The efficacy of parent training with maritally distressed and nondistressed mothers: A multimethod assessment

doi:10.1016/0005-7967(85)90007-5

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Volume 23, Issue 3, 1985, Pages 291-296

https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(85)90007-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of a parent training program for child noncompliance with maritally distressed and nondistressed mothers. A multimethod assessment package was used. Changes in parenting behavior and child behavior were assessed via in-home observations prior to and following intervention. In addition, maternal perceptions of child adjustment also were obtained prior to and following intervention. The results indicated that mothers and children in the two groups demonstrated similar positive changes from pre- to postassessment in parent and child behaviors which were directly taught. However, one child behavior which was not directly treated failed to change for the Maritally Distressed group. Finally, both groups showed positive changes in maternal perceptions of the adjustment of their children and the Maritally Distressed group reported an increase in marital satisfaction from the pre- to postassessments. Implications of the findings for the treatment of families with child and marital problems are discussed.

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Citation Excerpt :
Notably, four of these studies used clinical samples (i.e., parents of noncompliant children; Brody & Forehand, 1985; parents of juvenile offenders; Henggeler et al., 1986; parents of children with early onset conduct problems; Sanders et al., 2000; parents of children with ADHD, Pisterman et al., 1992), whereas one of the studies used a community sample (e.g., Zemp et al., 2016). Only four of these studies included an assessment of parenting (Brody & Forehand, 1985; Henggeler et al., 1986; Sanders et al., 2000; Zemp et al., 2016) and, of these four studies, only two (Sanders et al., 2000; Zemp et al., 2016) included longitudinal data. Brody and Forehand (1985) found that, when parenting improved, there was more of an increase in marital satisfaction for a group endorsing high levels of marital distress than for a group endorsing low levels of distress at post-intervention.
Interparental conflict, which is common among families where a parent has a history of Major Depressive Disorder, is associated with deficits in parenting. Models of family functioning propose that interparental conflict and parenting behaviors are transactional in nature. Given the interdependent nature of family systems, increases in positive parenting practices may lead to subsequent decreases in interparental conflict. The current study was a secondary analysis of data from a preventive intervention to improve parenting, child coping skills, and child behavior in families with a history of parental depression. We hypothesized that increases in positive parenting strategies would be associated with decreases in interparental conflict 12 months later. Results supported the study hypothesis. Findings underscored the interdependent nature of parent-child and parent-parent subsystems.
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The efficacy of parent training with maritally distressed and nondistressed mothers: A multimethod assessment

Abstract

Behav. Ther.

Early human experience: a family perspective

Devl Psychol.

Parental perceptions of young children and their relation to indexes of adjustment

J. consult. clin. Psychol.

Noncompliant children: effects of parent training on behavior and attitude change

Behav. Modif.

Helping the Noncompliant Child: a Clinician's Guide to Parent Training

Parent behavioral training to modify child non-compliance: generalization across time and from home to school

Behav. Modif.

The role of maternal distress in a parent training program to modify child noncompliance

Behav. Psychother.

Marital Interaction: Experimental Investigations

The development of children in mother-headed families

Parent behavioral training to modify child noncompliance: effects on untreated siblings

J. Behav. Ther. exp. Psychol.