Evaluating an Educational Program for Parents: A Nigerian Pilot Study

Abstract

Despite the evidence pointing to its detrimental child outcomes, physical punishment remains one of the most commonly used techniques to discipline children in many Nigerian homes. Research has revealed that a majority of Nigerian parents are not aware of the negative consequences. They are also not aware of nonaversive ways to discipline children. Unfortunately, there appears to be a paucity of programs to enlighten parents in this regard. This study set out to design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a parent education program (PEP) in relation to parental reported use of physical punishment. The quasi-experimental pretest and posttest control group design was adopted. Participants comprised 86 parents of young children, recruited while in attendance at a parent-teacher association (PTA) meeting. Forty-three participants were assigned to each of the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group exposed to a 2hr PEP intervention session. The control group received placebo treatment. A questionnaire was used to collect data before and 4 weeks after intervention. Results showed that the mean posttest score difference between the two groups was statistically significant: t(84) = 8.57, p < 0.05. The main effect of treatment was also statistically significant F(1,73) = 11.482, p < 0.05, partial η2 = .140. Findings suggest that PEP intervention was associated with reduction in parental reports of use of physical punishment in child training.