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A Randomized Study of Internet Parent Training Accessed From Community Technology Centers

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Abstract

Behavioral parent training (BPT) has been shown to be efficacious to improve parenting skills for problematic interactions with adolescents displaying oppositional and antisocial behaviors. Some research suggests that support group curricula might be transferred to the Internet, and some studies suggest that other curriculum designs might also be effective. In this research, a BPT program for parents of at-risk adolescents was tested on the Internet in a randomized trial (N = 307) from computer labs at six community technology centers in or near large metropolitan areas. The instructional design was based on asynchronous scenario-based e-learning, rather than a traditional parent training model where presentation of course material builds content sequentially over multiple class sessions. Pretest to 30-day follow-up analyses indicated significant treatment effects on parent-reported discipline style (Parenting Scale, Adolescent version), child behavior (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory), and on social cognitive theory constructs of intentions and self-efficacy. The effect sizes were small to medium. These findings suggest the potential to provide effective parent training programs on the Internet.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, #R44 DA12082. The project required the efforts of a multidisciplinary team. We are indebted to a large cast of people who helped with different stages of the intervention development and the program evaluation. The development team included Molly Billow, Gretchen Boutin, Vicky Gelatt, Carol Dennis Horne, Rob Hudson, Karen Hunter, Brian Johnson, Percy Perez, Laura Philips, Diana Robson, Brad Werth, @Large Productions, and Vrijmoet Design. Special thanks to Gretchen Boutin for video editing. Sara Fainstein, Teodosio Feliciano, Kimberly Maney, Jennifer Mauro, Ana Padilla, Arturo Peraza, and Ofilio Vigil consulted on parenting, cultural, and behavioral issues and on presentation integrity. Thanks also to Community Technology Centers (CTCs) in Austin, TX, Oakland, CA, New York City, San Antonio, TX, Edgewood, Maryland, and Washington, DC, who hosted this research and advised on participant recruitment. Dennis Ary, Ann Glang, and Elizabeth Green made helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ORCAS, 2580A Oakmont Way, Eugene, OR, 97401, USA

    A. Blair Irvine

  2. Michael Mac Innovations, 336 E 34th Ave., Eugene, OR, 97405, USA

    Vicky A. Gelatt

  3. P.O. Box 5981, Salem, OR, 97304, USA

    Michael Hammond

  4. Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, OR, 97403, USA

    John R. Seeley

  5. 2424 Lariat Meadows, Eugene, OR, 97401, USA

    A. Blair Irvine

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  1. A. Blair Irvine
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Correspondence to A. Blair Irvine.

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Irvine, A.B., Gelatt, V.A., Hammond, M. et al. A Randomized Study of Internet Parent Training Accessed From Community Technology Centers. Prev Sci 16, 597–608 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-014-0521-z

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