Stress management and child management with abusive parents

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Abstract
This study investigated the effects of stress management training and child management training for abusive parents on self report, observational, and role play measures considered to be related to child abuse. Parents were randomly assigned to four conditions: stress management (n = 11), child management (n = 11), and combination stress/child management (n=9), and treatment‐as‐usual control condition (n = 10). Results indicate differential effects for treatment components. Parents who received the stress management component displayed more positive affect toward their child, their child demonstrated more positive affect toward them, and the parents delivered more commands during an observational period. Stress component parents also reported less negative affect associated with negative life events and less conflict among family members. Parents who received the child management components were more likely to talk to their child during a role‐played disciplinary situation, were less likely to verbally attack their child during this role play, and were more likely to reinforce their child following compliance to a command during a free play observation. However, their children demonstrated less positive affect than did the children of parents who did not receive the child management component.

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