Behavioural group training with parents of mentally retarded children

Seven parents of moderately mentally retarded children participated in a behavioural group training programme. Parents were taught to apply behavioural procedures to the specific problems presented by their children. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was used. A battery of outcome measures was employed, including observations of the parent-child interaction in the home environment. Although the results were somewhat mixed, in general the parents indicated that the programme was helpful and improved their knowledge of behavioural principles. Some positive changes in parent-child interaction at home were also observed.