Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a parent-child parallel group model that attempted to reduce parent-adolescent conflict. Method: A single group research design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessments was employed. Results: Results showed that the level of mother-adolescent conflict at posttest was lower than the level at pretest. The findings, based on the target problem rating, indicated that after the group intervention, both the mothers and adolescents perceived that the problems they had identified in the mother-child relationship had become less severe. The findings, based on subjective outcome measures, were also positive. Conclusion: The present study provides some evidence to support the effectiveness of the parallel group intervention for social work practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barlow, D. H.
, & Seidner, A. L. (1983). Treatment of adolescent agoraphobics: Effects on parent-adolescent relations. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 21, 519-526.
2.
Budd, K. S.
(1985). Parents as mediators in the social skills training of children. In L. Abate & M. A. Milan (Eds.), Handbook of social skills training and research (pp. 245-262). New York: John Wiley.
3.
Caffery, T.
, & Erdman, P. (2000). Conceptualizing parent-adolescent conflict: Applications from systems and attachment theories. Family Journal Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 8, 14-21.
4.
Chan, K. L.
, & Cheung, M. S. (1998). Parent-child parallel group. In K. C. Yeung, K. L. Chan, & F. Liu (Eds.), Therapeutic group practice in Hong Kong (pp. 75-96). Hong Kong: Hong Kong Social Workers’ Association.
5.
Damon, L.
, & Waterman, J. (1987). Parallel group treatment of children and their mothers. In K. MacFarlane (Ed.), Sexual abuse of young children (pp. 244-298). New York: Guilford.
6.
Frankel, A. J.
(1992). Groupwork with recovering families in concurrent parent and children’s groups. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 9(3/4), 23-37.
7.
Fuligni, A. J.
(1998). Authority, autonomy, and parent-adolescent conflict and cohesion. Developmental Psychology, 34, 782-792.
8.
Griggs, D. R.
, & Boldi, A. (1995). Parallel treatment of parents of abuse reactive children. In M. Hunter (Ed.), Child survivors and perpetrators of sexual abuse: Treatment innovations (pp. 147-165). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
9.
Ho, D.Y.F.
(1986). Chinese patterns of socialization: A critical review. In M. H. Bond (Ed.), The psychology of the Chinese people. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.
10.
Mandell, D.
, & Birenzweig, E. (1990). Stepfamilies: A model for group work with remarried couples and their children. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 14, 29-41.
11.
Mandell, J. G.
, & Damon, L. (1989). Group treatment for sexually abused children. New York: Guilford.
12.
Peled, E.
, & Davis, D. (1995). Groupwork with children of battered women: A practitioner’s guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
13.
Prinz, R. J.
, Foster, S. L., Kent, R. N., & O’Leary, K. D. (1979). Multivariate assessment of conflict in distressed and nondistressed mother-adolescent dyads. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 12, 691-700.
14.
Richmond, L. H.
, Gaines, T., & Fogt, M. (1981). The influence of parental participation in attendance and outcome of adolescent group psychotherapy. Journal of Early Adolescence, 1, 210-213.
15.
Rueter, M. A.
, & Conger, R. D. (1995). Antecedents of parent-adolescent disagreements. Journal of Marriage & the Family, 57, 435-448.
16.
Shek, D.T.L.
(1997). Family environment and adolescent psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior: A pioneer study in a Chinese context. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 158, 113-128.
17.
Shek, D.T.L.
(1999). Perceptions of family functioning among Chinese parents and their adolescent children. American Journal of Family Therapy, 27, 303-314.
18.
Stuber, M.
, Gonzalez, S., Benjamin, H., & Golant, M. (1995). Fighting for recovery: Group interventions for adolescents with cancer and their parents. Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 4, 286-296.
19.
Wantz, R. A.
, & Recor, R. D. (1984). Simultaneous parent-child group intervention. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 19, 126-131.
20.
Yeung, K. C. (1998). The dynamics of interparental conflict and adolescent’s behavior problems. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
21.
Yeung, K. C.
, Chan, K. L., Cheung, M. S., Au, K. L., & Yuon, E. (1999). A training manual for enhancing parent-child communication: The parallel group approach. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
22.
Zambelli, G. C.
, Clark, E. J., & Hodgson, A.D.J. (1994). The constructive use of ghost imagery in childhood grief. Arts in Psychotherapy, 21(1), 17-24.
