A controlled evaluation of the impact of a parent training programme on child behaviour and mothers' general well-being

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the impact of a parent training programme run by the Eastern Health Board (EHB) on two factors, child behaviour and mothers' general well-being. Thirty-nine mothers (Experimental group), and forty mothers on a waiting list for the course (Control group), were assessed before the Experimental group commenced the course and again when the Experimental group had completed the course. The Experimental group was also assessed one year after completing the course. Although initially the Control group started from a slightly better position, statistically significant for one of the four measures, mothers in the Experimental group changed more during the course and rated their children as having fewer and less intense behavioural problems, and saw themselves as having fewer psychological symptoms and increased levels of self-esteem at post-course assessment. These beneficial effects were maintained at follow-up.