How early individual characteristics and family environment interact in the development and prevention of externalizing problems across early school years

INTERVENTION: Once parents consent to the study, they will complete a baseline questionnaire and assessment and be randomised to an intervention or control condition (simple randomization, at a ratio of 1:1) using a computer‐generated random numbers list. Intervention arm: Parents will receive the Community Parent Education Program (COPE) delivered at Ste Justine Hospital or other premises of the Université de Montréal. The COPE is manual‐based and designed to help parents develop proven skills to strengthen their relationships with their children, increase cooperation and solve problems. COPE is a group‐based program of 10‐20 parents, who will meet with one or two trained facilitators for 10 weekly 2‐hour sessions (so total duration 10 weeks). Control arm: Parents will not receive any intervention or treatment. Both groups will be assessed about 6 months post‐randomization (roughly 2 months post‐intervention for intervention participants). CONDITION: Externalising disorders ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Externalising disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Externalizing symptoms (i.e., conduct disorder, Attentional Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) symptoms) are measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Social Behavior Questionnaire, rated by the parent and another person “most knowledgeable of the child outside the family” (e.g. teachers) at baseline and 6 months. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Child temperament is measured by parent‐reported Children’s Behavior Questionnaire at baseline and 6 months; 2. Child mental health is measured by parent‐reported Child Behavior checklist at baseline and 6 months; 3. Response inhibition is assessed by an online version of the Flanker test of the NIH Toolbox (www.nihtoolbox.org) at baseline and 6 months; 4. School‐engagement and performance is measured using homeroom teacher‐reports at baseline and 6 months; 5. Parent‐child relationship and parenting styles and stress are assessed with the Block Child Rearing Practices Report, the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form and the Perceived Stress Scale at baseline and 6 months INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Parent‐child dyads who have taken part in the “Découvrir, Développer, Devenir” (3D) Study (a large pregnancy study that collected data across pregnancy and the first two years of the child’s life of 1594 mothers and their children. IRNPQEO: http://www.irnpqeo.ca/) 2. Children who score low on parent‐reported self‐regulation at 2 years of age (i.e. score below the mean reported in the 3D sample)