An Evaluation of Group Parent Education: Behavioral, PET, and Adlerian Programs

Abstract

An evaluation of 48 investigations on three parent education programs—behavioral, PET, and Adlerian—indicated that certain changes in parental attitudes and/or child behavior were evident as a result of different educational approaches. These changes were not always consistent and often depended on the type of assessment and educational approach used. Recommendations for future research include determining individual parental goals and existing knowledge and attitudes about child-rearing, considering the impact of parental characteristics and the possible interaction of these characteristics with different program goals and procedures, identifying factors influencing leader or instructor effectiveness, and using appropriate research designs, control groups, and multiple assessment procedures.

Behavioral parent-teacher consultation: Conceptual and research considerations

“…Few studies provide information on treatment procedures, therapist characteristics, and costs to the trainer and parent. Likewise, assessment of the generalization and maintenance of treatment effects, of family variables that may affect treatment outcome, and of contiguous covariation in parents' and children's behavior is not often carried out (Dembo, Sweitzer, & Lauritzen, 1985;Kramer, 1990;Medway, 1989).…”

Training Programme for Parents of Teenagers: Active Parental Participation in Development and Implementation

“…While earlier parental training programmes, in Sweden (Socialstyrelsen, 1978(Socialstyrelsen, , 1980, as well as internationally (Bronfennbrenner, 1974;Godson and Hess, 1976;Clark-Steward and Apfel, 1978;Dembo et al, 1985;Anderson and Fox, 1990;Todres and Bunston, 1993;Mullin et al, 1994;Gross et al, 1995;Barlow, 1997;Sanders, 1999;Barlow and Stewart-Brown, 2000;Cowen, 2001;Long et al, 2001), have primarily focused on parents of young children, 'The Oxie Parents' School -Up To 19' was aimed at parents of teenagers.…”

“…JOURNAL OF CHILD HEALTH CARE 7(1) Thus, earlier Swedish programmes have primarily been aimed at parents-tobe and new parents, and they have been initiated and planned by central public authorities, which is also the case for programmes in other countries (Bronfenbrenner, 1974;Godson and Hess, 1976;Clarke-Stewart and Apfel, 1978;Anderson and Fox, 1990;Todres and Bunston, 1993;Barlow, 1997;Sanders, 1999;Barlow and Stewart-Brown, 2000). Furthermore, it has been stated that for future programme development, it is important to know the parents' motives for taking part and their perceptions of participation (Harman and Brim, 1980;Molloy, 1980;Strom et al, 1981;Dembo et al, 1985).…”

“…Considerable attention has been paid to evaluating the effectiveness of programmes focusing primarily on cognitive intervention during early childhood (Bronfenbrenner, 1974;Godson and Hess, 1976;Clarke-Stewart and Apfel, 1978;Anderson and Fox, 1990;Sanders, 1999). Existing reviews suggest that parenting programmes could be effective not only in improving behaviour problems in young children (Barlow, 1997;Barlow and Stewart-Brown, 2000), but also for parenting attitudes and practices (Dembo et al, 1985;Cowen, 2001), and on family dynamics (Todres and Bunston, 1993).…”

Filial Therapy with Native Americans on the Flathead Reservation

“…Although researchers have measured significant differences in parenting attitudes and skills across varying cultures and levels of socioeconomic status 27 (Clark, 1981;Dembo, Sweitzer, & Lauritzen, 1985;Fantini & Cardenas, 1980;, people from diverse cultures describe strong, healthy families in a similar fashion. Abbott and Meredith (1985) surveyed five distinct ethnic groups to identify traits desired in strong, healthy families.…”