Utilizing an empirically -supported parenting intervention in rural community settings: An investigation of effectiveness, mediators of change, and dropout
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: This project investigated the effectiveness of a behavioral parent training program utilizing empirically-supported parenting techniques (Barkley, 1997) with low-income families in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, 2007), an underserved and understudied population.In addition, the study examined mediators of treatment effectiveness and factors associated with premature dropout.The overarching goals of the parenting intervention were to improve parent-child relationships and to prevent and/or reduce child behavior problems (e.g., noncompliance, oppositionality) through effective parenting practices.In all, eight parenting groups were facilitated by masters-level mental health clinicians across three Southeastern Ohio counties in non-clinical settings.Fifty-seven parents completed both the pre-and post-intervention questionnaires.Paired samples t-tests revealed that parents who attended at least four of eight sessions reported improved child behavior, increased family cohesion, enhanced parenting competence, increased sense of social reassurance of worth, reduced parenting stress, and more consistent discipline practices.The parents did not report a significant change with regard to perceived social guidance.However, the changes made by parents who continued in the program were not significantly different from those who attended three or fewer sessions.Parent age was the only variable related to premature dropout, such that younger parents were more likely to drop out before attending at least four sessions.Treatment satisfaction and change in parenting self-efficacy, reassurance of worth, and parenting stress were not found to be mediators of the relationship between attendance and change in parenting practices.Further, reduction in inconsistent discipline was not found to mediate the relationship between attendance and change in child behavior.Results from this investigation will help to inform future behavioral treatments for noncompliant children in this region, and particularly parenting groups.
Author: Rebecca L. Hellenthal
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2203279244