Teaching Parents to Modify Child Behavior Problems: An Examination of Some Follow-Up Data

Abstract

The maintenance of treatment effects associated with the use of a standardized parent training program was examined. Thirty-six mother-child pairs, who had completed parent training, were contacted to participate in an 8-month follow-up; 18 agreed to participate. Treatment effects were assessed by home observational data and parent perceptions of child adjustment at pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up. The results indicated that child behavior change and parent perceptions of change in child adjustment were maintained at follow-up. Positive parent behavior changed with treatment and occurred at a significantly higher rate at follow-up than at pretreatment. No differences were detected at pre- or posttreatment between mother-child pairs who participated in follow-up and those who refused to participate.