Parameters of Time-out: Research Update and Comparison to Parenting Programs, Books, and Online Recommendations

doi:10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.005

Behavior Therapy

Volume 49, Issue 1, January 2018, Pages 99-112

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.005 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Of eight time-out parameters, seven have come to substantial conclusive research.
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Most recommendations made by parent training programs are supported by research.
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Parenting books and Web sites made evidence-based suggestions inconsistently.
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There is a disconnect between research findings and parent beliefs about time-out.

Abstract

In reviews published more than 30 years ago, eight parameters important to the use of time-out were identified and available research was summarized. The purpose of the current paper is to provide an updated summary of existing research for each parameter of time-out. Within each parameter, we conducted a thorough review of the published literature and identified all peer-reviewed articles addressing each parameter. We identified and summarized a total of 46 articles across the eight parameters, including 32 not cited in previous reviews. Sufficient findings were available to draw conclusions regarding time-out warning, schedule of time-out, contingent versus noncontingent release, and duration. Tentative conclusions based on only a few studies could be drawn in regard to instructional versus physical administration and verbalized reason for time-out. No conclusions could be drawn regarding time-out signal and specific time-out location. While we know much more today regarding effective implementation of time-out, there is a clear need for further exploration within these identified parameters. In addition to summarizing the literature, we reviewed recommendations made by behavioral parent training programs, parenting books, and parenting Web sites, and compared how well their recommendations matched current research based on the conclusions drawn from our review. We found that parenting sources made strong and specific recommendations on several of the parameters that were either not consistent with available research or simply lacked a sufficient research base.

Section snippets

Method

We conducted a systematic review of empirical articles with findings regarding any of the eight parameters. Each parameter had a separate search on PsychINFO. To be included in the review below, articles needed to (a) be published in a peer-reviewed journal and (b) present empirical results relevant to one or more of the eight established parameters. Table 1 shows the search terms used and the number of results found for each search in parentheses following the search terms. We screened all

Time-Out Recommendations From Parenting Programs, Popular Books, and Web Sites

Recognizing that parents are unlikely to have access to empirical reviews of time-out, we conducted several studies examining the accuracy of recommendations from likely sources to which parents may turn for time-out information. The following examinations looked at parent management training programs, popular parenting books, and popular parenting Web sites to establish how well each source addressed the eight parameters of time-out and how well their recommendations matched the available

Conclusion

This paper has reviewed and updated the eight parameters of time-out first suggested by MacDonough and Forehand (1973), as well as examined the accuracy of recommendations from several common sources. There is strong support for the overall use of time-out as a tool for improving child behavior. Multiple studies further clarifying recommendations within specific parameters have been published over the past 40 years, and our knowledge especially in the areas of duration, contingent release,

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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¹: Samantha M. Corralejo is now at Department of Psychology, Utah State University. Ashley D. Greathouse is now at Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama.

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