Parents in Groups: Problem Solving Versus Behavioral Skills Training

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Abstract
This study sought to determine which of two forms of group parent training was more effective for parents of children having problems with aggressive or noncompliant behavior. Fifty-six parents recruited from the community were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: group training in behavioral skills, group training in problem solving, or a waiting-list control group. Outcomes were evaluated using a pretest/posttest experimental design with an added 3-month follow-up. The results indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the two experimental conditions and the control condition in parent's perceptions of child behavior. Individualized measures of change, using goal attainment scaling, indicated that most trained subjects made progress toward goals. Group process measures demonstrated that parents in the problem-solving groups completed significantly less homework and had significantly worse attendance when compared to parents in the behavioral skills training groups. Although both training conditions were more effective than the control condition, post hoc analyses suggest that the skills training group was more effective.