How Can I Get Any Parent Training Done With All These Other Problems Going On?

Abstract

Although parent training generally has been successful, sufficient data exist to indicate that treatment outcome is not always positive. Several investigators have suggested that problems in the family system may be responsible for the failures, which occur. The present paper reviews the relationship between three family problem variables (parental maladjustment, marital difficulties, and dysfunctional extra familial interactions) and child behavior problems and their treatment. The available data suggest that there is a positive relationship between child behavior problems and problems in each of the three types of family variables. Furthermore, although less conclusive, some data suggest that the outcome of parent training is affected adversely by poor parental personal, marital, and extra-familial adjustment. Assessment of generalization form parent training to family problems has yielded mixed results; generalization has occurred primarily to parental personal adjustment. Finally, comparisons of parent training alone to parent training plus treatment of family problems have not been undertaken, Areas for future investigation are discussed.