A preliminary evaluation of the Colorado RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management program

The purpose was to report preliminary behavioral, social, and emotional results, and to project some potential economic results of a parenting and anger management program in a mountain state.

Following local and state-wide needs assessments, child abuse prevention was identified as the number two critical issue. An effective, research-based, preventive educational workshop program--RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management--was selected for testing and program evaluation. Measurable outcome objectives were written and assessments were developed and tested. A one-group pretest-posttest design with a convenience sample of parents was used for the study. Seventy-five of 99 parents completed pretests before and posttests after participating in the 6-week series of skill-enhancing workshops.

Using a repeated measures analysis of variance, participants' group mean anger control levels increased (p = .016). Their family conflict levels fell (p = .006). Their overall anger levels fell (p = .000). Their violence levels fell, verbal aggression levels fell (p = .002). Their partners' violence levels also fell, verbal aggression levels fell (p = .004), and physical aggression levels fell (p = .032). In addition, participants reported increased knowledge levels (100%), improved attitudes (97.3%), improved behaviors (94.7%), and decreased unrealistic expectations of their children (69.3%).

The findings suggest that professional preventive education specialists may now have an effective program to assist parents in managing their anger. Further research is encouraged. When parents participate in 6 weeks of skill building with well-trained professionals, positive changes in parenting and anger management are possible.