoting this line of research.