Douglas L. Griest

An examination of the social validity of a parent training program

This study examined the social validity of a parent training program. Subjects were 15 clinic-referred children and their mothers and 15 nonclinic mother-child pairs. Home observations were conducted pre- and posttreatment and at a 2-month follow-up for the clinic group and at comparable times for the nonclinic group. Parental questionnaires regarding child adjustment also were completed. Fifteen months after treatment, consumer satisfaction measures were collected from parents in the clinic group. Treatment involved teaching parents to use social reinforcement and time-out. Clinic children were less compliant and more deviantbefore treatment but not after treatment or at the follow-up than the nonclinic children. Clinic parents perceived their children as being less well adjusted prior to and after treatment, but not at the 2-month follow-up, than the nonclinic parents perceived their children. At the 15-month follow-up, parents indicated satisfaction with the treatment they had received.

Effects of parent enhancement therapy on the treatment outcome and generalization of a parent training program

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of parent enhancement training in facilitating treatment and maintenance effects of a parent training program. Seventeen mothers and their clinic-referred noncompliant children were assigned to either a parent training alone group or a parent training plus parent enhancement therapy group. Fifteen mothers and their nonclinic children served as a quasi-control group. All clinic-referred mother-child dyads were treated individually by teaching the mother to reward compliance and other prosocial behavior and to use time-out for noncompliance. In addition, mothers in the parent training plus parent enhancement group also received treatment related to the following areas: parents perception of their childs behavior, parents personal adjustment, parents marital adjustment, and parents extrafamilial relationships. Assessment consisted of four home observations by independent observers prior to treatment, after treatment, and at a 2-month follow-up. The data indicated that the parent training plus parent enhancement therapy was more effective than parent training alone in changing child deviant behavior at posttreatment and in maintaining child compliance, child deviant behavior, parental rewards and parent contingent attention at follow-up. The control group did not change over the three assessment periods.

Behavioral family therapy with conduct disorders in children

Child behavior therapy has developed primarily within a parent consultation framework (i.e., parent training), especially with “conduct disorder” problems in children. Recent critiques within the field of behavior therapy as well as an increasing amount of data suggest the need to expand the current paradigm in child behavior therapy. The present article reviews data concerning the impact of various family variables on the conceptualization and treatment of child behavior problems, specifically conduct disorder problems. The authors recommend expansion of the current child behavior therapy model to a “behavioral family therapy” model.

Factors in the referral of children for behavioral treatment: A comparison of mothers of clinic-referred deviant, clinic-referred non-deviant and non-c

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare a non-clinic sample of mothers and children to two groups of clinic-referred children and their mothers. The two clinic-referred groups differed from one another in that the selection criterion for one group of children (Clinic Deviant) was that they were significantly more deviant and non-compliant than the non-clinic group whereas the selection criterion for the second group of children (Clinic Non-deviant) was that they did not differ significantly from the non-clinic group on deviant and non-compliant behavior. Home observations by independent observers and parent questionnaires examining parental adjustment and parental perceptions of child adjustment were completed. The results indicated that both clinic groups perceived their children as more maladjusted than parents in the non-clinic groups perceived their children. Parents of the children in the Clinic Non-deviant group were significantly more depressed than those in the remaining two groups, whereas parents in the Clinic Deviant group issued more vague, interrupted commands than those in the Clinic Non-deviant group. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Effects of knowledge of social learning principles on enhancing treatment outcome and generalization in a parent training program.

Examined the efficacy of incorporating formal training in social learning principles into a behavioral parent training program as a means of enhancing treatment outcome and generalization. Two groups of parents (n = 20) received behavioral skill training designed to modify child noncompliance. One g

Maternal perception of maladjustment in clinic-referred children: An extension of earlier research

The purpose of the present study was to extend earlier research examining predictors of maternal perceptions of maladjustment in clinic-referred children. Forty-five mothers and their clinic-referred children served as subjects. Maternal perceptions of child maladjustment were measured by the Parent Attitude Test. Maternal depression, marital adjustment, and family socioeconomic status were determined by the Beck Depression Inventory, Locke Marital Adjustment Test, and Myers and Bean index of social status, respectively. Child compliance and child deviant behavior (other than noncompliance) were obtained in home observations collected by independent observers. The results indicated that maternal depression was the best predictor of maternal perception of children. The remaining variables failed to contribute to the multiple regression analyses. Separate analyses also were performed on males and females and different predictor variables emerged for the two groups.

The use of a self-control package to enhance temporal generality of a parent training program ☆

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a self-control package in enhancing temporal generality of a parent training program. Sixteen mothers and their clinic-referred noncompliant children were assigned to either a parent training alone group, or a parent training plus self-control group. All mother-child dyads were treated individually by teaching the mother to reward compliance and other prosocial behavior, and to use time-out for noncompliance. In addition, mothers who also received self-control training learned to self-monitor their use of their new parenting skills and to reinforce themselves for use of the skill during a 2 month follow-up period. Assessment consisted of four home observations by independent observers prior to treatment, after treatment, and at a 2 month follow-up. The data indicated that the children in the parent training plus self-control group were significantly more compliant and less deviant at the 2 month follow-up than the children in the parent training alone group. Parental behavior did not differ between the two groups at the follow-up.

Parent behavioral training: an analysis of the relationship among multiple outcome measures.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship among three types of outcome measures that have been employed to evaluate parent behavioral training: observational data collected by independent observers, parent-collected data, and parent-completed questionnaires. Previous research suggests that all three measures yield positive outcome data; however, a correlational analysis has not been performed to determine if the subjects who demonstrate the largest (smallest) change on one measure demonstrate the largest (smallest) change on the other measures. The present study undertook such a correlational analysis. Subjects were 20 young clinic-referred children and their mothers. Treatment consisted of a standardized parent training program to modifly child noncompliance. All three outcome measures (observational data, parent-collected data, and questionnaire data) indicated that therapy was effective. A correlational analysis performed on the outcome measures indicated a number of significant relationships for dependent variables withinthe observational data and withinthe questionnaire data; however, there were no significant relationships acrossthe three outcome measures. Although different outcome measures may yield similar conclusions about the effectiveness of parent behavioral training, the results suggest that any one subject, relative to other subjects, does not demonstrate uniform degrees of change across the three outcome measures. Explanations for the findings, as well as their implications, are discussed.

Generality of treatment effects from treated to untreated behaviors resulting from a parent training program

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the generalization of treatment effects from treated to untreated behaviors in aparent training program. Twelve noncompliant, clinic‐referredchildrenand their mothers served as subjects. All 12 mother‐child pairs participated in a parent training program and all children demonstrated increases in compliance to maternal commands as determined by home observations prior to and after treatment. A significant decrease in other child deviant behavior (e.g., tantrums, aggression, crying) which was not treated occurred, indicating that treatment effects generalized to untreated behaviors. A nonclinic comparison group was also included in the study. These 12 children were more compliant and less deviant than the clinic childrenpriorto, but not after, treatment of the clinic group. Implications of the results are discussed.

Parental satisfaction with parent training to modify child noncompliance

This study describes a comprehensive assessment of parental consumer satisfaction with a parent training program designed to modify child noncompliance. Parental satisfaction with treatment outcome, with therapists, with various teaching methods employed in the program, and with specific parenting skills was assessed at treatment termination and at a 2-month follow-up. Parental satisfaction with the parent training program was compared with satisfaction with a form of the program that included formal training in social learning principles. Results indicated that parents generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the parent training program. Mothers who received training in social learning principles maintained their satisfaction in a more consistent manner.