This article is a review and integration of research in the parent training literature. Included are studies investigating the efficacy of Adlerian and behavioral programs as well as parent effectiveness training. The review encompasses the published literature since 1974 and includes only those studies that are quantitative in nature. An integration of the research is provided in terms of effects on parental attitudes, perceptions, and behavior as well as effects on children. Implications and recommendations forfuture research are also considered.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychological Association
. (1974-1994, March). PSYCLIT [Database]. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association [Producer]. Boston, MA: Silver Platter International [Distributor].
2.
Adesso, V.J.
, & Lipson,J. W. (1981). Group training of parents as therapists for their children. Behavior Therapy, 12, 625-633.
3.
Bell, J. E.
(1963). A theoretical position for family group therapy. Family Process, 2, 1-14.
4.
Brooks, L. D.
, Spearn, R. C., Rice, M., Crocco, D., Hodgins, C., & Vander Schaaf, G. (1988). Systematic training for effective parenting (STEP): An evaluative study with a Canadian population. Canada's Mental Health, 36, 2-5.
5.
Campbell, D. T.
, & Stanley, J. C. (1966). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin
6.
Campbell, N. A.
, & Sutton, J. M. (1983). Impact of parent education groups on family environment. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 8, 126-132.
7.
Carter, B.
& McGoldrick, M. (1989). The changingfamily life cycle (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
8.
Cole, E.
(1986). Active parenting. Techniques, 2, 109-114.
9.
Croake, .J. W.
, & Burness, M. R. (1976). Parent study group effectiveness after four and after six weeks. Journal of Individual Psychology, 32, 108-111.
10.
Dembo, M. H.
, Sweitzer, M., & Lauritzen, P. (1985). An evaluation of group parent education: Behavioral, PET, and Adlerian programs. Review of Educational Research, 55, 155-200.
11.
Dinkmeyer, D.
, & McKay, G. (1976). Systematic trainingfor effective parenting. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
12.
Dreikurs, R.
, & Soltz, V. (1964). Children: The challenge. New York: Hawthorn Books.
13.
Esters, P.
, & Levant, R. F. (1983). The effects of two parent counseling programs on rural low-achieving children. The School Counselor, 31, 159-166.
14.
Eyberg, S. M.
, & Matarazzo, R. G. (1980). Training parents as therapists: A comparison between individual parent-child interaction training and parent group didactic training. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36, 492-499.
15.
Firestone, P.
, Kelly, M. J., & Fike, S. (1980). Are fathers necessary in parent training groups?Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 9, 44-47.
16.
Frazier, F.
, & Matthes, W. A. (1975). Parent education: A comparison of Adlerian and behavioral approaches. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling, 10, 31-34.
17.
Freeman, C. W.
(1975). Adlerian mother study groups: Effects on attitudes and behavior. Journal of Individual Psychology, 31, 37-50.
18.
Gordon, T.
(1970). Parent effectiveness training. New York: Wyden.
19.
Hereford, C. F.
(1963). Changing parental attitudes through group discussion. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
20.
Hinkle, D. E.
, Arnold, C. F., Croake, J. W., & Keller, J. F. (1980). Adlerian parent education: Changes in parents' attitudes and behaviors, and children's self-esteem. American Journal of Family Therapy, 8, 32-43.
21.
Hughes, R. C.
, & Wilson, P. H. (1988). Behavioral parent training: Contingency management versus communication skills training with or without the participation of the child. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 10, 11-23.
22.
Huhn, R. P.
, & Zimpfer, D. G. (1989). Effects of a parent education program on parents and their preadolescent children. Journal of Community Psychology, 17, 311-318.
23.
Jackson, M. D.
, & Brown, D. (1986). Use of systematic training for effective parenting (STEP) with elementary school parents. The School Counselor, 34, 100-104.
24.
Karoly, P.
, & Rosenthal, M. (1977). Training parents in behavior modification: Effects on perceptions of family interaction and deviant child behavior. Behavior Therapy, 8, 406-410.
25.
Kerlinger, F. N.
(1986). Foundations of behavioral research (3rd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
26.
Krebs, L. L.
(1986). Current research on theoretically based parenting programs. Individual Psychology Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research, and Practice, 42, 375-387.
27.
Larson, R. S.
(1972). Can parent classes affect family communications?TheSchool Counselor, 19, 261-270.
28.
Lewis, W. M.
(1986). Group training for parents of children with behavior problems. journal for Specialists in Group Work, 11, 194-199.
29.
McDonough, J. J.
(1976). Approaches to Adlerian family education research. Journal of Individual Psychology, 32, 224-231.
30.
McKay, G. D.
, & Hillman, B. W. (1979). An Adlerian multimedia approach to parent education. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling, 14, 28-35.
31.
Mitchell, J.
, & McManis, D. L. (1977). Effects of P.E.T. on authoritari-an attitudes toward child-rearing in parents and non-parents. Psychological Reports, 41, 215-218.
32.
Moore, M. H.
, & Dean-Zubritsky, C. (1979). Adlerian parent study groups: An assessment of attitude and behavior change. Journal of Individual Psychology, 35, 225-234.
33.
Nystul, M. S.
(1982). The effects of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting on parental attitudes. The Journal of Psychology, 112, 63-66.
34.
Patterson, G. R.
(1974). Interventions for boys with conduct problems: Multiple settings, treatments, and criteria. Journal of Consulting andi Clinical Psychology, 42, 471-481.
35.
Pinsker, M.
, & Geoffroy, K. (1981). A comparison of Parent Effectiveness Training and behavior modification parent training. Family Relations, 30, 61-68.
36.
Rinn, R. C.
, & Markle, A. (1977). Parent Effectiveness Training: A review. Psychological Reports, 41, 95-109.
37.
Rogers, C.
(1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 22, 95-103.
38.
Root, R. W.
, & Levant, R. F. (1984). An evaluation of Parent Effectiveness Training for rural parents. Journal of Rural Community Psychology, 5, 45-54.
39.
Schofield, R.
(1979). Parent group education and student self-esteem. Social Work in Education, 1, 26-33.
40.
Schultz, C. L.
(1981). The family and Parent Effectiveness Training. Australian Journal of Sex, Marriage and Family, 3, 135-142.
41.
Schultz, C. L.
, & Nystul, M. S. (1980). Mother-child interaction behavior as an outcome of theoretical models of parent education. Journal of Individual Psychology, 36, 3-15.
42.
Schultz, C. L.
, Nystul, M. S., & Law, H. G. (1980). Attitudinal outcomes of theoretical models of parent group education. journal of Individual Psychology, 36, 16-28.
43.
Summerlin, M. L.
, & Ward, G. R. (1981). The effect of parent group participation on attitudes. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling, 16, 133-136.
44.
Therrien, M. E.
(1979). Evaluating empathy skill training for parents. Social Work, 24, 417-419.
45.
Walter, H. I.
, & Gilmore, S. K. (1973). Placebo versus social learning effects in parent training procedures designed to alter the behavior of aggressive boys. Behavior Therapy, 4, 361-377.
46.
Webster-Stratton, C.
(1981). Modification of mothers' behaviors and attitudes through a videotape modeling group discussion program. Behavior Therapsy, 12, 634-642.
47.
Webster-Stratton, C.
(1982). The long-term effects of a videotape modeling parent-training program: Comparison of immediate and 1-year follow-up results. Behavior Therapy, 13, 702-714.
48.
Williams, R. E.
, Omizo, M. M., & Abrams, B. C. (1984). Effects of STEP on parental attitudes and locus of control of their learning disabled children. The School Counselor, 32, 126-133.
49.
Wiltz, N. A.
, & Patterson, G. R. (1974). An evaluation of parent training procedures designed to alter inappropriate aggressive behavior of boys. Behavior Therapy, 5, 215-221.
50.
Wood, C. D.
, & Davidson, J. A. (1987). PET: An outcome study. Australian Journal of Sex, Mamrage and Family, 8, 134-141.
