[A study of the effectiveness of a group-based cognitive-behavioral parent training program]

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Family Studies
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Parenting skills significantly impact child development, yet many parents lack adequate preparation.
• Parent training programs offer a preventive approach to support parents and improve child outcomes.
• Research increasingly focuses on the effectiveness of parent training, particularly for "high-risk" and general populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-meeting cognitive-behavioral group parent training program.
• To assess the program's impact on children's behavior and mothers' perception of family functioning.
• To compare outcomes between mothers participating in the program and a matched control group.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design comparing an experimental group (n=56) and a control group (n=113) of mothers with children aged 2-12.
• Utilized the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scales (FACES-III) and a Questionnaire of Inter-personal and Cross-personal Adaptation.
• Data collected before (Phase A) and after (Phase B) the parent training program.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in demographic characteristics, family functioning, cohesion, or adaptability between groups before or after the program.
• Children of participating mothers showed significant improvement in behavior and reduction in negative symptoms post-program.
• Participants and non-participants reported high satisfaction with family functioning throughout the study.

Conclusions:

• The cognitive-behavioral parent training program effectively improved children's behavior and reduced behavioral problems.
• This type of program can contribute to the prevention of behavioral issues and promote child mental health.
• Universal parent training programs are a valuable tool for supporting general population families.