Impact of Problem-Solving Communication Training and Generalization Procedures on Family Conflict

Abstract

The effects of skill-training and generalization procedures on family communication and conflict were assessed. Twenty-eight distressed families were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) a wait-list control, 2) a skills-training treatment, which involved seven sessions of training in problem-solving and communication skills, or 3) a generalization treatment, which received the same training as group 2 plus homework assignments of graduated difficulty and discussion of the use of problem solving skills at home. Observational and questionnaire measures were collected. Several questionnaire instruments showed significantly greater improvement for the two treatment groups than for the control groups. Observational data suggest fewer changes but considerable variability prior to intervention. Follow-up data from the two treatment groups indicate consistent maintenance of most treatment effects, with significant declines in reported use of communication skills. On some questionnaire measures, the skills-training group reported continued improvement from post to follow-up while the generalization group reported slight declines. These counterintuitive findings are discussed in terms of the differences between maintenance and generalization processes.