Parental attitudes and children's self-concept and behavior following parents' participation in parent training groups

Abstract

This study assessed changes in parental attitudes and children's self-concept and behavior following parents' participation in one of two skills training programs: behavioral skills and communication skills. At posttest, communication skills group parents demonstrated greater mutual understanding in the area of parent-child communication than did comparison group parents. These results were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Children of parents who participated in either training group showed positive changes in self-concept at posttest that were maintained at follow-up. The parentrated behavior of both groups of children did not improve at posttest. However, at follow-up, communication skills parents perceived their children as less withdrawn/hostile and perceived themselves as playing a greater role in the causation of their children's behavior.